This is a course blog for the classes on digital government and social media in the public sector" class taught by Professor Ines Mergel at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. The blog posts include comments and ideas from MPA, MAIR and EMPA students studying the use of new technologies in the public sector.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Bring Back Our Girls
About a year ago around 200 Boko Haram militants, a
terrorist organisation of Nigeria abducted more than 200 Nigerian girls from a
boarding school in the northern town of Chibok on April 14, 2014. The militants
attacked the girls when they were asleep in their dormitory. After abducting
the girls the militants set the school on fire. Few girls were fortunate enough
to escape. Rest of the girls are still untraceable. We discussed this case in
our class also.
The first question arises in our mind why Boko Haram
attacked the schoolgirl? Boko Haram means “Western education is a sin” and
further Boko Haram believes that the women’s place is in home and they should
not take part in any political and social activity. That’s why they attacked the
schoolgirls. The main objective of the Boko Haram is to establish Islamic State
in Nigeria.
It is very heartening that escaped girls again
returned to the school. It shows their firm determination to better themselves
and most importantly their courage and fearfulness. Parents of the abducted
girls believe that the Nigerian Government is doing nothing to free the
abducted girls. Similarly, international community and governments are not
providing enough help.
It is important to mention here that a huge social
media campaign is going on White House website on change.org,
Facebook and Twitter. There is a huge follower on the social media to the
campaign "Bring Back Our Girls” and promoting awareness around the globe
to the cause. We may agree that in real terms it may not have helped to free
the girls, however, millions of people all around the world are there with this
cause and exerting pressure on both Nigerian government and international
countries/communities to take necessary steps to free the abducted girls. Hope
that this social media campaign will go on till the girls are freed and social
media community may support to the cause and provide moral support and boost up
to our Nigerian friends.
Currently, in Nigeria election is going on. There is
a close fight between current President Mr. Goodluck Jonathan and former
dictator Muhammadu Buhari. The election is being fought on religious ground and
voters are divided in Christian and Muslims. Mr. Goodluck Jonathan has a large
support base of the Christian community and Mr. Buhari has large support base of
Muslim community. It is believed that the ex-dictator has a clean image and
when he was dictator he has been able to curbed the corruption to a significant
extent. Currently, the counting is going on in the Nigeria and initial trends
indicate that Mr. Buhari, the opposition leader may win the election. We may hope for better whichever government
comes in the power will act against the Boko Haram and will make honest effort
to free the abducted girls.
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