International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Theatre has long been a powerful tool for social change, but in today's digital age, its impact can be amplified through social media. Meanwhile, whereas social media has been widely adopted in various fields, its integration into theatre for community development remains underexplored, particularly in Nigerian universities, presenting a gap in understanding how theatre arts students can specifically leverage social media to drive community engagement and development in the Nigerian context.
Objective: This study explored how theatre arts students at Plateau State University, Bokkos, can harness social media to promote community development, engage with local audiences, and drive positive change in Plateau State, Nigerias.
Method: Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Data were collected from 384 respondents with the use of questionnaire, while analysis was done using descriptive statistic and presented using pie, bar chats, and frequency table. The participants were selected from Mangu and Jos East Local Government Areas in the state. The study was situated within the Participatory Culture and User Agency Theory and Theory of Affective Economies. Results: The result revealed that Facebook and WhatsApp were effective in mobilising the community members and that the respondents received messages on the various social media platforms that increased their levels of awareness about political consciousness, good governance, community responsibility in solving local problems and the judicious use/misuse of power.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the integration of social media platforms into the Theatre for Development has significantly improved the mobilisation and conscientisation of the community members on some of the issues affecting them and proffering solutions to the problems as well as solving them using local resources and expertise.
Unique Contribution: This study has offered new approach in Theatre for Development practice by using social media in the practice in mobilising and conscientising community members on some of the issues affecting and encouraging them to solve the problems through communal efforts while drawing government’s attention to the plights.
Key Recommendation: Relevant government ministries and agencies, particularly those responsible for health, education, and community development should adopt and integrate social media in TfD as a complementary method for grassroots mobilisation and policy implementation.