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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1
February 2025
Sadiq Mohammed
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Nigeria
Rasaq M. Adisa
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Mansur Wadata
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
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ABSTRACT
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome's controversial stance has attracted significant public attention, notably after his television network, LoveWorld TV, was fined £125,000 for airing misleading claims about the pandemic and vaccines. This study employs a case study analysis to investigate how Charismatic Christian leaders, specifically Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, leverage persuasive communication to shape public perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination through their sermons. By adopting a case study approach, the research allows for an in-depth examination of rhetorical strategies that construct social reality, particularly in discussions aimed at influencing attitudes towards critical social issues. To gather material for analysis, a systematic search of YouTube and Oyakhilome’s website was conducted, yielding seven audiovisual sermons that explicitly conveyed anti-vaccination rhetoric. These sermons were transcribed and developed into a corpus for analysis, which focused on identifying recurring themes and rhetorical devices such as anaphora, simile, and metaphor. The study highlights Oyakhilome’s use of authority and identification preaching styles to assert his credibility and foster a collective identity among his congregation. Furthermore, it identifies various rhetorical devices that enhance his persuasive messaging, such as epizeuxis and hypophora, which challenge the legitimacy of scientific claims. Oyakhilome’s sermons intertwine emotional engagement with prophetic warnings about vaccination, fostering division and fear among his audience while encouraging reliance on spiritual rather than scientific authority. Through these varied approaches, the study elucidates how religious rhetoric influences public perceptions of vaccination and the broader implications for societal beliefs and behaviours.
Keywords: Charismatic Christianity, Persuasive Communication, COVID-19 Vaccination, Rhetorical Strategies, Public Perceptions
Oba Abdulkadir La’aro
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Aminat Sulaiman Abike
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Aisha Imam Omoloso
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Rasaq Mohamed Adisa
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The study investigated the use and influence of electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) on Fintech adoption among shop-owners in the Ilorin metropolis. The arrival of Web 2.0 technology and social networking sites has altered how business transactions are now being done. The advent of Fintech, providing financial solutions; has changed the banking process and services. This research focused on e-WOM platforms such as websites and social media, and how they influence Fintech adoption among shop-owners in Ilorin. The study explored e-WOM platform conversations as critical factors in Fintech adoption, and investigates how these elements influence the adoption of Fintech among shop-owners in the Ilorin metropolis. The research also addressed significant implications of Fintech adoption on the ease of carrying out financial transactions and financial accountability for shop-owners and nano enterprises, highlighting the awareness and message reinforcement effects driven by e-WOM. The findings indicate that e-WOM use influenced Fintech adoption by shop-owners, with emphasis on source of information, integrity of source and perception of product by consumers.
Keywords: E-WOM Use, Fintech Adoption, Ilorin Shop-owners
FRAMING ECONOMIC ISSUES IN THE NENGGIRI (N43) BY-ELECTION: AN ANALYSIS OF BERNAMA’S TWITTER COVERAGE
Shafezah Abdul Wahab
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Melaka, Malaysia
Muhammad Hakimi Tew Abdullah
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Khairuddin Murad
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
This research examines the integration of economic issue framing in Bernama's Twitter coverage of the N.43 Nenggiri by-election, held from 3 to 17 August 2024. The study aims to assess how economic issues were framed in the media and understand the implications of such framing on voter behaviour and election outcomes. Economic concerns are important in rural areas like Nenggiri, yet the research identifies a significant gap in the media coverage, with economic issues being underrepresented. Of the 51 tweets analysed, only 3.92% focused on economic topics, while the majority of the tweets employed responsibility frames, which centred on the actions and accountability of political candidates and parties. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to understanding the role of media framing in shaping voter perceptions and decisions, especially in rural constituencies where economic challenges are more pronounced. By highlighting the limited coverage of economic issues, the study emphasises the importance of integrating economic consequences framing into election coverage. This approach would allow voters to better understand how political decisions impact their local communities, leading to more informed and equitable political outcomes. The research uses quantitative content analysis, applying Semetko and Vreese’s (2010) media framing framework to analyse Bernama’s Twitter posts. The findings show that Bernama’s coverage largely overlooked economic issues, potentially diverting attention from key concerns for rural voters and limiting the information available to help them make informed decisions. The study suggests that future media coverage in economically vulnerable regions should adopt a more balanced approach by incorporating economic consequences framing. This would ensure voters are better informed about how political decisions affect their economic well-being, promoting more equitable electoral outcomes and fostering a more inclusive and comprehensive political discourse.
Keywords: Economic Consequences Framing, Social Media, Twitter, By-Election, Bernama
Tukur Murtala
Nasarawa State University, Nigeria
Tsegyu Santas
Nasarawa State University, Nigeria
Kelvin Inobemhe
Glorious Vision University, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The study investigated how much attention was paid by the select broadcast media messages on Covid-19 preventive measures among the residents of Abuja, Nigeria especially in helping to enlighten the public on the deadly nature of the virus and the generally acceptable best practices in dealing with the Covid-19. Survey was utilised as research design with questionnaire being used as instrument of data collection. Findings show that residents of Abuja have a high degree of knowledge of government COVID-19 pandemic prevention efforts based on broadcast media. Also, it was revealed that TV and Radio were effectively used to promote health communication messages and that it was utilised to promote the importance of physical activity to maintain people’s health during the pandemic and to also practice the non-pharmaceutical protocols. It was also found that the positive influence of such a campaign considers exercise to be more relevant than ever during the COVID-19 outbreak, with the majority of people believing that exercise practices promoted by mass media campaigns were helping them with their mental wellbeing during the outbreak. The researchers found that broadcast media such as television, radio and social media played an important role in disseminating information needed to raise awareness of COVID-19 prevention measures and highly sensitised the people on the pandemic, but that it had little effect on respondents' acceptance of these measures. The researchers recommended that the Nigerian media should continue to sustain such an enlightenment campaign, as well as the audience too should continually seek health information from the broadcast media as this will bring about a healthy people.
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Keywords: Broadcast Media, Communication, COVID-19, Health Campaign, Media Messages
