An Examination of Students’ Preparedness for Fire Emergency and the Role of Social Media: A Case Study of Students’ Hostel Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna State
An Examination of Students’
Preparedness for Fire Emergency and the Role of Social Media: A Case Study of
Students’ Hostel Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna State
1Ezekiel Hannatu Yakubani, 2Anthony Micah and 3Akosu Mathias
1Centre for Disaster Risk Management & Development Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
2Department of Educational Foundations, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
3Department of Vocational Education, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola,
Email: mattakosu4u@gmail.com
Abstract: Social media are Internet-based applications that promote high social interaction and user content generation often at a one-to-many or a many-to-many scale. In line with this, the study was carried out to examine students’ preparedness for fire emergency and the role of social media in students’ hostel of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria main campus. The study aimed at identifying common and remote causes of fire disaster, preparedness facilities and equipment in the study area and identifies the role of social media in fire disaster awareness in the study area. There are seven hostels in the main campus. One hundred and thirty five questionnaires were correctly filled and used for the analysis given a response rate of 90%. Statistical package for social sciences version 20 was used for the analysis of data collected using graphs and bar charts. The result showed a low level of awareness on safety and preparedness against fire disaster, though the students have vast knowledge about social media. The study recommends that the University management should ensure that all the hostel residents adhered to rules and regulations governing the halls, there should be effective and efficient fire fighting equipment in the various hostels and the University ICT unit should use social media platforms like the Facebook, Twitter, Watsapp group in dissemination of information and creating awareness on fire safety and its prevention.
Keywords: Fire Emergency, Social Media, Students’ Preparedness
