Ahead of the Sterling Bank’s sponsored Social Media Awards Africa holding in Lagos tomorrow, the Chairman of the Award Advisory Board and founder, Social Media Week, Mr. Toby Daniels, has arrived Lagos for the ceremony. Others expected at the ceremony include Fred Swaniker, founder, African Leadership Academy and Eric Chinje, Chief Executive Officer, African Media Initiative (AMI).
The event which is a premier continental initiative seeks to recognize and reward creativity, excellence and impact the usage of social media across Africa. It will bring together social media influencers, experts, enthusiasts and policy makers to explore and forge new developmental paths for social media in Africa.
SMAA was unveiled at a closed event last September to a cross-section of media professionals and social media influencers in Lagos, Nigeria while nomination into the four categories opened on October 1, 2014 at www.smaafrica.com until midnight October 27, 2014.
A total of 923 nominations were received during the nomination period including Personality Based (468), Platform Specific (266), Institutional (115) and Indigenous (74).
Each winner will take home a cash prize of $1,000 and the SMAA plaque. Other benefits include Social Media training, access to memberships and attendance of Social Media events, publications on Social Media and complimentary advertising on Social Media Africa portal.
The bank’s Group Head, Strategy and Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, said the award was sponsored because of its focus and commitment to advancing human and social development across Africa.
He said: “We are interested in the growing relevance of social media around the world and Africa in particular,” adding that “Sterling Bank cannot overlook the importance of social media in today’s society and the increasing role it plays in the lives of people on a daily basis, hence the need to identify with the award.”
Source : SunOnline