By Amaka Ifeakandu
Lagos
Sterling Bank has attributed its decision to support the 2014 Social Media Award, Africa to the need to recognize and celebrate excellence, creativity and the impact of social media on human socio-economic development through its tools and platforms by individuals and organizations across the continent.
The Bank’s group head, strategy & communications Mr. Shina Atilola in a statement said that the Award also provides the platform for the Bank to further consolidate its position as a leading light in the Social Media space.
Atilola added that the 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.
It would be recalled that the Bank recently won the Most Innovative Bank Award organised by the Nigerian Telecoms Awards courtesy of It’s Social Lender, a product that allows members of the social media community to obtain quick cash from the Bank.
Explaining the modalities for the Award, Mr. Femi Aderibigbe, the Project Lead of the Award said that there are nomination opportunities into four categories of 15 awards, “interested individuals and organizations can nominate from October 1 till 27, 2014 for a chance to win any of the coveted awards. All entries will be judged on influence, originality, creativity, scalability and impact. The judging process will see winners emerge through an open and credible system involving the general public, a virtual council and jury”, he added.
He listed the award prizes to include dollar denominated cash prizes, professional and institutional trainings on social media and access to mentorship opportunities amongst other benefits for excellence and impact in social media practice.
The Social Media Africa Initiative is supervised by an Advisory Board of respected individuals such as: Toby Daniels, CEO, CrowdCentric & Founder, Social Media Week; Tunji Lardner, Executive Director, West African NGO Network (WANGONeT); Ini Onuk, Lead Consultant/CEO, ThistlePraxis Consulting; Abdul Tejan-Cole, Executive Director, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) amongst others. Leading the judging process is a Jury which includes Ken Banks.
Speaking in Lagos at the award inauguration, Sterling Bank’s Head of Brand Management, Abiola Aloba, said that Sterling Bank remains a reference when it comes to social media in the country.
