By Latiifah Amusan
The Social Media Awards (SMA) glittered with star power as Nigerian rapper and songwriter, Folarin Falana, better known as “Falz,” clinched the coveted title of ‘Fellow with the Best Use of Social Media in a Crisis.’
Nollywood actress, Bimbo Ademoye, lit up the digital realm by being crowned the ‘Most Engaging Actress on Social Media,’ while Stan Nze secured the title of ‘Most Engaging Actor.’
The awards ceremony, held in Lagos, drew the spotlight to those who have harnessed the power of social media for innovative and impactful purposes.
Emmanuel Nwafor, CEO of Alternative Adverts Ltd. and the event’s convener, praised the awardees for their outstanding contributions to the digital space.
SMA’s mission is to recognize individuals and organizations pushing the boundaries of social media’s potential for good, whether through spreading joy, raising awareness for important causes, or providing valuable information and entertainment.
Emmanuel Nwafor expressed hope that these awards would inspire others to use social media for positive purposes, stating,
“We hope that the award will help encourage those into nefarious activities on social media to see a reason to use it for good with the hope of being recognized one day.”
Beyond the accolades, the event served as a platform for social media personalities, influencers, content creators, and brands to connect, share ideas, and shape the future of the industry.
Nwafor’s vision extended to creating Nigeria’s own social media platform with millions of downloads, urging attendees to consider becoming “social media landlords” in the coming years.
TECNOMobileNigeria claimed the title of ‘Best Audience Engagement Campaign on Social Media,’ while Arise News secured the ‘Most Engaging TV Station on Social Media’ award.
Lush Hair Nigeria was named the ‘Most Engaging Beauty Brand on Social Media,’ and Jumia Nigeria won ‘Best Use of Social Media E-commerce Company.’
The list of awardees was extensive, spanning categories such as food influencer, TV presenter, radio station, social media influencer, and more.
Notable recipients included Simply Tacha, Shank comics, Indomie, and Jeremiah Ogbodo, among others.
The viral hit “Who is your guy” by Spyro was crowned ‘Most Viral Song of the Year,’ showcasing the power of music on social platforms.
The awards also recognized content creators from various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.
Mark Angel Comedy, Taaooma, B.O.D, Blaqbonez & Perliks, and Chukwuebuka Amuzia were among the standouts in their respective categories.
Telecom giant MTN Nigeria was acknowledged as the ‘Most Responsive Telecoms Company,’ while TEEE DOLLAR’s dance content and Yabaleft Online’s blogging efforts were celebrated.
Betway claimed the spotlight for the ‘Best Use of Social Media in Sports,’ showcasing the growing influence of digital media in the sporting world.
