SMAA winners receive $15,000 prize money from Sterling Bank

The winners of the Social Media Award Africa have received $15,000 as prize money from Sterling Bank plc. The prize money was handed over to the winners at the SMAA presentations tagged: “Night of Virtual Wonders” designed to reward excellence among social media practitioners in the African continent. Each of the winners went home with $1,000 each.

Already, the Award is generating interest among institutions across the continent as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), African Media Initiative has indicated interest and confirmed training for all the finalists. Its chief executive, Eric Chije, who spoke with journalists after the Award presentation, commended the bank for appreciating excellence and contributing to the continued growth of social media, both in Nigeria and on the African continent.

The 15 winners include Ben Kiruthi (Kenya), Blogger of the Year Award; Ayari Yassine (Tunisia), Social Media Personality of the Year Award; Michael Hlatshwayo (South Africa, Social Media Hero; Barefootlaw (Uganda) Facebook Page of the Year; Jimi Tewe (Nigeria), Twitter Handle of the Year and The Love Tour KE (Kenya), Influencer of the Year.

Others Award winners are Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Youth and ICT,  use of the social media for Government/Public Sector segment; DHL Africa for Private Sector; Stand to End Rape Nigeria for Non-Profit Organisation; Adforumco (Nigeria) for Start-up/MSME; KCB Group (Kenya), Financial Institution; Afrinolly (Nigeria) for App of the Year; #TheNiteTalk (Kenya) for Hashtag of the Year; Raha 2.0, Brand of the Year and Nigeria Trade Hub,(Nigeria) for Best Rated Platform.

Speaking at the event, Ini Onuk, a member of the advisory board of the SMAA noted that the Awards was created to recognise and celebrate excellence and creativity in the use of social media tools and platforms by individuals and organisations.

She noted that “the reality of an emerging social continent is what the SMAA stands to celebrate in order to deepen and broaden the sustainable continental developments.”

She described the Award, which is in four major categories and with 15 winners as a genuine, timely intervention for promoting distinctive creativity, peerless innovation and pervasive developments on the African continent through the best use of social media platforms.