By Chinyere Anyanwu
Organisers of the Social Media Awards (SMAs) have unveiled the 2024 edition of the awards themed, “The Spotlight”.
Speaking at the unveiling event in Lagos recently, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alternative Adverts Limited, organisers of the awards, Mr. Emmanuel Nwafor, said, “this year, we want to shine ‘The Spotlight’ on the most exceptional individuals and brands that have captivated audiences and inspired us with their creativity and passion.”
According to Nwafor, “last year’s SMA was a resounding success, with a record number of entries and a stellar lineup of winners. We celebrated the best in social media, from influential content creators to innovative brand campaigns.
“This year, we take it to the next level. ‘The Spotlight’ theme represents our commitment to illuminating excellence in social media; amplifying marginalised voices; showcasing innovative storytelling; and honouring authenticity and creativity.”
The Alternative Adverts Ltd. CEO stated that the awards has introduced new categories to accommodate those left out last year, adding that as part of its commitment to remain one of Nigeria’s most transparent and credible awards, the nomination and voting process is 100 per cent user based. This, by implication, means that “the public will nominate and vote for their preferred social media influencers, content creators, and brands to ensure fairness and equity.”
He said, “as we look to the future, the SMA will continue to evolve, adapting to the ever changing social media landscape. We will remain committed to celebrating creativity and innovation; supporting social media education and literacy, and providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives.”
He explained that nominations will be online at www.sma.ng.
The awards are in the following categories: Campaign Category, namely, Best Social Media Influencer Campaign; Individual Category comprising Best Instagram Content Creator; Best Facebook Content Creator; Best Twitter Content Creator; Best YouTube Content Creator, Best TikTok Content Creator; Best Health Influencer of the Year; Best Dance Content Creator; Music Influencer of the Year; and Breaking out Content Creator of the Year, among others.
Other categories of the awards include the Video Category, made up of the Best Music Video of the Year on YouTube and Best Educative Content; Content Category, namely, the Viral Song of the Year and Blogger of the Year; Brand Category comprising Best Use of Social Media – Sports and Betting Platform; Best Use of Social Media – Banking Sector; Best Use of Social Media – Fintech; Most Supportive Real Estate Company on Social Media; Most Engaging TV Station on Social Media; Social Media Marketing Agency of the Year; Most Responsive FMCG Brand on Social Media, among others; as well as the Non Voting Category which has the Social Media Personality of the Year.