The dominant role played by a digital form of communication in promoting and growing businesses in the digital age took a centre stage during the second day of Social Media Week 2020 in Lagos.
Speaking on the topic Will Traditional Media survive in the Digital Age? Amaka Nwoko, the Vice President, Sales of Skoleeo Technologies emphasised the important role played by digital technology to the development of the society vis a vis business and harped on the need for governments and individuals in Nigeria to embrace digitalisation.
Nwoko expressed the hope that in the next 10 years, digital communication would find its footing in virtually all aspects of human endeavours in the country.
The Vice President lamented that despite the important role played by digital communication, Nigerian governments still think analogue in embracing patronising traditional form of communication.
According to her, Nigerian governments spend more to place advertisements on hard copies of newspapers which may not reach 100,000 readers instead of spending less to place advertisements on online newspapers or blogs which may reach two million.
Contributing too, Mr. Akitunde Marinho, Founder of Arcadia Mobile said though Nigeria Television Authority has the reach of 200 million people, the station needs greater collaboration to explode in the media industry.
Mr. Uzoma Onwuchekwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Envivo Communications said for NTA to grow, the Federal Government should stop budgeting for the organisation as well as stop appointing politicians into its board of directors.
“Failure to do this will see NTA like BBC becoming a dying dinosaur in the broadcast industry,” he added.
In an interaction on the topic Impact investing and investing of SDGs in Nigeria, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, Founder/CEO, 54Gene said: “Impact investing is not charity. The intent to make a profit and also positive impact must be there. For my company, making money is one of our metrics. Making a positive impact is another.”
More than 200 topics are lined up for the five-day event billed for online newspaper publishers, bloggers, content developers and other critical stakeholders in the digital industry.
The event organised by Crowdcentric MediaLLC, USA, holding at the expansive Landmark Event Centre, Plot 2 & 3, Water Corporation Road, Lagos State officially kicked off on Monday, February 24 with resource persons drawn mainly from both the private and public sectors.
The Akwa Ibom delegation comprising more than 30 members sponsored by Conference of Online Publishers Association (COOPA) is led by their chancellor, Mr. Ifreke Nseowo-Connoisseur who is also the publisher of The Mail newspapers.
Social Media Week Lagos is heading into its eighth year after a successful 2019 edition that saw more than 20,000 participants during the week, online social reach of 557 million with 150 local and international organizations in attendance.
The annual conference now considered Africa’s largest technology and innovation event focuses on ideas, trends, insights, business practices and policy that leverage technology to transforming industries and communities across Africa.
