The Official Launch Of SocialPro Clubs In Kenya.

The tremendous growth of social media in business and communication in Kenya has necessitated SOCIAL EDGE AFRICA to conceptualize and spearhead the formation of social media clubs dubbed (SocialPro clubs) in universities across the country. These clubs will bring together different social media enthusiasts, speakers, lecturers, bloggers, industry experts, digital agencies and organizations who have immensely contributed to the growth of social media in Kenya. 

The core objective of these clubs is to teach, educate, create awareness and impart knowledge & skills of social media to the university students. This will ensure students understand how to tap into the potential online and approach social media as a business tool.SocialPro clubs will also create a platform that will enhance product and consumer engagement through creativity and innovation.

This idea,vision and programme is endorsed by the ministry of information and technology and the Kenya ICT board. Dr. Bitange Ndemo; the PS Ministry of Information and Communication will be the chief guest at the launch of the social media clubs on the 25th of September at the University of Nairobi, School of Business.

BENEFITS TO THE STUDENTS.
1. Enable collaboration and exchange of ideas among students in other universities and industry. (spur innovation)
2. Allows for information sharing with external partners and students.
3. Exchange of information with the industry will bridge the gap between the university and expectations of employers.
4. Will help students keep pace with fast moving events.
5. Help students network with top industry professionals, agencies and firms.
6. Help students understand the opportunities available in form of careers on social media.

7. Promote innovation, nurture creativity and inspire development.
8. Understand the realities, opportunities &requirements for the various disciplines of social media.

BENEFITS TO THE LECTURERS.
1.Help lecturers embrace social media and learn how to integrate it into teaching.
2.Understand how to connect with their students on social media and gain valuable feedback, share information etc.
3.Help the lecturers embrace social media learn how to communicate, engage and interact with students on social media.
4.Establish processes that control the publishing and monitoring of their content online & globally.
5. Help lecturers understand how to publish their content on multiple networks , optimize it for a variety of multimedia formats and optimize it for many types of screens to ensure it’s viewed easily and consumed.
6. Help lecturers understand how to edit the content into a creative formats that entertains, educates and inspires.
7. Help them learn how to create and share content for the different types of media such as video and text.
8.Basically they will learn how social media can make their work easier and more fun!

WHO IS SOCIAL EDGE AFRICA?
Social edge™ is a social media agency which implements ideas that work for brands to give them an edge on social media.

Our core business, to give every person, brand or firm the right presence on social media. We ensure guided and insightful social media strategy and implementation to achieve the right presence, engagement and interactions on social Media. Our vision is to revolutionize how brands engage and interact with their communities on social media.

 

A group of four students from the University of Nairobi; School of business have conceptualized and spearheaded the formation of social media clubs dubbed ‘SocialPro Clubs’ in universities across the country. The four students namely; Gitonga Munene, Muthuri Kinyamu, Victor Mutua, Munene Marete and Wangari Munene (USIU) through Social Edge Africa, a social media consultancy company based at Nairobi Hub. 

According to the 24 year old Muthuri Kinyamu (ME), the founder and business director at Social Edge Africa, “The core objective of these clubs is to teach, educate, create awareness and impart knowledge & skills of various disciplines of social media and platforms to the university students”.

The initiative seeks to develop a talent pool of graduates with a solid understanding of new media to bridge the knowledge gap and demand there is today for people with skills and expertise in various disciplines of social media especially.

These clubs in a nutshell will unlock the potential on social media to the students, expose them to the limitless possibilities online and help faculty integrate various social media networking sites to teaching to ease content sharing and make learning more fun. The faculty will also learn how to create, optimize and share digital content in various formats with students across various platforms as well as help them embrace new media and thus use it to connect, engage and gain valuable feedback from the students. Through these clubs the faculty shall establish processes that control the publishing and monitoring of their content online & globally.

As they launch the clubs they shall also use these platforms to recruit social media ambassadors for the campaign dubbed “BE A SOCIALPRO”. As we approach the March 2013 elections social media will play a big role, as a communication medium it will be misused by politicians or people with selfish interests and agenda to incite Kenyans, spread propaganda, rumours, create and share content full of hate. Therefore this campaign seeks to promote responsible ways of engaging on social media, sensitize content creators on legal risks of creating and sharing content that is inflammatory and full of hate as well as educate Kenyans on social media etiquette and ethical ways of communicating online for societal good.

We (Social Edge Africa) are also working with Eyeballs Marketing in organizing Social Media Awards (the first in Kenya and probably in Africa) to take place in November 11th 2012 . We shall be focusing on awarding social media excellence on 3 major platforms (Blogs, Facebook and Twitter). Nominations are currently ongoing at www.soma.or.ke.

 

Through this platform, the government hopes to sensitize the society on the dangers of spreading hate messages to incite other citizens especially through social media during the election period. The government is also keen on empowering its youth to solve welfare problems by creating viable businesses that tackle these challenges. Bitange Ndemo, the PS believes that social media can be used to enhance collaboration, promote innovation and ease content & information sharing between universities and industry.

To be part of #SocialPro clubs launch and roll out as a partner, sponsor, be part of the team or support for this idea please send an email to Nateford@socialedge.co.ke

ENDS

For more information or interviews, contact:

Muthuri Kinyamu

Business Director & Team Leader

Social Edge Africa,

Tel 0724215977, 0202486331

Email Nateford@socialedge.co.ke

Nairobi Hub; Kileleshwa. Junction of Nyeri & Olenguruone rd.