Sunday 28 October 2012

My Post #SPCLaunch Thank You Message To All.

Thank you message to Partners, Speakers, Sponsors, Bloggers & Media and all Guests at SocialPRO Clubs Launch on 25th October at University of Nairobi.

Dear Speakers, Organizers, Sponsors, Media, Bloggers and Attendees (SocialPRO's),
 
I would like to thank each of you for contributing to the success of the launch of SocialPRO Clubs.  John Walter Mwanthi was magnificent as ever as Master of Ceremonies, Chair and Moderator all rolled into one. Thank you too Cherrie EM KBC (Evie Maina) for helping with emceeing. 

My heartfelt thanks to all the speakers (DR. Bitange Ndemo, Cynthia Nyamai, Doreen Waithera, Evans Muriu, Kennedy Gathu, Cyprian Nyakundi, Maryann Michuki, Joan Mbugua ) in appreciation for your pulling out the stops in reaching out to our attendees, touching hearts and stimulating our minds, to stir ourselves by your thought-provoking messages, images conveyed by your words and gestures, as we attempt to light the path for the way ahead in the social media industry in Kenya & Africa through SocialPRO Clubs events. We appreciate the time you took off your busy schedules to join us for the #SPCLaunch and share your expertise, experience and knowledge with the attendees.
 
Thanks also are due to our hosts, University of Nairobi through Business Information Students Association and Marketing Students Association, who hosted us at the university, providing the great sound system with cordless mikes,venue free of charge and publicity on the university site.

A BIG thank you also to Gitonga Munene, Wangari Munene, Maxi Ngari, Nick Stewart,Lewis Murega, Victor Mutua and Dennis Marete who were always there when I need them, to give that extra bit of timely assistance that kept things going on despite last minute hitches. Thank you so much guys for the immense contribution in the success of this launch, for believing in me and the concept, for helping me refine it, assisting me in roles you handled and finally for being present at the launch! The grace of God was also abundant; I thank the almighty too for his love, kindness and guidance throughout the planning of the launch.I would also like to mention my family, mum and Moshel specifically for their support during this period.I also feel greatly indebted to #KOT and the online community basically, tweeps who shared links to sites with content or features on the launch, bloggers and content managers who published articles on SocialPRO clubs for free; again many thanks for your time and effort!

A big S/O to Irene Mbacha-Social Media Officer Royal Media Services for tweeting live from the event. We are so proud to be associated with you & RMS!
 
The ministry of information and communications team led by Dr. Bitange Ndemo also helped a lot with ensuring the launch was a success. Allow me to mention Mr. Daniel Njihia (P.R.O), Kendi and the entire communications team, Abraham Odeng the under secretary, Mr Mwenda and Margaret Chege all from the ministry for their contribution to the success of this launch. 

LG East Africa also supported the launch in a big way and they will be our mobile brand partners as we roll out to the four proposed universities in the pilot phase. On that same note I'd like to thank Kerubo Nyamwaro and George Mudhune for the support you've given these clubs through LG.

Thanks to Kuza Bishara team, Joan, Joe, Sylvia and team for helping with event photography and video coverage services.If any of you have photos from the event that you would like have posted on our digital properties could you please send them to me, or if you have uploaded videos to YouTube or photos on various social media platforms could you please send the links?

And thanks most of all to you dear SocialPROs, who attended the launch, watched and listened to our speakers with great expectations, posed questions and made comments, tweeted from the launch using #SPCLaunch & #SocialPROClubs and generally contributed to making the launch such a roaring success.

To put things into perspective, by your combined efforts in producing a most successful first event, SocialPRO Clubs is off to a great start, with excellent prospects for greater things to come. Thank you, all of you!

Our next SocialPRO Clubs meet up is set for 8th Nov at Multimedia University to be co-hosted by Multimedia Marketing Students Association & Social Edge Africa. You don’t want to miss it, so pencil that in on your calendar so that you join us as we introduce the SocialPRO Clubs at the university. This shall be followed by Strathmore mid Nov, K.U. third week and USIU in the last week of November. (Actual dates shall be posted next week)

If you would like to sponsor the launch of SPC university chapter’s events please don't hesitate to get in touch with me. We are also looking for speakers who would like to share their knowledge with the university students, people who want to mentor, coach, nurture and inspire the students; so if you are interested in being one of them kindly do send me an email. Kindly note, you've got to be actively using new media in what you do~therefore basic understanding of social media is a must have!

Join the conversation on Twitter using #SocialPRO and #SocialProClubs-@SocialAfrika

With thanks and best wishes to all, Muthuri Kinyamu. (@KenyaMarketer)


Sunday 21 October 2012

THE LAUNCH OF SOCIALPRO CLUBS-SPEAKERS

 The tremendous growth of social media in business and communication in Kenya has necessitated Social Edge Africa; a social media consultancy company based at the Nairobi Hub to conceptualize and spearhead the formation of social media clubs dubbed (SocialPro clubs) in universities.
The Ministry of Information and Communication, is one of the platinum sponsors and has endorsed the initiative; The Guest of Honour will be Dr. Bitange Ndemo, the permanent secretary at the ministry will on Thursday 25th of October 2012 officially launch SocialPRO Clubs and a new campaign dubbed “I am A SocialPRO” to raise awareness, public advocacy, promote responsible & ethical ways of engaging online and education on social media at the University of Nairobi; School of Business.
The launch will be attended by key stakeholders from the government, media and education sector as well as social media enthusiasts, developers, lecturers, bloggers, entrepreneurs, digital agencies and other organizations that have immensely contributed to the growth of social media in Kenya. 
List of Speakers and Topics:
Evans Muriu (@VanceMuriu)
Founder of Kuna Vijana and Wanadamu.
Social Media For Non profits. A presentation on Wanadamu.
Muthuri Kinyamu (@kenyanMarketer)
Team Leader - Social Edge Africa
A presentation on SocialPRO clubs concept & Initiative.
Doreen Waithera Ng’ang’a
CEO Marketing Society of Kenya.
Integrating Social Media To The Marketing Mix & New Careers In Marketing.
Kennedy Gathu @LariVillages
Lari Smart Villages.
Connecting Lari community using social media and mobile technologies. (i-Lari)
Cynthia Nyamai. @CynthiaNyamai
MD: Cynthia Nyamai Communications.
Communication on New Media. Challenges & Opportunities.
Maryann Michuki (@MaryannMichuki)
Digital & Social Media Manager- Safaricom
Safaricom on social media; Challenges, Opportunities and the future of the brand.
Sriram Bharatam, (@SBharatam)
Founder and Chief Mentor of Kuza Biashara
The role of Technology in Scaling up a Startup
Bitange Ndemo (@Bantigito)
PS; Ministry of Information & Communications
Chief Guest-Keynote speech.
Calvin Nyakundi; @C_Nyakundi
Suspended Meru University student for tweets.
We shall study his case & presentation to learn about Social Media Etiquette and Online Freedom.
 Other Sponsors and partners supporting this initiative are; Kuza Biashara, Nairobi Hub, Marketing Society of Kenya, Mkenya Daima Initiative through KEPSA and University of Nairobi.
Event details as follows:
Event:          Launch of Social Media Clubs Dubbed SocialPRO Clubs
Theme:        “Empowering Change Through Collaboration”
Date:           Thursday 25th October 2012
Time:          9:30 am to 4:00pm
Venue:        University of Nairobi, School of Business Lower Kabete Campus (Lecture Theatre)
Charges:     Free Entry (It’s an open, public event and anyone can attend)
Join the conversation on Twitter using #SocialPRO, #SPCLaunch or #SocialProClubs

After the launch this initiative will get into its pilot phase in four proposed universities in November namely; Kenyatta University,  Strathmore University, USIU Africa, Multimedia University before the clubs roll out to other universities & campuses in January 2013.  

To be part of SocialPro clubs launch and roll out as a partner or sponsor to support this idea in cash or in kind please send an email to Nateford@socialedge.co.ke

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Dr Bitange Ndemo To Launch Social Media Clubs in Kenya at UoN.


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. 

This initiative is endorsed by the ministry of information and technology and Dr. Bitange Ndemo; the PS at the ministry will be the chief guest among other invited guest speakers at the launch of the social media clubs on the 25th of October at the University of Nairobi, School of Business. In the launch of university chapters these students shall be working with Marketing Students Association and Business Information Students Association, both of University of Nairobi. In the pilot phase they shall combine efforts with the marketing, PR and IT clubs in the proposed universities. The pilot is proposed to take place in 4 universities around Nairobi in November namely; Kenyatta University,  Strathmore University, USIU Africa, Multimedia University before the roll out in January 2013 to other universities & campuses across Kenya. 

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.







Wednesday 10 October 2012

Guest Post: Isaac Mburu's Message To All The First Years.


Note From Muthuri Kinyamu
 Isaac Mburu  is a freshman at the University of Nairobi, school of business. The very first week he reported to school he had contacted me to be part of the team organizing the launch of SocialPRO  clubs. Isaac is an amazing guy, when you meet him you'll wish you were like him in your first year in campus. He always wants to be involved in tech events and activities that will equip him with skills. He already knows what he will major in, has a career path already defined and he's not just sleeping when he has no classes! This is why I tag him along to events I get invited to and share others with him expose him to the realities of the corporate world and ensure he participates in as many events to learn more. Since he wants to start blogging, I invited him to guest post on my blog. Read his article below.
The most primary objective of any University programme is to model a student in preparation for the outside world, not just with emphasis on employment by churning job creators to the economy. As a matter of fact it takes more than the sole 3-hour sitting through a long, boring and educative lecture. It calls and desires for a proactive and ambitious approach to issues within and without the University especially considering the neck-breaking competition for jobs and opportunities in our ailing Kenyan market.

Nonetheless, all is not lost especially to the "fighter-configured" persons. By this I refer to the focused and 'market-like' competent guys. You know them, those that will grasp the least of opportunities as long as they have nothing to lose. The same comrades you see scribbling down their names on every membership list of various clubs in the university. It is pretty obvious that an aggressive zeal and activity pays in the end. After all, need I retype the cliché that a long journey starts with a single step?

You have to get started. The sooner the better, as a matter of fact it is a big pity to they that are so far directing all their efforts to book knowledge and that alone. At the end of the day you will be required to leverage the theory in your head with actual output. With all sobriety and realistic logic, you must start somewhere. At least something out of the normal CCS01, DBA101,CCS010 et cetera.

You guys (University of Nairobi students) are lucky to be in a premier university. The best in Eastern and Central Africa, ISO certified and of course the only university in Kenya that takes an article "The"!!!!. However it is one thing to be in a PREMIER UNIVERSITY and another to be a PREMIER GUY. It takes an effort not to be buried in the guise of being among the complacent family of 'lucky few that managed it to a world-class university'-You have indeed heard the phrase for the umpteenth time just this soon. The issue is whether you will, at the end of the day, add up to being as distinguished as 'The University'.

A creative and aggressive Mr.Muthuri Kinyamu had all this information at the tip of his fingers when he nurtured the idea of SocialPRO clubs. The University of Nairobi student who is yet to graduate knowing it all wouldn't rest the matter at that. 5 months after completing his studies, the young ambitious man is already CEO and founder of Social Edge Africa. 

 Further to this , the company has now come up with another brainchild, the SocialPRO clubs. Realistically speaking, this is going to be the next big and coolest thing in our universities. The clubs set to be launched on the 25th of October will definitely be a wonderful asset to the campus students especially. Basically, these will serve as interactive platforms between the corporate world, NGOs, Lecturers, Government, other stakeholders and the University students. The overriding idea being to create a networking platform between all these stakeholders with an aim of mutual beneficial relationship either of the partners. The business sector will, needless to say, find a rich avenue to outsource qualified candidates as employees. On their part, the students will be able to link up with employers early enough such that there won't be a vacuum after graduation and employment. As a matter of fact, most will end up being hired long before they graduate. Mr.Muthuri can acclaim to this having started working long before he graduated with big brands including The Coca-Cola company among others.

The project has so far had the backing of various corporates including The University of Nairobi, Kuza Biashara ltd and Nairobi Hub mentioning but a few. The government has equally supported the idea notably being that the launch will be chaired by the PS Communication Dr.Bitange Ndemo. This is clear demonstration of the momentum with which the clubs are taking off as well as the magnitude with which they will revolutionize the employment and business sectors among others. To find more information on this, Like Social Edge Africa on Facebook and follow Muthuri on Twitter @KenyanMarketer on twitter for more updates.

Ends
Just in case you have something Isaac can do; an internship, a part time job he can do or invite him to an event please share it with him through (ixhowint@gmail.com