By John Akpan

Social Media Week Lagos 2020 once again confirmed its reputation as Africa’s most influential digital conference, drawing thousands of creators, technologists, business leaders, and policymakers across technology, media, culture, and business. The event held at the Landmark Centre in Victoria Island from February 24–28, with the theme HUMAN.X, focused on how people-first innovation is shaping the future of digital experiences and reconnects with the humanity behind digital expression, innovation, and impact.

The week saw speakers such as veteran broadcast journalist Chukwuemeka John Chukwujindu, star rapper MI Abaga, Eziagbor Osele and others sharing their experiences with participants. It was not all talks; there were also yoga at sunrise to evening mixers.

The event was meticulously designed to encourage knowledge-sharing, wellness, and networking. It was a hub of vibrant ideas from podcasts and animation panels to wellness and technology workshops, and content creator meetups. With sessions like “User Experience vs Content: How Can the Media Best Deliver on Both?” and “Telling the Africa-First Story in the Digital Age,” the event embraced both high-level strategy and grassroots creativity.

Speaking at the session titled: “Beyond 2020: Social Media & Digital Transformation in the Energy Sector”, headlined by Eziagbor Osele and Tolulope Falola. This session brought together leading minds to explore how digital tools are transforming energy, manufacturing, and sustainability practices in Nigeria and beyond.

Eziagbor Osele, Vice Chairman, Young Professionals Network, Energy institute, Nigeria, is a leading voice in energy reforms, sustainability and emerging technologies. Ezeagbor’s message emphasized the adoption of renewable energy and digital technologies to empower young professionals and energy enthusiast find their unique niche in the diversified industry in other to build a prosperous future. Her message explored the growing influence of social media in shaping public narratives around energy consumption, climate responsibility, and corporate transparency. Her message also touched on the role of social listening in driving community engagement and stakeholder alignment in regulated sectors.

Chukwujindu brought more than just technical expertise, he brought clarity of thought and a rare ability to connect the dots across complex domains. With a deep understanding of the intersection between people, digital transformation, sustainability, and organizational performance, he helped audiences and stakeholders alike see the bigger picture. Chikwujindu didn’t just speak in theory; he grounded his insights in lived experience and real-world applications. He illuminated how environmental reporting and investigative journalism have not only held energy companies accountable but also catalyzed change in corporate practices, regulatory frameworks, and consumer expectations. Through compelling case studies, he demonstrated how transparency driven by data and storytelling has pushed the energy sector toward cleaner, more ethical operations. In every engagement, Chukwujindu inspired a shift from passive awareness to informed action bridging the gap between sustainability ideals and tangible business outcomes.

Falola amplified the discourse, offering complementary insights from the legal, policy, and field operations angles of Nigeria’s energy sector. The conversation was forward-thinking, calling attention to sustainability, inclusive leadership, and the need for digitized infrastructure in post-2020 Africa. In her words “ Social Media is not just a celebration of digital culture; it is a call to action for industries across Africa to embrace innovation with intention. Innovations in the energy sectors are increasingly proving that technology, when humanized can be a powerful tool for inclusive, lasting growth.

Speaking at the session on Leveraging Tech for Better Travel Experiences, Monie Baruwa, Founder of Countless Miles, highlighted the challenges African travelers face, challenges rooted in limited awareness, negative narratives, and the persistent perception of Africans as an economic liability. These issues often result in travel experiences that are unnecessarily complex and highly restrictive.

Baruwa emphasized that addressing these challenges requires empowering African travelers to reclaim their narratives by personalizing their end-to-end travel decisions through technology and innovation.

The session demonstrated how leveraging data and innovative tech can enhance vacation travel for Africans, offering greater freedom and flexibility. Ultimately, this empowers them to tell fresh stories and reshape the long-standing narrative about Africa and its people.

Another very impressive session was on “Combating Fake News, Hate Speech and the Cybercrime Acts.” The session featured insightful contributions from notable speakers such as MI Abaga and Halima Bello, who did justice to the topic in their respective areas of expertise.

On the other hand, MI Abaga, known not only for his music but also his advocacy on social issues, took a broader cultural and social perspective. He spoke passionately about the role of influencers and public figures in curbing hate speech and promoting responsible communication online. Abaga stressed that while legislation is necessary, societal change starts with individuals taking responsibility for the content they share. He emphasized the importance of critical thinking, especially among young people who are often the most active online. He also touched on the role of art and music in shaping public discourse and encouraged creators to use their platforms to counter harmful narratives.

At a masterclass on ‘How to build, leverage and monetise a movement around an idea, message and product or service”, Victor Bassey, Founder, gave insights to entrepreneurs, influencers and creatives on how to leverage and monetise influence in the marketplace. Attendees learnt the importance of creating intimate communities of people bound together by a common future represented by the ideas, message, product or service being promoted. Topics covered include how to create deeper more meaningful relationships with your target market; how to grow a bigger, more engaged and powerful audience and how to effortlessly create more sales and generate more revenue.

Together, their contributions offered a well-rounded view emphasizing that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue, it is a national security priority, and combating it requires a multi-stakeholder approach rooted in policy, education, and technology.