By Adeyemi Adepetun
SOCIAL media platform, Meta, has announced the launch of the ‘Good IdeasDeserve To Be Found’ campaign to spotlight the inspiring stories of the people behind the businesses who are using its technologies to achieve a social purpose and do impactful things across several industries in Nigeria.
Through this campaign, Meta aims to fuel the growth of indigenous small and medium businesses and empower them to further realise their ambitions.
The campaign also highlights how personalized ads help people discover small businesses on Facebook and Instagram. Using these ads, small businesses can grow their business digitally from an idea into a livelihood.
Corporate Communications Manager for Anglophone West Africa at Meta, Oluwasola Obagbemi, said; “As an enabler of economic growth, Meta is committed to helping SMBs navigate obstacles, build meaningful connections and unlock economic opportunity so they can continue making a positive impact on the world. “This festive season, we are delighted to provide SMBs with access to tools, personal advertising, training, support and solutions needed to grow their business. We continue our support of small businesses to ensure they have a voice and ensure their good ideas are found by the right people.”
In the past year, Meta had introduced free tools and resources, like Meta Business Suite, small business grant programs and virtual training to help small businesses to sell online and navigate the pandemic.
IN a related development, Africa No Filter, a narrative change organization and Meta have announced a new fund to improve Virtual Reality in Africa’s storytelling.
Supporting Extended Reality storytellers to develop new and compelling content about Africa, the program will provide grants and mentorship. “Future Africa: Telling Stories, Building Worlds” forms part of Meta’s focus on immersive technologies and Africa No Filter’s investments in innovative storytelling that shifts negative stereotypes about Africa.
Executive Director at Africa No Filter, Moky Makura, said, “Virtual Reality has the potential to take storytelling to another level. In this new metaverse, audiences don’t just get to watch a story unfold, they get to live in it. This is an opportunity for African content creators to push the boundaries of their creativity and innovation.”
Open from Monday, December 6, Africa No Filter and Meta are inviting Extended Reality creators to apply to the program, and receive funding of up to $30,000. Applicants must be of African descent and living in the continent, aged over 18 years, have a track record of XR content creation and have a portfolio of work showing their creativity and innovation.
The application, which is open to organisations and individuals, they will also need to show how the proposed project will tell an exciting African story that changes stereotypical narratives about the continent. Projects can use 360 Video, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality.
Commenting, Meta’s Public Policy Programs Director, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey, Sherry Dzinoreva, said: “We’re excited to be partnering with ANF to launch a fund that brings together the best of the African tech ecosystem to showcase innovations for the future and tell positive stories about Africa. Meta sits at the intersection of innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and social connection, and this investment is a vote of confidence in the strength of the African tech industry and its ongoing potential. I’m certainly proud that Africa will be helping to shape the metaverse experience from the start.”
Applications close on 7 January 2022. The program runs from February 13 to August 13, 2022. Participants must be available on these dates. The proposed project must also be completed within six months.
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