Social Media Week Lagos 2014 has been up to a great start featuring over 134 events – panels, workshops, keynotes, networking sessions and entertainment events across 5 main venues and other independent ones between the duration February 17 – 21.

Some of major highlights from the Events that have already taken place include Making IT! Leveraging Owned Online Platforms as a Beauty Entrepreneur Hosted by House of Tara International.

The Social Media Report event by Alder consulting showing a comprehensive analysis of social media adoptions by brands, organizations, and individuals from different sector.

The event featured the Principal Consultant, Leke Alder, alongside a panel lead by Founding Partner of RED, Adebola Williams.  Ranmi Ajayi (Politics), Subomni Plumptre (Business), Kate Henshaw (Entertainment), and Blossom (Advocacy) were all on the panel and the discussion revolved around the impact of social media in the sectors they represented, and one resounding point was the increased reach and ability to engage virtually were the benefits.

An evening with leaders was another major event which was headlined by The Honorable Minister of Communication Technology, Mobolaji Johnson, Angel Investor and Technology Entrepreneur, Tomi Davies, Nkiru Asika, and Enough is Enough’s Yemi Ademolekun were on the panel which took place at the Experience Center VolksWagen Hall. The Keynote of the Minister focused on How Nigeria is leveraging Social Media in Commerce, Communication & Citizen Engagement.

She emphasized on the importance of social media as a tool to engage with citizens but warned about the propensity to believe it all ends there, without seeing the need to continue dialogue and actions offline. Tomi Davies talked about the Angel Network and investment going into tech startups in Nigeria.

Yemi of EiE added the responsibility the connected few have in educating the offline crowd. “Online cannot suddenly make something work if it is not already working offline” –  said Nkiru Asika which summarized the centre of discussion – a warning for overestimating the power of online tools such as social media, a point also raised by What’s Up Africa’s Ikenna. Other guest features includes Femi Oke for Aljazeera’s Social Media and Global Health, Luvvie’s and Wordcamp Nigeria masterclass session on Blogging, and Tech Africa’s fireside chat with Wakanow’s Co-Founder, Raphael on social media and Travel and Tourism.