Nunu Ntshingila, regional director of Facebook Africa, says, "At Facebook, we are passionate about helping talented young creatives across Africa and the Middle East to develop their skills and deliver great concepts that help brands to grow – while entertaining and informing the community. Africa and the Middle East’s emerging digital creatives represent a powerfully diverse pool of talent – one that holds the key to reaching the next billion people." 

Highlights scheduled for Facebook’s Loeries® Creative Week include:
  • Made on Mobile, Wednesday, 16 August – Facebook will host a hands-on workshop in KwaMashu township. Designed for local small to medium sized businesses, the session aims to help local SMBs create an engaging and effective business presence and campaign using only a mobile phone;
  • Instagram Durban’s Passions Hack, Thursday, 17 August – The hack is themed around Instagram and 'Stories'. Exploring quick, creative, and easy ways to use video and mobile to connect with passions on Instagram, students will be challenged to create stories about Durban, which will then be judged by a panel including Facebook’s Creative Shop and Durban Tourism;
  • Seminar of Creativity with Facebook Live, Friday, 18 August – Facebook’s head of Creative Shop for Middle East and Africa (MEA), Weera Saad will be speaking at the Seminar of Creativity. Exploring mobile as the new creative canvas and how Africa can be driving innovation through its use, the Seminar will also be shown on Facebook Live to encourage conversation around mobile and creativity; and 
  • Student Category Award, Saturday, 19 August – New this year is Facebook’s very own award – The Facebook Challenge in the student category of the Loeries® Awards. This recognises and celebrates the achievements of the next generation of creative professionals who are redefining creativity on mobile.  

"I am excited to be part of the journey that Facebook and The Loeries® have embarked on to invest in and grow the next generation of creatives," says Weera Saad, head of creative shop Facebook for the Middle East and Africa. “It will be a pleasure to speak to young creatives in the region about how they can use mobile and video platforms to build connections, conversations, and communities."

For more information, visit www.loeries.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.