Social Media and Social Capital, Narratives from Oga Obinna and Dame Wa Facebook.

By Ekaale Ekuam 

In this age of positional and authoritative determinants being the major pieces of influence, social capital emerges as one more embedded to the core and lasting item. The importance of networking and having a conducive safety net are life lessons as is quite evident from the two cases of Oga Obinna and Dame Wa Facebook inspiring one to think deep about one's social capital and the people around.

One of my mentors, Professor Bitange Ndemo, Now an Ambassador of Kenya to Belgium, during my Graduate School days as  Senior Professor in the School of Business in the University of Nairobi while i was undertaking my Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, once shared a very powerful lesson that remains etched in my memory. He narrated his experience in government service as the Principal Secretary in charge of ICT during one of the lectures. Professor Bitange Ndemo was at the centre of scaling up the ICT sector in Kenya, particularly through the setting up the Undersea Cable a  consortium of Internet Service Providers in Kenya. This of course came with the job, where, in the middle of the night, his phone buzzed constantly, to take care of critical matters, and in a minute related to various stakeholders. Then, when he finally left the government, something surprising happened, his phone went silent.

First, he thought his device was faulty, only to verify that it was in perfect condition. The truth was, the calls he once received were no longer forthcoming. The people he thought paid him attention had patronised him, and in the end, respect and recognition had gone with position. As Simon Sinek put it so well, every respect that is accorded to you in whatever area you operate arises from the position that you hold; take away that position and see the attention evaporate.

This gets me back to one crucial point my professor mentioned, creating social capital. He had indicated that this was all about developing relationships that transcend the professional titles and positions held. "Do you have people you can call upon when life goes south, people who will listen to your deepest problems, and yet they will still be there for you?" he had posed. That, he said, was social capital.

Obinna is a very outstanding case of the power that lies in the social capital. I don't know him personally, but he is just one guy whose works and how he goes about life makes me his greatest fan. Through all the negative stories, like the claims of his many 'baby mamas' Obinna has defied all odds and made sure his kids got all they needed while also supporting whoever was around him. This is an indication that social capital is not determined by the numerous people surrounding an individual but by the relationships he or she has built and can be trusted and fully supported.

This is clearly seen in his friendship with Dame Wa Facebook. Introduced into the limelight through the Churchill Show, with the help of Daniel Ndambuki alias Churchill, Dame's has not been an easy ride. She was thoroughly abused and trolled online, but she stood firm, largely because of Obinna, who, in his great faith in her potential, stuck by her through thick and thin, thus proving more to her than just being a friend; he was her guardian angel.

Social capital is precisely what brought Dame Wa Facebook to the point where she now stands. It is this nature of support that does not desert when things hit rock bottom or the public denounces. Just as Churchill offered a helping hand, Obinna realized that support, which would let Dame make this talent something precious and viable.

As a freelance writer I am  encouraged by the words of the professor, who said, "all things are possible; only you have to believe in yourself and not worry about what others talk about," I tested freelance writing waters, a route that I would never have thought of taking earlier. Today, with each article completed, I ensure to send it to my professor for his comments, and quite naturally, his comments on my articles are always encouraging. I have believed in the firm belief in the process and this has been a rock upon which I press onward in growth much like Oga Obbina's  belief in Dame Was  Facebook.

So again, who is that person in your life who tells you the truth, believes in your promise, and is there for you even when the chips are down? For Dame wa  Facebook, it was Obinna, that he was going to use his testimony to show everyone that a real friend is he who keeps standing when all others take a seat. His faith in the process and his continued support for Dame Wa Facebook remind all of us of the need to protect our social capital. After all, it's not the titles we carry but whom we relate with that matters at the end of our sojourn here. Oga Obinna you inspire generations and unmask cloud chasers as you change lives. Keep Going Brother.

Author,

Is a Freelance Writer, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management.