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OPINION

By Robert Kigongo

Often times have seen and read comments on social media handles especially WhatsApp status, Instagram, Facebook, TiKTOK and X formerly Twitter of majority people, captioning the social networking photos with the top dogs comments like;

‘Your network is your net worth’ other village-urban excited captioning ‘The Sky is the Limit’ and most intriguingly “we shall to go those places, they said, we shall never Go” as commonly used by friend Solomon Odongo, in the Uganda Youth Coalition for sustainable development Goals Network.

Unfortunately, many people social networking gatherings are just a mere Kodak moment or Nikon photo Moment opportunities, nothing more perhaps free lunch, refreshments and picking on those phone digits for careless late night whispers.

However, like our famous Latin school Motto of Mt.St.Mary’s College Namagunga and St. Mary’s college Kisubi states ‘Duc In Altum’ translated in queen’s language as ‘Set-off into the deep’ literary meaning going into the depth of things or deeper understanding of philosophies and implementation.

Therefore, we are setting off into repurposing networking as an arena for business opportunities, discovering investment opportunities through social synergies beyond mere Kodak and Nikon photo moments with who is who is society.

Back in school days of Kisubi, being a single boy’s boarding school, we used to be very anxious about moving out of school to socially meet and interact with students from other schools for the purpose of social networking mainly with girls from Trinity College Nabbingo and St.Henry girl’s school, Buyege.

After the visit, upon return we would get letters from girl schools read at the refectory and that would the most prestigious thing in our school life, but as adulthood clocked in meaning of networking has evolved from beyond getting letters but business opportunities, job contacts for the unemployed, grants contacts for those in Civil society, customer and clients for merchandise and consultancy work.

With the ever changing world the evolution of networking has transited from just social gathering networking to investment networking through constant factor of social synergies.

Are you ready to dive into a world where networking is beyond social investing isn't just about numbers and charts, but also about connections, conversations, and community? 

We're about to embark on a thrilling journey where investment meets social synergies, creating a dynamic blend of fun and profit!

When, I joined the Uganda Youth Coalition for sustainable development that was formed by the United Nations Resident Coordinators Office, it was an opportunity to socially associate with the United Nations agencies.

Subsequently, United Nations diplomats and communications staff trained us about an elevator pitch which is very critical before you out to network for a business opportunity;

‘In an elevator pitch one approaches a person of interest with a intention to utilise a minimally a single minute to introduce self, business or responsibility holds, exchange possible common areas of interest for partnerships and exchange business cards if any available’

For example, while attending the United Nations Platinum jubilee celebrations, I approached the Country director of UNICEF, did my thorough elevator pitch and follow up with an email that eventually opened a capacity building opportunities and soft grants for my organisation.

You're not just a lone wolf navigating business opportunities, grants, jobs and the stock market jungle anymore in this competitive world with scarcity;

Instead, you're part of a vibrant ecosystem where ideas flow freely, tips are shared generously, and successes are celebrated collectively.

Welcome to the world of investment through social synergies, where every trade becomes a story, every profit a shared victory, and every setback a lesson learned together.

Retrospectively, remember “Perception is King and facts are queen” wherefore, Pitching skills and product must be top notch with a niche to stand out at any given opportunity to present that business during conference, trade expo, social gathering, and innovation competition’

For instance, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) annually announces funding opportunities on Social media handles but only those with innovation products grab the opportunities.

For example, Shamim Kaliisa Nabuuma the founder of sol chills got a Five thousand US dollars for her special innovation product that forever changed her life as courtesy of social networking synergies.

Subsequently, gone are the days of solitary investing, where the only interaction you had was with your computer screen?

Now, with social synergies at play, your investment journey is transformed into a lively adventure filled with consultation and collaboration.

Whether you're a seasoned investor or a curious beginner, there's a seat at the table for everyone in this exciting new landscape.

But what exactly are social synergies, you ask? Think of them as the secret sauce that adds flavour to your investment strategy.

It's not just about what you know, but also who you know, and how you leverage those connections to make smarter decisions and achieve better outcomes.

From online forums to social media groups, the opportunities to connect with like-minded investors are endless, and the benefits are undeniable.

For example, Ronald Kaboye a scientist and environmental researcher opened LinkedIn account, where he connected with fellow professionals in People’s Republic of China and across the World and eventually physically got invited to annual National Eco Security Conference, as a result a partnership was formed, to start a National Eco security systems (NESS) network dealing in payment for eco system services, carbon credit and the chain of nature based businesses.

Therefore, it’s important to first subscribe to active popular social media handles on all commonly used Apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, X formerly Twitter, Instagram to connect with the virtual global community.

So, if you're tired of going it alone in the world of investment, why not harness the power of social synergies to supercharge your portfolio?

Open up to join a community where learning is fun, sharing is caring, and investing is not just a financial pursuit, but a social one too. The journey awaits – are you ready to embark?

Ideally, I propose that while networking you should be very strategic and intentional, scheme quality people who are literary more of multifaceted.

Investing in social synergies entail? The notion of investment in social synergies as a pivotal concept in contemporary scholarly discussions and at the core of the concept of social investment lies the idea of measurable 'returns on investment' or a social investment 'discount rate.

While social investment is often associated with economic growth, it is crucial to recognize that it is not a panacea for all economic challenges.

Nonetheless, through strategic investments in social synergies, policymakers can pave the way for inclusive and sustainable economic development, fostering resilience and prosperity for individuals and societies alike.

Social networking through joining synergies for business and investment reminds us that the ‘greatest resource for wealth are the Human beings’ not actually gold, diamond, oil, petroleum, uranium, heroine and opium that we treasure so much to extent of conflicts.

Human beings are ultimately, the market for our products and services driving demand and supply chain.

Therefore, maximising social networks can make us the billionaires and multi-national investors in Forbes Magazine.

The best example, is Mark Zuckerberg the Facebook founder, Shu chew the founder of TikTOK, Elon Musk the CEO of X who are making billions of dollars out social networking technologies.

Social networking in the fourth industrial revolution is threatened by rise of individualism, fraud, Dis-information and Mis-information, robots and Artificial intelligence, therefore building and strengthening social synergies can a tedious but sustainable to investments and business amidst those challenges.

Maberi Francis a member of Bugishu Cooperative Union is exporting two million coffee bags to Europe annually through a contact he met at the United Nations Food and Agriculture social networking farmers’ exhibition and expo.

Social networking is vividly contributing to a social fibric, as a result many humans have found potential love partners for the procreation as our cardinal duty on earth;

For example, Ms.Kigongo Faith iriza met husband Robert Kigongo on a social gathering, hmm the union now has two beautiful daughters and two sons.

Uganda-European annual trade Expo, Pascal Mugisha found a job opportunity through Martin Stuart a human resource officer at the European Union Investment Bank.

Social networking platform at Rotary club linked Rotarian Peter Kimbowa to join synergies with Rotarian Martin Kitaka for a million dollar agro-chemical Company.

Lawyer Julious Kanamwangi of “Kanamwani and Kassaga Company advocates” met a fellow lawyer Kassaga Robert at the residence of the American Ambassador during the 276 American Independence day celebrations in Uganda.

Additionally, with the mushrooming conferences, trade expos, regional cooperation meetings and United Nations conferences people must maximise on social networking for exposure and improve the civic competence of the peasantry populations.

It’s very hard for new ideas like social synergies in investments and unique people centred businesses to flourish in a peasantry society; Wherefore, leveraging on social Apps and other traditional gathering platforms to enlighten about the importance and critical role of Social networking in the spirit of ‘Leaving No One behind’.

Repurposing social networking through Social synergies is a guarantee and sustainable pathway through which, we can achieve Sustainable development Goal 17 an enabler of the other 16 SDGs.

The writer is a sustainable development analysist and chief diversity secretary at Human Nature projects