Terms and Conditions Apply

This is a very familiar phrase that anyone who have used a product or promotions in Nigeria would be

A friend told me that in this country. Very recently I got a message on my phone, apparently a CDMA operator in Nigeria came up with a promotion that looks great. I called the company representative to get further details any every thing looks intact. So I was encouraged to switch my current plan to enjoy the plan. I did! Only to discover that I was crazily billed and could not  enjoy the data services on the previous plan.  Each time I place a call to the customer care, they either reply " There is nothing I can do sir" or some simply but professionally end the the call. This is very annoying.

It was then it occurred to me that some people(Senators, Policy makers and Regulators) do not get treated this way as our money do not really mater in this equation. If this continue we may adopt this as normal practice. My friend usually tell that it's only those that have money are role models. Whether he is a good or bad guy it does not matter and a cursory look at this is true. Because those in the regulatory body do not know why they are there in first place this is why they abuse the position. Well will I blame them no The leaders come form the populace where the average person have similar mindset this why decision are not taking with due process or on merit but rather favoritism  an leaders will always prefer to keep everyone in the dark. I still do not understand what the minister of information and technology do at Abuja other that press conferences where he is sitting one the gateway of Nigerian economy. 

My advocacy is that until we increase the education and quotient level of the average Nigerian before  we start to see dramatic changes in business and governance. This is why I Nigerians out there should strongly consider coming back home to make difference in their little way. And with that we will create the kind of Nigeria we are all proud of.

Life of a Nigerian Developer

Growing up in Nigeria is a bewildering experience talk less of trying out creating stuffs in areas of technology space that most of the Nigerian populace can not immediately relate with- creating app and showing this to some it's like  traveling in a lonely road without end in sight. Because of the deprivation, most neglect the every day people business and the majority run after the wealthy minority few. When they mess up or do business the wrong way, we make excuses for them and their standards becomes the acceptable norm. So how will   technology and technologist bring the change we crave?

Firstly, most developers didn't get to learn from proper learning for IT but most learn through trial and error and are mostly still not found online. It's not that Nigerian do not have great ideas or initiatives but the reality is the people who have the idea have gotten the ideas stolen or do not have the money to fund it and the one with funds may be overly greedy, place unrealistic demands and rates of return (probably to get back money ASAP) or may just not be interested due to ignorance. 

Also another reason for the slow growth in the sector is that the costs are prohibitive take for instance an average developer wants to create application solutions at his closet, he must personally get all the hardware and softwares including the skills to run them, at that stage if it didn't work out or gets damaged he may be crippled by the failure think of other faster options especially when the developer is faced with basic realities facing him i.e Food, house rent, internet cost etc. 

Due to high deprivation and yeaning for a better life a typical programmer resort to 419 or hacking and to make matters worse Because hard work is usually not noticed let alone rewarded while mediocrity and sycophancy is greatly celebrated,  most Nigerians are forced to do what they are not cut out for.

Africa Is the focus for buzz and investments there two things to happen: Every good and bad on ground will be currently in Africa will be magnified revolutionary tech break through and sophisticated level of crime and corruption. Also redistribution of wealth -true entrepreneurs will emerge from producing goods and services because you can't give what you don't have. So if you are an African outside of Africa, this is the time to start thinking of of returning to build a greater Africa.