Let it be on the record. That as of today 3rd day in May, 2010, Apple has sold it's 1millionth iPad within it's first month of release.
Well, i'm not a big Apple/Mac fan (I love Microsoft, Windows and PCs with a knack) and Mac platforms are not common on my side of the world but, turns out Apple has successfully blazed the trail with tablet computers (iPad) and smartphones (iPhone).
I don't use the iPhone, i use a Nokia smartphone (and i'm proud of it), and my laptop runs Windows 7 64-bit edition (real hot) and like it or not these are the biggest raves of the moment and you might say i ain't moving with the trend (although i can't really afford any one right now, i mean, i'll rather invest that money). But come to think of it, Apple products are not meant for business oriented people like me. Most Apple products are streamlined towards multimedia and the youth (not that am not youth nor multimedia inclined) and those ain't my priorities now. I need business tools. And the worst part, Apple products have become STATUS symbols rather than their intended purposes in Nigeria. And that's why you see people walking around and raising their finger into the air and punching hard on their iPhone screens like "yeah! I use an iPhone you fool"
Showing posts with label Nigeria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nigeria. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Life and Business in Northern Nigeria
I am a Nigerian and as anybody will definitely know, Nigeria is divided into two: the predominantly muslim North and the predominantly christian South.
I, am from the predominantly christian south hailing from Oyo state, home to West Africa's largest and Africa's second largest city, Ibadan.
At home, there's the general impression about the North being very backward in terms of development, education and standard of living (Actually, the last two are relatively positive) but, it's quite funny that many years of military dictatorship under Northern Generals saw a bulk of the country's funds invested in Major projects in the North, thus the major states in the North aren't as bad as many will expect.
In the short time i've spent up north, i've visited/stayed in at least 3 states: Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Abuja. Without doubt, Abuja being the federal capital is the most developed and advanced state up north; Kaduna, is kinda the military capital of Nigeria with most military installations present there. But no place is more surprising than Kano, the self acclaimed and mostly evident "Centre of Commerce".
Walking around the streets of Kano state, you're prepared to see a mixture of classes, the super rich and the super poor, flashy cars, major markets and the best cuisines (It's well known that the average Hausa man doesn't joke with his stomach).
But most surprising is the volume of trade that goes down in these markets. With big textile markets, big food markets big household items markets and the highest population of expatriates (Mostly Lebanese, Chinese and Indians), Kano is definitely a huge representation of the amount of business that can go down up North. With these levels, it's definitely evident that Kano has a lot of business opportunities with new companies sprawling up everyday (although they are mostly owned by intellectual southerners and expatriates rushing to get the best out of an untapped resource), high rise buildings built by Northerners who have been able to exploit their state's wealth or made their wealth from the old military regimes, and cheap labour and living standards relatively available. It's little wonder why i decided to try out our company's luck up North.
With two government contracts almost within our grasp, there's no reason why we wouldn't spread out our tentacles to other Northern states and make the best of sprawling business opportunities.
I, am from the predominantly christian south hailing from Oyo state, home to West Africa's largest and Africa's second largest city, Ibadan.
At home, there's the general impression about the North being very backward in terms of development, education and standard of living (Actually, the last two are relatively positive) but, it's quite funny that many years of military dictatorship under Northern Generals saw a bulk of the country's funds invested in Major projects in the North, thus the major states in the North aren't as bad as many will expect.
In the short time i've spent up north, i've visited/stayed in at least 3 states: Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Abuja. Without doubt, Abuja being the federal capital is the most developed and advanced state up north; Kaduna, is kinda the military capital of Nigeria with most military installations present there. But no place is more surprising than Kano, the self acclaimed and mostly evident "Centre of Commerce".
Walking around the streets of Kano state, you're prepared to see a mixture of classes, the super rich and the super poor, flashy cars, major markets and the best cuisines (It's well known that the average Hausa man doesn't joke with his stomach).
But most surprising is the volume of trade that goes down in these markets. With big textile markets, big food markets big household items markets and the highest population of expatriates (Mostly Lebanese, Chinese and Indians), Kano is definitely a huge representation of the amount of business that can go down up North. With these levels, it's definitely evident that Kano has a lot of business opportunities with new companies sprawling up everyday (although they are mostly owned by intellectual southerners and expatriates rushing to get the best out of an untapped resource), high rise buildings built by Northerners who have been able to exploit their state's wealth or made their wealth from the old military regimes, and cheap labour and living standards relatively available. It's little wonder why i decided to try out our company's luck up North.
With two government contracts almost within our grasp, there's no reason why we wouldn't spread out our tentacles to other Northern states and make the best of sprawling business opportunities.
Friday, April 30, 2010
The Nigerian Business Environment
Of course am Nigerian and yes my company is in Nigeria. Although we're still a small startup company just taking web development, IT and business consulting as well as database management projects, truth is we're a company and we're doing business.
Coming to the main point of my "rant", we've been in business for a few years but we ain't really what we wanted to be yet. Why? Well no thanks to the business environment in Nigeria. Yes, my own Nigeria.
When the first ideas came up, i wanted to startup a software company. The qualifications were there as well as the experience and a few tools. But, i'm not from an extremely rich family so startup capital wasn't much of my friend. Guess you'll ask me "is your family the only source of startup capital?", my answer will be "no of course". "ain't banks there to provide loans?" and i'll scream out Nahhhh! ! !, not in Nigeria.
Guess what can be most painful than loosing your entire investment is drafting down a good business plan, accompany it with a good loan application letter and getting turned down by the big boys, yeah "Nigerian banks".
Banks don't encourage startup, they're too scared to throw a bit of their excess profit into new businesses.
Another option: Microfinance banks, guess they're worse. Ever been to a microfinance bank for a loan of a hundred thousand naira and you're asked to bring a Toyota or Honda car for collateral, well it happened to me.
Hard point: we need business reforms in Nigeria.
Pray it comes soon enough
Coming to the main point of my "rant", we've been in business for a few years but we ain't really what we wanted to be yet. Why? Well no thanks to the business environment in Nigeria. Yes, my own Nigeria.
When the first ideas came up, i wanted to startup a software company. The qualifications were there as well as the experience and a few tools. But, i'm not from an extremely rich family so startup capital wasn't much of my friend. Guess you'll ask me "is your family the only source of startup capital?", my answer will be "no of course". "ain't banks there to provide loans?" and i'll scream out Nahhhh! ! !, not in Nigeria.
Guess what can be most painful than loosing your entire investment is drafting down a good business plan, accompany it with a good loan application letter and getting turned down by the big boys, yeah "Nigerian banks".
Banks don't encourage startup, they're too scared to throw a bit of their excess profit into new businesses.
Another option: Microfinance banks, guess they're worse. Ever been to a microfinance bank for a loan of a hundred thousand naira and you're asked to bring a Toyota or Honda car for collateral, well it happened to me.
Hard point: we need business reforms in Nigeria.
Pray it comes soon enough
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