I just tried Google’s Business Sitebuilder created for Get Nigerian Businesses Online (GNBO) initiative. Swift and easy to use. It even offers custom “com.ng” registration for just N1200 per year (about $7). Google hosts the sites free. I must say I like it!
Google’s strategy in Nigeria is primarily directed at getting people online, and creating and growing local content. This makes a lot of sense. At about 150 million, Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, with the second largest economy after South Africa, and with at least 24 million Internet users (as of 2009), about 17% of the population. And of more than 1 million registered businesses in Nigeria, only 17,000 have presence online. Continue reading…
Nigeria’s Afrinolly won Google Android Developer Challenge, and will receive about US $25,000. Afrinolly is an application that enables users to view and share movies and videos, and entertainment news on mobile phones. The app was launched by FansConnectOnline earlier this month.
While Afrinolly won in the Entertainment/Media/Games category, two Kenyans, David Lemayian of Capefield Ltd and Gerald Kibugi of Elan Telemedia , won the prize for Social/Communication and Productivity categories.
Afrinolly is available for download on Android market
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, Nigerian change-maker
Growing up in Nigeria, Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu spent his after-school hours raising poultry and cattle. After high school, as he participated in youth and citizens’ associations helping farmers, Ikegwuonu quickly became aware that the rural community had little access to information about farming practices and environmental issues.
Today, Nnaemeka is multi-award-winning activist/entrepreneur: he developed a sustainable community owned and managed radio through which farmers can share knowledge with each other. Continue reading…
IRIN writes:
Some 5,000 inhabitants from five villages in Nigeria’s northern Kano state have threatened to relocate to the state capital, Kano, in protest at 30 years of grappling with acute water shortages.
Villagers in Rigar-Rana, Agale, Dandani, Kwabo and Barebari in Gwarzo district, 120km south of Kano city, collectively announced they would leave after the September harvest, following 15 years of fruitless appeals to local authorities to build a well.
None of the five villages has access to open or closed wells.
Are there no entrepreneurs in Kano State to turn around this ‘water situation’ for decent profit? What an excellent opportunity for the taking!
Doing Business in Nigeria 2008 measures the ways in which government regulations enhance or restrain business activity at the subnational level. 
The report compares 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory with each other and with 178 countries around the world. Four Doing Business topics are covered: starting a business, dealing with licenses, registering property, and enforcing contracts. These indicators have been selected because they cover areas of local jurisdiction or practice.
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