Why Africa May Never Produce A Facebook, Groupon, Zynga Or Google

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2011/04/07/why-africa-may-never-produce-a-facebook-groupon-zynga-or-google/

This was the title of a post by an african reporter on Forbes Africa. As I read the post I couldn't disagree with the writers point.

But I still refused to believe africa can't or doesn't have the capability to produce $billion Internet companies.

More even now am interested in knowing or finding out about the ground breaking ideas out there. Because I believe before funding there must be ground shaking ideas and innovations. The writer did make mention of a few but (I stand to be corrected that) we still lack a lot.

So my thought and question has been rephrased from the reporter's.

Where are all Nigeria's programmers and developers?

If not even web apps, Where are the new android and iOs apps? Why don't we have them crawling all over the place?

The mobile platforms are speedingly taken over. Plus from my little research and understanding the cost/effort to produce these apps have greatly been reduced by there inventors.

Sure, We have produced the likes of jobberman and Iroko yet one can still say these are not industry disruptive companies.

Finally, Someone might ask "why haven't I produced mine?" Well I have always enjoyed been on the non-tech (idea guy) side of the game. But we all know many tech guyz in nigeria aren't ready to grow startups (I stand to be corrected again). They do would rather aim for jobs with the oil companies. Have got 1st hand experience on this myself even with some NL programmers. So recently have decided to jump in and start building programming skills. Cos I really really just hate this Article Title!

Now fellow geeks let's hear your thoughts...

That is just it. African entrepreneurs need angel financiers. We need people that will be willing to invest massively in our ideas. But I can authoritatively tell you that web and mobile app developers in Africa especially in Nigeria are not sleeping. Most of us are quietly getting ready to offer a game-changing, ground-breaking and out-of-the-box products to the African IT landscape. Guys are quietly, but steadily getting ready to unleash the genius in them. The finance will come when we are ready.

But as I read the article, I could not help but ask myself the pertinent yet habitually unanswered question: What about Africa? Why hasn’t a globally-renown, groundbreaking software, social network or mobile application ever emerged from the continent?

From my experiences, I have discovered that Africa equally has its own plethora of techies with earth-shaking ideas, rock-solid business plans and the commercial know-how required to transform a concept into a world-class business concern. There is no shortage of capacity. Africa has some extremely intelligent techpreneurs.

Africans can create hugely successful tech products that will sweep the world off its feet. There are several entrepreneurs out there waiting to break through, but their ideas might never see the light of day because of a lack of seed finance.

One thing i know for sure, what Africa isn't lacking is talent

Javanian:
One thing i know for sure, what Africa isn't lacking is talent

Talent? From what perspective? Not good enough programming skills?

Pls and if any1 has or knows any new apps or software out there that seems promise I would for them to. Share it

The problem with africa is the absence of angel investors/venture capitalist. Imagine someone like me(17 yrs) going into d bank asking 4 loan to startup an internet business,the next thing is d bank manager (whatever dey call themselves)asking me 4 collateral,like i have any property.

Check this recent thread i opened in Nairaland
http://nairaland.com/1401052/nigerian-banks-grant-teenagers-loans

.we africans hate cracking our brains, we go to school to read engineering so that we can work in big companies and earn lucrative pay not because we want to think of inventing a car, tv or any other thing, with all the sun we have, the solar panel was invented by the whites who dont have as much sunlight like ours, because we hardly sit down to think, we live, go to school, finish school to find a job so that we can eat, even our programmers hardly try anything new other than creating websites so that the can eat

Shebi we get Nairaland naw


It is a Pan-African forum ruled by heavy-handed moderators who ban you till your greatest grand children will come and reopen your profile

It is a forum that is also known for its biased views and its gangsterism.


There you have it. Who talk say naija nor get their own Facebook

Mu che che che che che che che

Who needs a Facebook,Google,Yahoo,e.t.c when you've got a Nairaland?

At least Seun we produced NAIRALAND sha

so we now know the problems,how do we solve them??

?

pDude: Shebi we get Nairaland naw


It is a Pan-African forum ruled by heavy-handed moderators who ban you till your greatest grand children will come and reopen your profile

It is a forum that is also known for its biased views and its gangsterism.


There you have it. Who talk say naija nor get their own Facebook

Mu che che che che che che che

Pan-African i tot nairaland is for Nigerians...well as the name implies.
maybe the name should be changed to appeal to a larger African audience

Africans, we've got the idea but not the finance.
If enough cash could be put into our dear Nairaland, am very sure Mr. Seun has got a lot of plans for this forum.

[size=16pt]We also lack ingenuity. this is one big problem.

every one wants to create a nairaland, a facebook, a blog haba e don dooo naaaa[/size]

Nairaland

Trash. Just watch out for some young Nigerians in few years time who'd lift Africa's image as the next IT capital particularly NIGERIA.

pDude: Shebi we get Nairaland naw


It is a Pan-African forum ruled by heavy-handed moderators who ban you till your greatest grand children will come and reopen your profile

It is a forum that is also known for its biased views and its gangsterism.


There you have it. Who talk say naija nor get their own Facebook

Mu che che che che che che che

Brimmie: Na So So UnilagOlodo And Amebor Dot Cum We Sabi Do!!

Linda lailai moimoi blog dot cum

Same reason Africa may never manufacture an aeroplane, for instance.

In Africa, there is a cavalier attitude towards technology and innovation, they'd much rather buy finished products from other parts of the world.

The governments don't invest in the younger generation, programmers in Africa don't have all the necessary tools at their disposal and for those who manage to succeed, little or no attention/notice is given to them.

It is hard enough trying to be the next Zuckerberg or Larry page, even in the most advanced of countries, then talk much of Africa where the odds are all stacked up against you, your chances are next to nothing.

Mtcheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew....wetin happen 2 LAGBOOK??

Nigerians need to participate in online works that will bring the finance to their country. Paypal is the problems in African countries as you can only send money but not receive money. I have the solution for you to receive money via paypal. This works like wonder. Check on http://www.paypalverifiedaccount.com/nigeria/

Javanian:





One thing i know for sure, what Africa isn't lacking is talent

I so AGREE. Whilst in NIIT I saw smart dudes who were good at their stuff. Where it not for my parents strong-arming into university I would have been on Seun's path more likely without seeing Nairaland.

it is impossible until it happens.

On the bright side we have Nairaland and Nairabook (tbh).

THERE IS A GROUP ON FACEBOOKC ALLED SILICON AFRICA

ITS HAS NAIRALAND FOUNDER
IROKO TV AND MUSIC FOUNDER
HOTELS.NG FOUNDER
JUMIA FOUNDER

AND MOST OF THE INFLUENTIAL FOUNDERS IN NIGERIAN TECH

MOST OF YOU NEED TO GO THERE

Zikdik: Who needs a Facebook,Google,Yahoo,e.t.c when you've got a Nairaland?

Indeed. If Nairaland disappears today what will we even have as our own space. Truth be told, I surf here more than social sites, Nairaland is in my top 3: Google comes first

.

What Africa lacks is creativity.We always want to copy the western world or build on what they have created.