i didn't have so much problem understanding how to use a computer as i am fast learner. i started using a computer in 2009, but had access to internet in 2011. i thank God now, am programmer and web developer

Nigerians can be stupid at times.That cafe attendant is a dumb Lady

oweniwe: 1993 ? 1997 ?

Computers were very scarce in nigeria at d time

You said scarce, not unavailable.

^^ ya. . Like. . Only one office/center have a desktop in a whole town. . . In 1997 . . Most officer were still using typewriter. .

It wasn't until 1999/2000 that computers started small and medium businesses started buying computers

Logan's shadow:
Nigerians can be stupid at times.That cafe attendant is a dumb Lady

not just her. . Thats how most Nigerians do. Once they have small power or they're in a position. . Even company gate man. . They'll start serious forming

I went to a company recently to make a simple vacancy enquiry and the Admin officer, after being called on the intercom , said i should come back in 3 days time coz the day is not a visiting day

Ironically, a British Human Resources Manager warmly welcomed me to his office and answered same enquiry even though its not a visiting day

I started with 286 cpu the speed was 50mghz, hdd 100mb, ram 8mb. windows 3.1 then computers don't boot to desktop.
Our uncle came with this thing from abroad (laptop). He was using it without light we were all amazed, how can a device work without light. One day he left this thing on the table and we managed to put it on and off. When he came back and said somebody touched the thing to us na TV we all denied unknowingly to us if you on earlier version of windows without shutting down it must scan for error the next time you power it on.
We learn the hard way. Did you know earlier version browsers don't recognize domain name like nairaland.com you must type the ip address. I once formatted computer i was using ah!. everything is easy now. before who you be to install windows wen you never set active partition in DOS

Bennymontana: when it comes to computers,we can neva stop learning...shikena

true. . There's so much to be learnt. .

Thats only when you have your own PC sha. . If you don't have a PC. . . . Its like being out of school

JUO: I STARTED WITH 286 CPU THE SPEED WAS 50MGHZ, HDD 100MB, RAM 8MB. WINDOWS 3.1 THEN COMPUTERS DON'T BOOT TO DESKTOP. . . DID YOU KNOW EARLIER VERSION BROWSERS DON'T RECOGNIZE DOMAIN NAME LIKE NAIRALAND.COM YOU MUST TYPE THE IP ADDRESS. I ONCE FORMATTED COMPUTER I WAS USING AH!. EVERYTHING IS EASY NOW. BEFORE WHO YOU BE TO INSTALL WINDOWS WEN YOU NEVER SET ACTIVE PARTITION IN DOS

JUO: I started with 286 cpu the speed was 50mghz, hdd 100mb, ram 8mb. windows 3.1 then computers don't boot to desktop.
Our uncle came with this thing from abroad (laptop). He was using it without light we were all amazed, how can a device work without light. One day he left this thing on the table and we managed to put it on and off. When he came back and said somebody touched the thing to us na TV we all denied unknowingly to us if you on earlier version of windows without shutting down it must scan for error the next time you power it on.
We learn the hard way. Did you know earlier version browsers don't recognize domain name like nairaland.com you must type the ip address. I once formatted computer i was using ah!. everything is easy now. before who you be to install windows wen you never set active partition in DOS

i installed windows 3.1 on virtual box the other day as a fun project. Lets just say it was a daunting task. And you can install windows today in your sleep. IT has gone a long way.

Sagytarius:
Thank me later.

thanks. . It was a typo error. . I'v corrected it

Yomieluv: seriously mine was worse,thought i could speak to a computer to open a page. I was big time mumu then.even now,am still not a computer guru sef,just know the basic things.

don't worry. . We all have our good and bad experiences. . Some days, you'll get there

nigerianescorts: It was horrible

gist us nau

oweniwe: I'll set the ball rolling. .

Back then in 2003/4 or so when i was in SS2, African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta, the Government Teacher gave us an assignment to browse about. . "legitimacy". . , print out the web page and submit to him.

I followed some class mates to a nearby cyber cafe and was amazed at how they were operating the "computer set". I was so ashamed as i watched them browsing. . My mates are computer literate while i stood there looking dumbly at them. .

So. . I started saving my taxi fare. . I would trek a long distance way from Olomore to Saint Peters' or Lafenwa and then take taxi from there to school. . That way, i was able to save N20 for about 2 weeks until i hav N200. I didn't bother to ask folks at home for "cyber cafe money" coz i knew the kind of reply i would get.

When the N200 was complete, i went to a cyber cafe bought a 30 minutes ticket (cyber cafe was expensive in those days). . Na there my problem start o. . I didn't know how to "enter" the ticket so i called they cafe attendant. She came over, gave me one crazy look, "pressed some keys on d computer" and walked away. .

I sighed and began to fiddle with the mouse. It wasn't long before i started to draw the attention of other cafe users. . I started hearing unpleasant remarks. . "see as this boy dey waste time. . See as e dey look like mumu . . . "

The cafe attendant became irked and walked up to me. . She was very rude this time. . "what are you doing?" . . "i want to open yahoo" . . "then open yahoo" . . "how will i open yahoo?". . She just hissed loudly, entered yahoo url into the address bar. .

When yahoo page loaded, i continued to fiddle with the mouse. . Na so i hear one loud voice behind me. . "you this boy, if you don't know how to use computer, why you come waste your money?"

I just ignored him and continued fiddling with the mouse while praying for my ticket to run out quickly. I was lucky when a church member came in. . I called him over. . He gave me my first tips on how to browse. . My ticket expired. . . As i left the cafe, i could hear loud laughter everywhere until i got into the streets. .

I wasn't deterred sha. . I continued trekking to school. . Save some taxi fare. . Try out a new cyber cafe. . Ask ether users for tips. . .

Today. . About 10 years later. . People hail me as a "Computer Professor" . . But when i look back . . How the "journey" started. . . It wasn't easy. . I just laugh it off

i hail thee my AfroGrams peeps
I got introduced to the computer in primary school but became an expert in secondary school ss1/ss2,always going to the cafe to listen to music,watch videos on yahoo music,chat with Oyinbo on the different chat groups,40's love,50's love,hip hop,etc and the first thing people reply when you message them first was "asl"
#TeamSacredHeartCatholicCollege CMN cyber cafe and roof top cafe both at the "allen street" of Abeokuta Oke-Ilewo

wild child:
i hail thee my AfroGrams peeps
I got introduced to the computer in primary school . . . #TeamSacredHeartCatholicCollege CMN cyber cafe and roof top cafe both at the "allen street" of Abeokuta Oke-Ilewo

primary school? Which primary school den dey teach computer for naija? Abi na ajebutter school u go?

I really miss ABK . . Those green taxis. . Quiet and serene environment. . Water scarcity during dry season. . Nice people. . Ya. . Nice people

oweniwe: primary school? Which primary school den dey teach computer for naija? Abi na ajebutter school u go?

I really miss ABK . . Those green taxis. . Quiet and serene environment. . Water scarcity during dry season. . Nice people. . Ya. . Nice people

My primary school dey teach oo,Montessori Nur & Pry School Idi Aba.
I dont really miss ABK,i shuffle between her and Lagos now + but miss those secondary school days like cray...cant wait for 28th,our reunion party

Ms Nas: 1993. Our school got some new PCs, those types that had bulky backs and vertical CPUs I remembered being so scared to touch it, lest I destroyed it Fast forward, 1997 my secondary school decided to make Computer Science and Music a core subject for all of us. The rest is history. Now I'm getting an Msc in Information Technology (Software development and Ethical Hacking) Yaff upgraded But back then, I was a correct bush gehl. Kai

Please help me with d name of where U did ur courses. I wanna get a certification in Ethical Hackin too

Back then in 2002/03, my classmates like Kayode, Sessi, Mariam etc would bring printouts of Passions (A soap opera showin on AIT) to school. They always said they got d stuff from d internet & dat me too can surf d internet @ a cafe. So I went on my own one day to go and read Passions. I tot that Passions would magically appear after typing in d ticket. To my amazement, it was Super Mario dat I saw on d screen. So I patiently sat and waited for d Passions to pop-up.

D cafe attendant noticed that I was just sitting there doin nothin. So she came to me to ask wat d prob was. I proudly told her I was waitin for Passions to appear. Na so she and oda people 4 d Cafe start to laff me.

In d end, d time I bought expired and I didn't read my Passions. I left d cafe vowin never to go back.

But my curiosity got d better of me & today without goin to any computer school, I have improved dramatically.

wow that was around 1997 or 1998. my Dad's office at then Unipetrol now Oando just started fiddling with it played Prince of Persia on it and practically fell in love with. I'm a Certified Internet Addict now (to qualify you need to spend 24 Hours online) lol . care to check out some of my sites www.scholarsdome.com www.tipsdome.com

My computer learning experience was so pathetic! I started by tryin to open an e-mail acct with www.bayobk@yahoo.com. Almost everybodi in d cyber cafe laughed me. But today I'm a computer engineer.

My first computer experience was in 1997. There wasn't any issue because I had an uncle who put me through it.

Interesting thread.

Mine was in the early 90s. Whenever i go to my dad's office (a govt parastatal). There is this room (computer room) i sometimes go to check on him if he isnt in his own office. The room had about 10 TV like boxes with black screen (Back then when it wasnt GUI like we have now, but MS Dos (command prompt). and i see people and my dad operating it. when i go back i ll tell my brothers that i saw some lovely TV sets in dad's office. I became so curios and wanted to know more on those TV like equipment that people sat close to and punch some calculator like buttons to operate.
The in 1995, my dad bought some Computers some for his own personal office and 1 at home. A colleague of his came to help him setup and load the computer and i would stay behind them to watch what they do. He then told the guy to teach my mum how to use the computer so i will join them (even though my mama no sabi the thing till date even sms sef she no sabi send. only to receive and make calls and read sms so na me and my brothers the man teach as against my mama).

When they go to work, i would power on the computer at home and navigate through the computer till i knew where the games was, so i became addicted to the computer and games. My dad also encouraged us to use it whenever we are free.

By 1997, my mum opened a business center and computer training school. Rather than go home after school, i would go the the center and assist out. that was how i became good at operating computers.

Now i earn a living working with computers

Mine was in 1996, my dad just bought us our PC but were lucky enough to have the installer quickly put us through some basic computer operations and we moved on from there. Anyway, i started with games (prince of persia, doom, wolf, heretics, duke nukem, etc) though. Today, i'm a software/web developer plus an IT consultant... Belittle not the days of little beginings. May God help all the aspiring and we the struggling ones. AMEN!

expensive007: My computer learning experience was so pathetic! I started by tryin to open an e-mail acct with www.bayobk@yahoo.com. Almost everybodi in d cyber cafe laughed me. But today I'm a computer engineer.

LOL . . No be your fault. .

Even me then. . I didn't know the difference between email address and a website URL

@ omodapson, richfaxy & hollas2jnr . .

You guys are very lucky. . . Some parents eh . . If you mention computer to them, they'll size you up and down and tell you to "get out of my sight" !

My elder bro had to quarrel with Dad before bought us laptops while in uni . . Its not as if Dad doesn't have the money. . He does . . But with old school mentality. . If you mention "computer", he'll just wave you off.

And its very sad that many Nigerian parents are still like that.

First experience.. way back 2000... opened my first email address which i still proudly use (yahoomail ).. then i started hearing google this, google that from all some university guys that use to come to the cafe.. then i start nite browsing with some friends (as in Yahoo yahoo thinz ; i don stop am now- i didn't make a single kobo )

I would say the yahoo yahoo experience really helped me launch into the world of computers.. as at then the kind of thins i could do ehn you'll be very surprised (how many people even know wetin be email).

I still very great with computers and constantly improving.. I can still do a lot of amazing things with powerful computer programs u'll faint (Kidding )

Thats it. Nyce 1

Omo mehn...ma own story was d same, also in 2003... I was in pry6 then.. I actually didn't know cafe was in my town until my friend came to my house and started yarnning abt browsing.

I became intrested instantly, and went to the cafe, but I was too shy/afraid to enter.

Me and my friend contributed some amount of money and went together, we were 3, we just wasted the whole 1hr, we were even perssing the sleep botton on the keyboard... Xoxo funny sha... But the cafe was close to my house, so after school I usually go there, just lurk around, and noticed how they were doing it.

Later sha, I learnt few things, and I started twerking maself, started helping people too, and became famous through the process, later I graduated to phone/fbt guru...and now.. Doing big with IM.

Snoggy: LMAO! I remember when my teacher asked us to type our names. .... My own na just 6 letters oh. I used almost 2 minutes. It was difficult locating the letters on the keyboard.

I was embarrassed.

what do u mean boi, even your fake as:s teacher ain't know anything about computers Too. So I guess the classroom was filled with confuse student and teacher acting like they have just seen a mirror for the first time

I hate computers after what it did to me last month in front of my parents and My aunties. I was actually watching blue film on my laptop (thanks to my GF dat dumped me) and the battery doesn't last for 1min so decided to hibernate so dat I will continue from where I stopped once I power it on again. Later dat evening I came to the house not knowing my dad have being bragging how proud he is dat I'm a computer guru. So he said I should bring my laptop and show my aunties the website I created myself, I opened my laptop and my mum even said I should sit next to her so she can see it properly. immediately I plugged and power the laptop on it didn't even wait for me to press play it started playing by it self. And the ashawo girl was just screaming, I tried to switch it off but it wouldn't . It was just so awkward . my dad almost killed me. My aunties and my parents started lecturing me about porn site like I'm in JSS1. Wats up with girls sef when having sexx dey will be screaming, like its paining you sef. Nonsense. I fuckingggg hate win7, windows 1992 might be better nonsense. Playing automatically without my consent .

It all started in primary school with the knowledge of asdf , secoundary schl was a bit advancement with the one my teacher taught me in primary schl days but thank God sha with some little research and trainings and as an internet addicts, nw am a student of computer science and engineering and not only that, Am also a computer and mobile tech blogger

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Chai. . . DawatEmbarrassment