Goodday Coders,

Google has keen eyes on Nigeria, with regards software development.
On the 10th of August, they announced their G-Africa initiative. - a series of Events for software developers in sub-saharan africa.
They will be starting the programme, next month, in Mauritius; it's called the <a href = "https://sites.google.com/site/gmauritiusday/">G-Mauritius Day 2009</a>  ,in the Republic of Mauritius.
I'm told that Nigeria is on their list of places that this G-Africa event(s) will reach. And i was asked by a friend at Google to, and i quote: "You should encourage your friends who are developers to sign up in our database so we can have a similar event in Nigeria soon".
The link to the sign-up form is <a href = "http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dENfMGptOUZ2UjZaWEVkeFh0QjJKYXc6MA">here</a> .

More info. about the G-Africa intiative can be found at <a href = "http://google-africa..com/2009/08/announcing-g-africa-initiative.html">Google-Africa's Blogsite</a>
So i'll want to encourage all nigerian programmers and developers,( or if you write any sort of code (either for work or for pleasure)),to sign-up for the event. - which is already 'in the works' for Nigeria.

At the same, i'd want to use this opportunity to ask (around) for Mobile Developers/Programmers in Nigeria.:

Besides me wanting to increase my connections/contacts. . .

Africa is leading the world in year-over-year growth in mobile
penetration, and other parts of the developing world are close behind.
Most of the people who are now gaining access to cell communications
and Internet via cell phones have no other method to access the
Internet: their paradigm for Internet use involves mobile devices and
small screens, unlike developed country users that generally use cell
phones for voice calling, with Internet access being an occasional
activity.

This dependence on mobile devices for Internet access means that
developers (&programmers) in Africa and elsewhere in the developing
world can see the mobile device with fresh eyes: not as a replacement
for a desktop, or an imitation of a laptop, but as a platform in its
own right.
There is a very high chance that We will “see” possibilities that
people in overseas countries, with their long history of computing,
are blinded to.

By helping to foster a community of developers in a developing country
like Nigeria , I believe we can reap tremendous dividends, with new
perspectives being applied to old problems, and with the potential for
as-yet-unimagined applications.


Personally, I've have a (very) strong conviction that mobile devices
can solve "at least" 30% of Nigeria's problems.

That said, i'm seeking ways the (Nigerian) mobile
developers/programmers can be brought together to visualize the future
of mobile devices in Nigeria, its and/or their impacts and influence
in the development of the country in bits (different mini-areas) and
as a whole.

I have spoken to a few people at Nokia, Microsoft, and Google.
All, these people, who have keen interest in the subject of
mobile devices, mobile software/applications development, and mobile
device evolution. -But more keenly, in the development and growth of
Nigeria itself.,and if i might add; its (self-) recovery.

Because it's no use hiding ,to the outside world and elsewhere, that
'Nigeria is pretty messed up right about now'.

Nigeria maynot be able to make stunning (self-)recovery like, lets
say maybe, Ghana. But in its own design and unique nature, it has the
potential to recover in ways far beyond most people's imagination. -Of
course, this all depends on . . . the Nigerians. :the weakest link
perhaps ?

So I'm hoping there really are mobile devs. in the country.
One of the aims of this idea, is to create a connection of mobile
developers/programmers in nigeria. Or at least to expand that 'field'
in Nigerian universities .i.e. avenues for creating new mobile
programmers/developers. Because, It's a largely unexplored space in Nigeria, as
opposed to the desktop field.

I'm not a mobile developer (yet), but i can (and have the background knowledge to) code if i have to.
Thanks to the ASUU strike
, i'm currently undergoing some IT trainings.
All things being equal, i'm feeling it should be possible to begin
building a (mobile) developer community in Nigeria.
The mobile device's potential has been yet to be fully exploited here.

Everyone's input too, on this topic, would be very much appreciated.

Also, If you'd like discuss, abit more (in-depth) on this topic, anyone can contact me:

By Email: david.o@ieee.org
OR By phone: +234 (803)-3822-422.

, Or just post on this forum (much easier i think ?!).

Thanx.

Thanks to ASUU i've picked up java, am learning but not a mobile dev yet.

@Wale,
Good to hear too !

Hello, I am a Java mobile application developer currently based in the UK. I have about 6 years experience working in the UK as a developer. However I am very interested in developing this area in Nigeria as a business owner as well as a human capital developer(e.g part time lecturer in Universities in order to train young developers who are interested in this area, or offer training in the professional world to already established developers who want to break into this field). I have always seen the mobile technology area as the future, hence my pursuit of a career in this area since even my undergraduate days back in Nigeria, many years ago,  . Let me know if there are any initiatives I can contribute to. One of the things I am also considering is relocation to Nigeria, just awaiting the right time, however with glomobile's fibre optic project, a revolution for mobile software in Nigeria is definitely imminent.  I am thinking of relocation much more seriously than I ever did.

Hi gajurt,

It's nice to meet new people with,similar, keen interests in this growing area of MSD(mobile software/application development). It's really a (largely) unexplored tier in Nigeria - even though its potential prospects are very promising,in many respects.
Things are,in general, rather quiet now in Nigeria. I'll be sure to let you know if anything turns up. By the way,do you any contact address of the sort. e.g. Email ?
If it's a private address that you maynot be able to post, you can (instead of posting it here) email me at the IEEE address i highlighted in my inital post.

Look forward to hearing from you ,, and others.

Cheers.

We may not be like ghana, but we can always leapfrog them by learning from them (sic) and from others too. I have hope that we can surpass all these countries once we divert all our creative energies in the right direction.


Better days ahead.

is this ur own initiative or dat of google cos d form is one created by google docs

N-Soul:

Goodday Coders,

Google has keen eyes on Nigeria, with regards software development.
On the 10th of August, they announced their G-Africa initiative. - a series of Events for software developers in sub-saharan africa.
They will be starting the programme, next month, in Mauritius; it's called the <a href = "https://sites.google.com/site/gmauritiusday/">G-Mauritius Day 2009</a>  ,in the Republic of Mauritius.
I'm told that Nigeria is on their list of places that this G-Africa event(s) will reach. And i was asked by a friend at Google to, and i quote: "You should encourage your friends who are developers to sign up in our database so we can have a similar event in Nigeria soon".
The link to the sign-up form is <a href = "http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dENfMGptOUZ2UjZaWEVkeFh0QjJKYXc6MA">here</a> .

More info. about the G-Africa intiative can be found at <a href = "http://google-africa..com/2009/08/announcing-g-africa-initiative.html">Google-Africa's Blogsite</a>
So i'll want to encourage all nigerian programmers and developers,( or if you write any sort of code (either for work or for pleasure)),to sign-up for the event. - which is already 'in the works' for Nigeria.

Goodday ikmomen. The initiative is Google(Nigeria)'s, Not mine.