GNBO, the Google-sponsored initiative that aims to put over 40,000 Nigerian businesses online within a year will likely be officially launched at a Google event happening in Lagos next Tuesday.

Update: Google launched the GNBO initiative in partnership with EcoBank and MTN Nigeria on September 27, 2011 at a Press Launch in Lagos.

We’ve been invited to the event despite the fact that we’re not early bird fans of the initiative as we still have our own reservations about Google’s real intentions and approach.

The event is expected to officially launch the project and possibly showcase some of the businesses that have benefited from the initiative. Google has already done a test-run of this initiative which has produced over 200 SME’s websites.

It also aims to help answer ‘burning’ questions about the programme and about Google’s activities in Nigeria and globally.

Been there, done that

Last week, at its G-Kenya event in Nairobi, Google launched a similar initiative in partnership with Safaricom, Equity Bank and Kenic called the Getting Kenyan Businesses Online (GKBO) programme, which is aimed at thousands Kenyan SMEs who do not have a website to get exposure.

At the moment, the GNBO initiative doesn’t have a website yet, but we’re guessing that Google registered www.gnbo.com.ng back in June for this purpose. As at time of writing this, if you visit the domain, you’ll be shown a Google sign-in page, of which when you sign in, you’ll be told that your email does not have permission to edit the site.

We think that Google will be unveiling the website on that domain on Tuesday which shouldn’t look much different from the Kenyan (www.kbo.co.ke) version.

Update: The URL (www.gnbo.com.ng) is now showing a live website.

The search company has a similar programme in the UK called Getting British Business Online with partnership from Yola and during 2010, about 100,000 British small businesses got online with their first website.

Will there be any surprises?

Well, we shouldn’t expect much except what we already know. Google has already said they longer need NiRA’s support and would provide the domain names at cost and have the SMEs pay the standard N1,500 for .com.ng domain names.

Google, according to one of our sources, offered to buy 40,000 (.com.ng) domains at the rate of N1,000 each (which currently sells for N1,500 through accredited registrars), which would provide NiRA a whooping revenue of N40 million annually.

According to the search company, Upperlink will remain as their only recognized domain registrar. But it appears that the remaining accredited domain registrars are divided as to whether to join the project or not.

We’re guessing that some of them may be going with Google on the project as their last meeting to discuss the way forward didn’t yield much results.

Will Google be partnering with these ‘loyal’ accredited registrars if they show their willingness or will they just work with their so-called ‘recognized’ registrar, Upperlink on the GNBO programme?

Will the GNBO programme even be successful?

http://techloy.com/2011/09/22/googles-highly-controversial-project-gnbo-officially-launches-next-tuesday/

Search giant Google has Tuesday, launched a new website that allows business owners in the country to register their businesses online.

Juliet Ehimuan, Google country manager, at a workshop in Lagos said that the company was sticking to it’s core values of creating a more vibrant eco-environment that would help spur more local businesses tap into the unlimited advantages of the world wide web.

Juliet however noted that an unspecified amount of businesses will register free during the campaign.

She said “Our goal is to provide all Small and Medium Businesses, SMB, in Nigeria with an easy end-to-end solution for leveraging online economy to grow their business. After all, every business in Nigeria deserves to have a website”

During the presentation of the web domain, the company gave cheering news. Juliet said “The number of Nigerians online has grown by 81% every year in the last 10 years. The numbers are expected to continue increasing”

Google through it’s Nigerian country manager further announced that more web clinics and demonstrating workshops will be arranged in the future to trickle the message to the millions of SMB operating in the country.

According to Juliet,“Because this domain is heavily dependent on internet access and availability, we are already in talks with service providers, governments and stakeholders to see how we can decongest the many barriers that limits internet access in the country.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/google-launches-domain-for-nigerian-businesses/

Fun times. Hahaha.

GOOGLE


2



MUCH

:-x :-x :-x :-x

Even Google recognises the opportunities in Nigeria just like other foreign companies have in the past. To all my fellow brothers and sisters living abroad/overseas/within Africa come back home and invest. Nigeria won't rise from its present state if you sit behind your computer doing nothing but complain about the state of Nigeria.

interesting, but is it different from alibaba.com and how? also the problem of scammers is another issue, have they considered it also? and if not, wat should one do to protect himself/herself?

It will go a long to help Nigeria Online Business group,
meanwhile you can apply for our free webhosting,
send mail to
fwh@wemahost.com
or
visit http://www.wemahost.com

to learn to design website in 60 minute visit http://www.wemahost.com/miniwebsite.html

yes, google has no limit, to register ur business,
Visit :www.google.com.ng/africa/trader

REGISTER UR BUSINESS NOW AND DO NOT BE LEFT OUT

kool but wish i could use my existing domain

Will the common man benefit from it? to hell with google,

What are they offering that a lot of local businesses in Nigeria don't already have provided. www.whereyoudey.com, www.viconnect.com and www.connectnigeria.com and a few others have done well by really maturing the presence of local nigerian businesses online.

Google has something up their sleaves. I hope these local business listings give them a run for their money. nonsense

Why is gmail the only means of creating a website gnbo?,

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You are heartily welcome.

in nigeria, only webmasters browse the internet.
Google will learn this after 5 years of time wasted.
We have been creating free blogs since 1970!
So what do they think they are inventing?

We might consider them if
they give
1. Free domain names
or
2. Free internet browsing

else,
they had bera moved to congo.
Imagine
google get congo businesses online!
Bad idea?
It could blow there minds!
*as for naija, we've passed that level tey tey!