Based on Alexa rankings, they are:

-Vanguard
-Nairaland
-Jobberman
-VConnect
-GTBank
-Punch
-Naijapals
-Dealfish
-Sahara Reporters
-The Nation

How did each of these websites become popular? Read short but comprehensive reviews of each website's strategies on [url="http://kudizone.com/blog/2012/05/18/nigerias-10-most-popular-websites/"]Kudizone[/url]. This is a MUST READ for every webmaster who needs to generate traffic!

http://kudizone.com/blog/2012/05/18/nigerias-10-most-popular-websites/

This, for instance, is the comment on Nairaland (Nigeria's second most popular website):

Nairaland is a big discussion forum for Nigerians. Popular boards are politics, finance, technology and religion. With almost 900, 000 members, many view Nairaland as Nigeria’s Facebook.

Nairaland originally ran on SMF, a free forum Content Management System. It is owned by Seun Osewa, a young Nigerian who resides in Ogun State.

Why is Nairaland Popular?

Nairaland’s traffic is due partly to many reasons:

Interactivity: Being a forum, it allows members to interact with one other. This makes it an interesting place to visit.

Content: Nairaland features fresh user submitted content. This is further enhanced by the ‘homepage’ system in which a list of topics of interest is displayed. It helps members to find the most interesting threads fast.

Age: Nairaland enjoys the dividends of being one of the first major Nigerian forums. It gained popularity at a time when competition was not so stiff.

Mobile: With the new Nairaland template, the mobile version has been improved upon. It is particularly nice to view on a Blackberry phone. Considering that Nigeria has one of the highest percentages of mobile viewers, this is a major advantage.

The founder, Seun, has often been criticized for not adapting the forum to changes necessitated by the times. Many have also argued that Nairaland got on social media very late. It should be noted though that a new design has finally been implemented. Also, a few analysts (including me) believe that one of the reasons why Nairaland has lasted so long is Seun’s refusal to make frequent changes.

http://kudizone.com/blog/2012/05/18/nigerias-10-most-popular-websites/2/
Do you agree? Post your comments below.

I'm impressed/surprised that vconnect made that list.

They are barely a year old, no?

yamakuza: I'm impressed/surprised that vconnect made that list.

They are barely a year old, no?

Yes. Just a little more than a year. Funding played a key role.

Lol am quite surprised that am not seeing linda ikeji blog on that list dispite the overwhelming popularity.. The site with the best design on the list, i think it's undisputably www.naijapals.com. The webmaster behind the site is a genius... I dont really see nairaland holding on to that spot for long... The day we finish reading the whole articles on nairaland, i doubt if anyone would like visiting nairaland.. Nairaland should make changes and add features such as chatrooms. And am yet to find a pm button on nairaland or maybe it has been hidden just like "this post is hidden" flooding everywhere.

I think you should also add iPaidabribenaija.com.
They are more popular than any website even nl.
Ask how?

Hmmm while other are busy working for organic traffic other are busy buying traffic, na waiting we go come do naa ? should we go to the banks to request for the money lol maybe buy traffic and when we are very popular we can pay back ? just asking lol but i wonder what those top site eg dealfish has to offer ? just asking

good work from those guys,i need to do serious work on ma site too.

www.sugaonline.com A webhosting forum owned by a nigerian should have make this list

Are you okay?why did you not add www.jaystar.tk

The sites on the list above including linda ikeji blog still command a huge amount of popularity.

There are also a few sites coming up strongly and should be in same category as those on the above list sooner than later if well piloted.