₦airaland Forum

Anything that depicts Africa as a jungle is better welcomed by western media.  The fact is we're to blame for this kind of image.  If we were a progressive continent, a matrix of solid R&D like Asia, we won't get this kind of demeaning portrayal.

I'll watch Critical Assignment to see what it's about.

What movies have you seen that was shot in Nigeria?

Here are a few I've seen:

TEARS OF THE SUN - Bruce Willis
SAHARA - Matthew McConaughey

Interesing.

How did you manage to receive NTA signals all the way in SA? Via satellite? If so, aren't other Nigerian tv channels offered also?

What is RSS?
What does it mean to the user?
What does it mean to the webmaster?

There isn't a single plan that is capable of making Nigeria a better country than it currently is.
Instead you need a good mix of everything.  R&, modern infrastructure, tourism, drive for success among the citizens, good health, guaranteed safety for investors, bilateral trade relations with other countries, etc.

The Carribean is no more than an extension of Nigeria.  That is why their tourism income fails to better their economy.

Once again, Nigeria is not a poor country by any stretch of the imagination.  You use money to make money.  If Nigeria puts its oil money to good use, we'd shoot up very quickly as one of the top players in the world. 

Most countries in the world today can't do things that Nigeria can, because they'd have to resort to borrowing to fund things.  Yet, we classify Nigeria as poor?  How so?

Most people are book smart.  And theories are all they know.  However, sometimes you have to look beyond theories to see the facts.  Look at George Bush.  A few years ago he received scathing criticisms for his tax-cut plans.  Everybody said he was giving money to the rich.  But the truth is, only the rich create jobs to keep the economy going.  Of course, his critics are now silent on that matter, now that the US economy is booming. 

So why the criticisms to begin with, if Bush's plan actually works.  Well, because his critics are book-smart, but lack simple common sense.

We need common sense leaders in Nigeria.

This is all voodoo economics.  It's called per capita income, when total earnings is divided by population.

The fact is, Nigeria is not expected to hand raw cash to its citizens, so $15 per person from the calculation doesn't make any sense.

What makes sense is that with all the guaranteed oil billions coming in, if Nigeria used the money to develop its telecommunications system, brought telephones into every home, modernised NEPA for stable power supply, built good roads for easy commute, funded research in schools, built hospitals for better health, spent money on banishing 419'ers, launched a massive campaign for honesty in Nigeria, etc, we'd still have billions left over.  Yes, after all that spending, we'd still have money left to blow.

Now imagine the changes that the above developments would bring to Nigeria.  First and foremost, doing business in Nigeria would become attractive to the world.  The more businesses that start up, the more jobs that are created for Nigerians. 

Furthermore, because Nigerians can now communicate better with the world, more people can enter into legitimate business ventures via the Internet. 

You see where I'm going with this?

Suddenly, we'd be raking in tourism dollars, because Nigeria would be a place tourists want to visit.  Tourists are big spenders.  Now we can sell them worthless trinkets for good money.  Instead of us going after the money abroad, the money is now coming home to us.

Basically, by merely putting the basics in place (roads, hospitals, R&, electricity, telecom, modern banks, etc), there would be a domino effect that ripples through the system.

So, do not believe those lies about Nigeria being poor because of low per capita income.  We're poor only because most of our money always find its way into foreign banks, doing the average Nigerian no good at all.

What do Nigerians base their choice of a political candidate on?  In other words, how do Nigerians decide who to vote for?

Tribe?
Religion?
Campaign promises?
Level of education?
Past leadership excellence?

Yes, there is a national ID card but those that don't have it right now won't be able to get it until several years from now when another ID card exercise is carried out.

Nobody seems to have a clue what is going on in that country.
One person says there's no national ID, somebody else says the exact opposite.
And both lay it down with full conviction.

This is not a swipe at your guys.  Just amazed at the disarray of life in Nigeria.

Our current generation of leaders are clearly too old-fashioned to effect changes into the new millenium.

As the newer, tech-savvy generation ascends into power, we'd begin to see a shift in thinking.

@ Oasis please where did u host?.Price is?

I built and manage my own server.
With my kind of operation, I can't have isp restrictions of any kind.

If you need hosting, I can recommend some hosts that I've used personally, and I know to be reliable and affordable.
I would offer space on my own server, but I fear the possibility of a client turning into a spammer.

I don't see how co-location from Nigeria to the USA would work, except you have a technical friend that is located in the USA that would do all the runnings. Shipping such a hardware from Nigeria, would cost you a fortune.

I agree, shipping costs could be high.  However, you ignored my opening statement:" It all depends on the scale of your operation."

if you choose to co-locate, you first must purchase all of the hardware (a server - worth between $2,000 and $5,000 low-to-mid end.) We are talking about using the right racks, and cooling fans and hardware for such an implementation. Not just any system.
This option is attractive when you have knowledge in the hardware and software running on your system, but nevertheless it is costly.

Actually, you can build one now for $1,000.  If you want to know how, let me know and I'd post specs.
Although that is still a lot of money, would it be cheaper using any other hosting plan.  Don't forget that the $1,000 is a one-time expense.

The disadvantages of collocations are:-
   
    1. You or your employees must be technically sound in that relation.

If you install RHEL, and choose server install, it practically has it ready to go with all required tools for hosting your sites.  All you do is configure your NIC card with your static IP, and you're ready to roll.  Even firewall is automatically configured.  Of course you need other post-install stuff that need to be done, but there's a lot of guide online for that.

2. Software licensing cost can surg very high, especially when it comes to renting the panels of today, and paying through the nose for original OS platforms like Windows, besides other softwares like Firewalls etc. You cannot use a pirated software !!

Software licensing is $0 for me.
But I do realise that not everybody knows Linux.
However, if you're serious about running servers online, you better find a way to jump on the open source bandwagon.  It'd save you tens, if not hundreds of thousands of $$ in the long run.

3. Possible Hardware failure that might affect your business due to the dowtime , during replacement. As the owner you need to have backup hardwares, unlike conventional dedicated servers the replace hardwares without charging you.Parts, labour and warranty is your responsibility.

True.  But you can anticipate all that in the kind of machine you build.
For example, raid5 will allow your machine to keep running, even if one of your hard drives fail.  Your raid monitor will send you an email to report such failure.  You simply purchase another hard drive, bring the machine down for 10 minutes plug the new drive in, and the raid will rebuild itself.

4. All configuration and loading of the OS and software is carried out by you.

And why not, if you know how?

5.Another drawback to collocation can be fluctuating prices. Since one of the factors in the monthly rate of collocating a server is the amount of data transferred via the server in the monthly period, an unusually large amount of traffic in a monthly period can cause the bill for the service to jump dramatically.

Actually, if you look around, you can find good deals that offer very huge data transfer for the same monthly cost.
I've been running image servers for a few years now, and I've never had to pay extra. 
Your point is correct, but it doesn't apply to everybody equally.

Is Colocation the Way to Go?

If you are a big organisation and need a dedicated secure custom software besides hardware to run your applications. Then yes, its the right choice.

If you are a new company trying to go into the web hosting industry. No, because it would bankcrupt you.

We do use a co-located server located in Malaysia, so I really know what I am talking about. I use it to host a Nigerian government site.

Don't get overly dramatic here.
It is clear your analysis is totally skewed against colocation.  What about the advantages it does offer?
Ability to install any application you need.
Unlimited storage space.
Unlimited domains.
Ability to add more ram, faster drives, change cpu, etc.
If you need unusual DNS configuration, you're not encombered by your isp's setup.
To get these things in a different hosting plan, you have to pay a lot more money to the isp.
There are even things your isp will tell you is impossible, period.
Basically, when you control your own box, you can scale up without any worries.

Here is the bottomline:

You're correct to say that colocation requires more tech know-how.  But, if you're going into hosting other people's sites, you might as well just educate yourself, because questions are going to come in from your customers.

A server machine can be built for $1,000.  If you have to build a $5,000, then you're not a small operation, which then counters your argument against colocation.

Your machine doesn't necessarily have to be anything special to be a server.  Any regular beefed up system can serve as a server machine.  Just get plenty of RAM, and SATA hard drives in raid configuration.  My site http://www.oasisoflove.com received 1,058,838 hits last month, and it's hosted on a regular $1,200 machine.

No software licensing if you use open source software.

If you set things up properly, no maintenance is required.  Linux can run for years without the need for a reboot.  I do daily backups without lifting a finger.  Even though my machine is colocated about 1000 miles from me, I have a home computer setup to do backups remotely.  Take a look at rsync over ssh.

Finally let me ask, what is the total monthly cost of colocation compared to a reseller program?

And I have reason to believe that your claim to have a 15k version of the logo is either an exxageration or an outright lie.

Now, be nice.

Why would you call a respectable guy like me a liar? 
What do you think I do for a living?

Original: 230K
https://www.freewebs.com/flowkwika/logo.png

optimized gif: 15K
https://www.oasisoflove.com/r/logo.gif

optimized png: 15K
https://www.oasisoflove.com/r/logo.png

optimized jpg: 15K
https://www.oasisoflove.com/r/logo.jpg

What is the point of the discussion anyway?  With the kind of punch that processors pack these days, what does it matter what processor you get?  Unless you're a gamer, you won't max today's monster cpu's out.

Your main concern should be getting a mobo that allows plenty of ram.   
More ram->smother system.

My site http://www.oasisoflove.com is powered by a single amd athlon 4000+ socket 939 cpu.  4gb ram.  Sometimes during peak use, I run the unix command "top" to see how much juice is being sucked out of the cpu, but it hardly ever gets maxed out.  Yet it runs everything on the same box, including mysql, php, and a chat server.

Also, if you're into overclocking, you can purchase an inexpensive processor that can be overclocked, and overclock it to run much faster.

If you really want a smoking system, get sata hard drives, and set them up as raid0 array.

Interesting how excited everybody is about this.

Why not just purchase a real refubished laptop for the same price?

http://www.pcsurplusonline.com/ has laptops for as little as $59. But then again, shipping to Nigeria may not be so easy.

Yes I know.

But I believe in teaching people how to fish, rather than giving them a fish.

The best designer must get his hands dirty. Agree?

Oasis you don't live here so you don't know what's obtainable here

Yes I don't live there. But I do have analytical skills, and capable of critical thinking.

i think you have been brainwashed alot by the western media less than a dollar a day hype.

A dollar a day is not hype, it's fact. And that is high speed Internet. Dial up is only about $5/month with unlimited use.

N100 is not expensive at all.

You said you are getting broadband in your house for $29 a month but cafe operators pay $800-$1000 a month for a not so broadband service from ISPs. I have not talk about fuel cost for generators, paying staffs, servicing equipmenst and stuffs.

Know how to vent off.

Actually, N100 an hour is expensive.
What percentage of an average earner's salary is N100, and how many hours a month is he online as a result of the cost?
That is what makes it expensive.

Basically, people should be able to logon daily to check their email and send replies without worrying about time running out on them.

cafe operators pay $800-$1000 a month for a not so broadband service from ISPs. I have not talk about fuel cost for generators, paying staffs, servicing equipmenst and stuffs.

I quite agreed with you. The issue is not why you're charging N100 an hour. The price is quite justifiable, considering your expenses.

But, my point is that N100 an hour for Internet access is exorbitant for an average user.

Have you thought about web application programmers? Sometimes I need to be online 12+ hours a day. Can I do that in Nigeria? Not likely. Why? Because it'd get really expensive pretty quickly.

So, as a programmer in Nigeria, I can't compete on the global scene, because I can't afford the cost of Internet access.
That is what makes N100 an hour very expensive.

Let me repeat that I'm not blaming the cafe operators for charging N100 an hour. Rather I'm basing it on the fact that Nigerians are missing out on all the fun, because they can't afford to stay online for too long.

Some people on this forum have asked about java ftp clients, and I just thought the following info might come in handy.

You can use your browser, Internet Explorer as your ftp client.  Let's say the host ftp server is myftp.com:

Open Internet Explorer

In the address bar, type ftp://myftp.com

A dialog window will popup asking for username and password.  Type them in.

If you don't want to enter the password all the time, check save password

Click Log on

Once you're logged in, you can now browse, the same way you would with Windows Explorer.  You can even drag and drop files back and forth.

------------------------------------

Note: You can also put the authentication info in the url as follows:

ftp://username:password@myftp.com

Just replace username, password, and myftp.com with the proper values.

Caution: only use this method on a private computer, because it's cached in Internet Explorer.

It has a clean look. Good

Nice consistency of the pages.  The menu is always located at the same place on every page.  Good.

The pages are really small in size and download quickly.  Good.

Not a flash site.  Good.

Unoptimized logo (230k in size).  Bad
Open it up in photoshop.
Go to File, Save for web.
Play with the optimization.  I was able to get a good looking version that was less than 15k in size.

Free long url. Bad.
Get a custom url.

I'm a web app developer, and I've created dozens of major sites for clients.  However, one that I own personally is:

http://www.oasisoflove.com

My current project:

http://www.mytruefans.com/

It all depends on the scale of your operation.

I have no idea how much dedicated hosting costs in Nigeria, but you can definitely run a business in Nigeria, while having your hosting provider say in America. No need for worrying about power failures, security, etc.

Here's what you do:

1. You build a powerful server machine. I have several servers. They typically cost me about $1,500 to build. One of them has been running about 50 websites for over 2 years now without a problem.

2. Once you have your machine built, sign up for a colocation account. Send the server to your service provider, usually in the USA. I have seen people in the USA send servers to the Nethelands for hosting.

3. When your machine is online, you can access it via SSH, and perform any operation on it remotely.

4. It's now easy to create hosting accounts for your clients. I do all my stuff on the commandline because it's free. But some people prefer solutions such as Plesk.

Typical colocation cost for moderate data transfer is $50 a month. I have 5 servers in the same location, and I pay $300 a month for all of them.

This has been said, but it bares repeating.  If your aim is to make money with this website, definitely get rid of the flash.   But if it's just a demo site you show to prospective clients, then it's a good design.

Search engines cannot read text within flash movies, and your text is what the search engines need to rank you higher in searches.  Get yourself immersed in the world of SEO, and you'd quickly discover that flash is a big no-no in web design.

With the 1$ billion a week that Nigeria is making from oil alone, why are businesses like cyber cafes being taxed to the hilt?

I've heard many on this forum say that N100 an hour is not expensive.  Well, maybe to a person that lives outside of Nigeria.  But for someone who lives and earns his living in Nigeria, that is definitely a lot of money.  I have permanent high speed Internet connection at my home, and it only costs me $29 a month.  Dial up Internet access is basically a thing of the past now in the US, but a dial up account typically costs about $5 a month for unlimited use. 

Many cities are now implementing free city-wide wireless access.  Basically, you throw a wireless card into your computer, and you get a signal wherever you may be in the city.

To say Nigeria is crippled by its own government is an understatement.

Look at India.  Companies in most developed nations today are outsourcing their web programming needs to India.  Revenues to Indians last year was about $18b and expected to exceed $20 billion in 2006.  Why aren't Nigerians sharing in that windfall?  We have the brains rotting out there in Nigeria. It's because Nigerians can't get online without paying an arm and a leg.  Basically, to be a good web programmer, you have to have 24/7 access to the Internet - a pipe dream for Nigerians at this point.

If Nigerians could get online at a reasonable cost, people could sell all kinds of stuff on ebay, such as African crafts.  And fewer people would see the need for 419 fraud.

Sorry to digress from the main topic, but I had to vent a little.

Isn't is funny how we say Nigerians are inexperienced, yet we won't offer them projects that let them acquire the experience.  It's a catch 22.

I'm a full-fledged web pro, and work alone.  For those who want to be taken seriously in the world of web app development, here are tools you must learn:

Linux
Apache
MySQL
PHP
HTML, Javascript, CSS, DHTML, XML, AJAX
SEO (very important)
DNS
Adobe Photoshop
A+ Certification

There are other routes such as Flash, ASP, ColdFusion, Java, etc.  But most people these days stick with the open source community, and the migration is only going to increase.

One more thing, you're wasting your time if you think using wysiwyg  programs is the way to go.  Learn HTML, period.  I use nothing but notepad.

When I first started, I worked day and night without pay, to create a complete website (http://www.oasisoflove.com).  Nobody would offer me a job until I had a major project to showcase my experience.  Once I had my site done, I started job hunting.  My current employer hired me because according to him, all the other applicants had nothing tangible to show him that they've done.  Today I have dozens of major websites under my belt.

I hope this advice helps.

u made a mistake when u were sending the money. U are always to write "NO ID REQUIRED" on the money gram form.

That happened to my dad once, he sent the money and forgot to put the thingy... my cuzzs in Nigeria said they didn't get it.. because they was asking for ID.. and then my dad had to go back and do some shirime so that they could get the money. Always write on it that "no ID required".

What you do is, choose a password for the money retirival, and give the password to whoever u sending the money to. It's the password that they'll use to get the money.

No ID in nigeria.

Thanks so much for that response.  This is the kind of info I needed when I called the customer service, but the dumbass rep was bent on proving to me that Nigeria has state-issued ID.  These idiots work for a company, with little knowledge of the operation of the business.  Everything they know is centered around the way things happen in America.

Once again, thank you for the help.

hello,I live in Nigeria,there was supposed to be such a thing,but till date,its a white elephant project.Citizens in Nigeria don't move around with ID cards!!!get it?

Thank you. Now that is a more clear-cut response than the first. Try to take the sensationalism out of your speech and you wouldn't confuse people about your message.

I sent some money home, and the recipient couldn't collect it.

I then called up moneygram to ask why, and I was told the recipient needed a photo ID. My response then was that there is no such thing as photo ID in Nigeria. The customer service guy insisted they have people presenting photo ID's to collect money.

I needed to verify his statement, that's why I wanted a definitive answer to that question.

Basically, unless you drive in Nigeria, there's no way for somebody to send money to you by moneygram or western union. Wow! We're really backward.

in your dreams!!!

Are you sure, or are you just making bland comments?

I have heard a few people say they have it.  See this: http://www.nigeriaworld.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=2992

If anybody knows the answer for sure, please respond.

Is there such a thing as a photo ID in Nigeria?

I know students get issued photo ID in school, and some may have work ID with a photo on it. Also, a driver's license will have a photo on it.

But what about the ordinary folks who are not students, do not work in government, and do not drive? Is there any kind of government issued ID that they can get.

I would like to hear from anybody who knows the answer please.

If there's such a thing as a photo ID card in Nigeria, how does somebody currently living in Nigeria go about applying for it?