₦airaland Forum

As I have always said here, I doubt up to 50% (though I have no proof. Gut feeling) of those who need websites in Nigeria actually have one. As such, it is a wild wild west out there, similar to what happened in the states back during the internet boom. This explains the not so elegant websites that scatter the landscape.

The next big biz opportunity there (IMHO)? Once the dust settles, it will be, just as is the case in the states, site redesign. Businesses will realize that to compete, they need to have websites that actually focus on a good user experience and that paying 50K just won't get you the best person for the job. Nigerian websites of the future will be developed based on solid architectures. Note: I am not saying such sites don't exist now but that such sites are perhaps 1 - 5% of what is out there currently. I say this based on random googling for nigerians sites, something I do on a daily basis (as I am a jobless person )

As I said, it is a gut feeling, though I hope and pray I am right.

nitation:
I think he was just saying that your quote is very important.

Seun:
Nice note. If as he says the number is unique, there is no need using LIKE. "=" will do. If on the other hand, it isn't unique and you are looking for something that resembles what you are looking for, plus or minus a few characters, then you may have to refine the LIKE search, as has been explained here: http://www.htmlite.com/mysql011.php - maybe that is why the query isn't returning anything.

poster:
You are yet to respond. Any luck? If no, I think a pasting of your db schema, showing example content, would help.

hmmm, I am beginning to think this is overkill but what do I know?

Neptune, if it comes to that, I just turn to Firefox and do CTL+U (view source) or whatever the combo is in IE. What next? you are going to disable my keyboard keys?

Yep, some ppl, including myself are jobless

@poster:
Soon, that site will be no more. search the NL archives for a post that quotes Akunliyi as saying that site should be brought down and that in its place, individual ministries should maintain their websites. So sad

Yep, if you are really that jobless, you can always view source, search for text around the image, copy the path to the image, paste in the address bar and get the image OR, just disable javascript

he he cactus, I could have sworn there is a vision 20-20-20 

Seriously though, the whole country would have to be uprooted with a grader for things to work right.  Take what you just said, without steady electricity and a well-grounded networking backbone (as opposed to VSAT), all hope is lost.  I mean we are talking of a country where the Minister for Information says there is no need for www.nigeria.gov.ng for crying out loud. When the person at the top says that, that pretty much sums it all up IMHO

We are just managing (and don't get me wrong, I respect those of us who, despite the odds, are able to crank out various web projects back there) to say the least.

from talking to a few fellow "webmasters" who use it, the answer usually boils down to, "cos I want to show the client what I can do". Note that the answer has nothing to do with how they can help the client. It's all about the "webmaster"

First off, kudos on the commenting.  I follow your code excellently.  Reminds me of my own code 

I see a lot wrong with your code above unfortunately.  So much so that I dare say it should be rewritten.  It seems like too much code for just one field.  Oh well.

Thiese might not solve the problem but consider the following, at the very least (hopefully these won't end up being that you didn't paste the code in its entirety):

1) you reference "courier". I don't see it in your form

2) $searching == "yes": it will always equal "yes".  Why not just use the submit form then do an isset() on the text field?

3)

echo $result['file'];
echo " ";
echo $result['file'];

why the repetition? Also, why not just do echo $result['file'] . " ". $result['file'] . "
"; ? each call to echo in your code is a separate call to the server. though it might not have an impact on your site, but on a major site, that could cos a lot of money.

Sorry for not replying directly but I believe in cleaning up things before I post an answer.  While I come up with one, someone might beat me to it but it's okay.  In the end, we all learn something

I don't see any attachment

2 more things:

1) Why do you have "close window" in the left nav?
2) Is it possible to grant us access beyond the "login" so we can c how that goes as well?

1) contact form: no front or bck end validation

2) I personally don't like the background image. Perhaps if you removed it, then put a border around your page, it would look better. Either that or you find a background that is solid color, not the coarse thing I see there.

3) I think the contents of your nav (black) area should be centered

4) I think the "problem with log in here" link is in the wrong place. You should just have "login" then on that form, have 2 link that say, "forgot password? not registered?"

5) Is the only thing I will need help on, "STEPS IN FILLING THE FORM"? Perhaps you change the link to say "FAQ" and then you follow normal web standards with respect to a question section intra-linked to respective answer sections with each section having a "back to top" link

6) I think the site would look more invitiing if you had photos of the campus and/or students/staff peppered throughout the site. Just google for school websites, and see what they are doing then try to make yours one step better.

Good luck!

Pardon my ignorance but to me, your question doesn't make sense. Could you help me and perhaps others out by giving more detail? Like: The site you are working on, what you are trying to accomplish, the code you have so far, etc.

The more you specify, the better the quality of help you get in return. Right now, your question is like one of those vague secondary school essay assignments, "Write on Agriculture in Nigeria". I mean, where do I start?

Thanks,

http://sem.smallbusiness.yahoo.com/searchenginemarketing/index.php?&abr=2022403519

You might also want to do a search on here search engine marketing. I vaguely remember a post long time ago by tundewoods where he mentioned that one of his buddies in Lagos is in charge of Yahoo advertising and MSN advertising either in Nigeria or Africa as a whole.

Good Luck!

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-242393.0.html - mind the double posting please

Interesting, and they are obviously (I say that cos it is blatant) using joomla. It looks like it was done by a Youth Corper which means it wa probably done for free.  I wish other state governments see the need for this and moreover, *pay well* for such so that we can start getting more jobs.  As I have always said (though without concrete proof), less than 50% of those who need websites in Nigeria, actually have one.  It's a virgin forest out there. Imagine doing such a site for just 1 secondary school per state at even 300K - 500K (after kickbacks). You don make am be dat 

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/30163/51/

A batchA 2008 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mr. Oluwakorede Asuni   has successfully launched the first public high school web portal in Niger State _www.GovernmentSecondarySchoolMX.org.
The system, which was created for the Government Secondary School Minna Niger State, where Mr. Asuni is completing his primary community service assignment, will serve a number of purposes for not only the staff and students of the school, but also the general public and a broader worldwide audience.
These purposes include:

•    An online billboard – making the school accessible to a worldwide audience;
•    A means of internal communications (for staff and students) – allowing teachers to leave home work for their students, for example;

•    A central source of information for internal and external use _ divided into two major sections: public or general area and member area which requires registration;
•    And a custom email system.

At the launch event on Thursday 19th February 2009, the school management, led by the Rev. Fr. J. D. O’Connell (MFR) was positive about the project, which he described as something long in the making.

He thanked Mr. Asuni for taking time out to design, implement and train teachers and students to manage the system, which will be in place well after he has completed his one year community service _ as a part of the NYSC.

Jummai Umar_Ajijola, Citizenship Manager for Microsoft Nigeria who was represented at the event by Nana Mintah Adjooh, citizenship co_ordinator,  said that the strides that Mr. Asuni has taken  regarding the empowerment of the state’s  youth to participate in the emerging knowledge economy serves as an example of the positive change that locally_relevant and meaningful technology can bring about . 

“There is a clear need for multi_stakeholder partnerships to ensure the entrenchment and continued utilisation of technology in Nigeria’s Education system,” Hajia Umar_Ajijola said.

“Microsoft Nigeria has many partnerships with Government and other stakeholders involved with education – all of which aim to empower teachers and students in Nigeria to take advantage of the vast resource base that comprises Microsoft for Education.”
The school’s old boys association’s delegation _ some of whom had travelled down from their bases outside the country  have pledged to take over all financial responsibilities for the school’s web portal _ to cater for any upgrades that may have to be undertaken after the first two years that have been funded by Mr. Asuni.

Mr. Abubakar Salisu, director of the Department of ICT in the ministry of Science and Technology for Niger State, speaking on behalf of the ministry’s commissioner, has lauded the project, which he described as a positive pre_emption of the state government’s plan to create a central school web_portal for all schools in Niger State.

“The ministry pledges continued support from the government for such initiatives, which aim to improve the way that teachers and students interact with each other and the inter_connected world outside of the school’s boundaries.

“Mr. Asuni is very driven, energetic and a positive optimist who other young people should emulate for the general betterment of Nigeria as one of Africa’s most technologically_progressive countries,” he said.

The portal, which is built on Microsoft technology, can be supported from virtually anywhere in the world, which makes Mr. Asuni’s commitment to the school even greater.

As part of his commitment, Mr. Asuni, who is also an Anti_Cyber Crime ambassador for Microsoft, will also spend a few days annually in the school helping out with other engagements that can help the school develop its students’ technology capabilities and prepare them adequately for the challenges they may face in a world of evolving technology.

”I am beginning work to create similar systems for other educational institutions in Nigeria, utilising a social enterprise business model, which entails cost_effectively delivering important services not necessarily for financial returns,” Mr Asuni said.

”These efforts are in line with my commitments to engaging young people positively in the use of technology and creating alternative channels away from the menace of cyber_crime, which plagues our country’s youth and tarnishes the country’s image everywhere,” he added.

“It is critically important that in today’s modern society, we promote access to technology for Nigeria’s youth.  It is very necessary to help them prepare for a place of relevance in the emerging knowledge economy, and the earlier we do this in their education, the more experience they will gain when the time comes to enter the working world,” Mr. Asuni concluded.

I would have loved to create a form and have the details of the form sent to the datbase directly but cant.

Let's back up a bit - what does the above mean? "Can't" because you don't know how to code it OR "Can't" because of web host limitations?

Do tell please.

Maybe this is what we need to start doing LOL

http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/02/20/214210

"A large and rapidly growing campaign to get users to stop using IE6 is being implemented throughout Europe. 'Leading the charge is Finn.no, an eBay-like site that is apparently the largest site for buying and selling goods in all of Norway (Finn is Norwegian for "Find". Earlier this week, Finn.no posted a warning on its web page for visitors running IE 6. The banner, seen at right, urges them to ditch IE 6 and upgrade to Internet Explorer 7.' The campaign is now spreading like fire on Twitter (#IE6), and starting to become an amazing effort by big media companies to get rid of IE6! The campaign also hit Wired some hours ago."

and of course it has its own wiki page http://ie6.forteller.net/index.php?title=Main_Page

Neptune, I'll start  

http://www.jboxcreations.com/ 5 : ebot 0

That doesn't stop you from coming up with objects.  To demonstrate, I will come up with a few (any more, I and I could be reported for taking over the post  )

Objects:
- Player
- House (as in red, green, etc)
- Board

The rules are for the Business Anaysts to decide. As a developer, we can actually start development without requirements being set in stone. That way, we can tell the client that it will take 4 weeks to do when in actuality, cos we started early, it will take only 2 weeks and what's better? we earn the same amount of money regardless? What's better than that.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-242084.0.html

No dbl-posting please. Thanks in advance for abiding

I think at this point, someone better start defining objects, methods and properties. Will I be the one to do it? Nope cos I am not the original poster.

The English essay is boring me. Let's get our hands dirty already

@ yawa - there is no custom way of doing that and it must not be at the top, the web developer is to decide that.

That is why I said, "I think". Like meat that is so good that you just want to eat it to the bone, I choose my words very carefully

Having said that, I beg to differ with the latter part of your statement above. Sure, a web developer is to decide where things go but, it should be done based on what research says will work and not based on, "I have developed 100 sites in one week therefore I know what I am doing" or words to that effect. Perhaps "webmail" and "distributor form" aren't that important to a visitor to the site. I will give you that. It does beg the question though, "if not, why even include them on the page?" If you have gone through the site thoroughly, I am sure you will note that on one particular page (contact, I think), "download distributor form" is at the top and in bold. That says to me that the form is pretty important to the client.

I know, I'm a bit weird

As is the case in every kung fu movie, a true kung fu master doesn't teach his students everything lest the student come back to want to challenge him some day. Having said that, you strike me as a good and honest chap who is actually willing to learn. For that, I will share this with you (and of course by extension, others):

http://www.livevalidation.com/

Check it out. It's self-explanatory. Also feel free not just to copy and paste but to modify to meet your needs

I do respect elderly ones!

Something that is unfortunately lost amongst some of our "MTV Africa/Channel O" generation. At my (cough, cough ) age, I still address ppl as, "Uncle/Aunt", "Madam/Sir", etc.

Okay, I am done digressing now. Sorry. Let's get back on point

hmm,

I try to avoid writing too much code in my posts as I even find such boring. Besides, I hate reading long posts.  If you still need my help, YIM me when i am online.

The best approach is a combo of front- and back-end validation.  I can help with both.  As a primer/teaser:

PHP (just one form field although obviously you can port this to others):
$from = $_POST['full_name'];
$from = trim($from);

//do this if you want to add it to a DB. If not, ignore
$from = addslashes($from);

//validate required fields
$errors = array();

if(empty($from)) {
    $errors[] = 'Name';
}

if($errors) {
echo '<p class="para"><strong>Please click the Back Button</strong> and correct the following error(s):</p><ul>';
foreach ($errors as $e) {
echo "<li>Please enter a valid $e.</li>\n";
}
echo '</ul>';
} else {
    //create your sql string or if no DB required, just print default statement.  I will go for latter here
    echo 'Your message has been received.  Expect to hear from us soon.';
}//if

By the way, unlike many who like to do validation on the same page (via php_self), I prefer having a separate page, which I call "processor".  I find this, based on my personal experience, a better approach, with respect to abstraction.  So my form tag in my contact.php would like like so:
<form action="thank-you.php" method="post" etc etc>

'hope this helps.  Good luck!

segsa,

I might hate it but if I see a flash site done well, I am the first to appreciate it and let the developer know how much I like it

Take the sunlight (at the top) here for example: http://www.ancilsolar.com/ - I find it neither invasive nor distracting - out of this world!

Pls i need your help DHTML sir

I guess dhtml will take it from here on that note

he he. you and others who might think that way. Not a personal attack. Just words of wisdom

On behalf of fellow members/subscribers to this board, I welcome you. There are many areas in which you can make yourself useful here as well as contribute:

1) Lessons
2) Quizzes
3) Site Reviews
4) Discussing/Sharing latest trends in web development.

You might also want to develop a thick skin while you are at it as some might call you on something if they feel it is wrong

Welcome once again and good luck while you are here

On behalf of fellow members/subscribers to this board, I welcome you. There are many areas in which you can make yourself useful here as well as contribute:

1) Lessons
2) Quizzes
3) Site Reviews
4) Discussing/Sharing latest trends in web development.

You might also want to develop a thick skin while you are at it as some might call you on something if they feel it is wrong

Welcome once again and good luck while you are here