BALOGUN MARK ZUCKERBERG OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Mark Zuckerberg! A name that inspires from just its resonance. A man who has worked and is working his way in success, I need not tell you about Facebook which is his brainchild, Instagram and WhatsApp which he acquired overtime and are topping their game with millions if not billions of users daily. To save me the stress of outlining Mark’s journey of success (for those who don’t know the complete story) I firmly recommend you see the movie SOCIAL MEDIA, a movie biographing his life from his college coding days.

With great joy more than the 16 million Facebook users (according to recent statistics) in Nigeria welcomed this genius who evidently snuck into the commercial state of the country- Lagos, Yaba precisely, the Nigerian Silicon Valley. From those who recognized him while walking the streets to the buzzing timelines on FB to trending at the top on TwitterNG. These are the kind of things we Nigerians like, one, two or more persons that see(s) our light at the end of the tunnel. With the issue of insecurity and economic recession, Mark decided to come to Nigeria unannounced. I suspect he settled for a discreet visit for these reasons:

1. To save his kidnappers the stress of strategizing to abduct him after which they have to go headlong with the US government over ransom and return.

2. Relieve the Nigerian government the expenditure of millions in purchasing a lengthy red carpet, flowers, decorated hall, traditional attires, item 7 and miscellaneous since our economy is in shambles.

After reading about the Andela project which started in New York and the Chan-Zuckerberg charity foundation I saw more of a genius in Mark. The $50-million-dollar scheme of which $24 million dollars would be invested in Africa would strike the beacon sky high glaring to everyone in Nigeria especially technological geniuses and professionals, learners and aspirants in the computer space, inspiring them to work harder and make gainful use of this opportunity. Myself, not much of a pro in the computer field but an aspiring software engineer, strong enthusiast and learner, his presence inspired me although I wasn’t present but having one amongst your mentors around you, a feeling of more-work-to-be-done and readiness envelops you to achieve your goals and keep achieving. In his Q&A segment he responded to a question saying he was truly inspired by what he saw at Co-Creation Hub (CC Hub), the energy, positivity all seemed great. In the words of Rueben Abati “Mark Zuckerberg’s exploration of the African market is brilliant. He is smart". I agree with this in all entirety because he sees that Nigerians/Africans are doing wonders not just in their country for reasons that he has several Nigerians working with him not only in Africa but at the Facebook HQ in San Francisco bay area, California. A thought must have bolted in that powerful head to visit the mother that produces such rare breed of persons. That’s how intelligent people think.

Technology already is at a fast pace in Nigeria, Mark visiting and investing in us would serve as a strong catalyst making our reaction faster than normal. An example is the just concluded Aso Villa Demo Day(AVDD), a program organized by the government to fund the 3 most initiative ICT entrepreneurs after showcasing their country-changing products to the President and other officiating dignitaries. I took a look at the samples of various materials by the participants and I must say, bravo! Great ideas. Intuitive minds. Marky graced the occasion with his immediate return from Kenya to witness not him alone, but with the government and the whole nation that young minds if given the opportunity would make the nation transcend to a better realm.

Surely, with this visit he has exposed not just Nigeria but the African technological side to the world. I would advise the world to be on the lookout for Africa because the youths are ready to work if the chance is given. Not only in the entrepreneurial aspects of technology-programming, content development, structuring and design but also in fashion, entertainment amongst others.

P.S

1. As Nigerians we must do what is necessary by sharing a piece of our identity with a foreigner especially an important one. Mark enjoyed our jollof rice spiced with enough orishirishis and testified to its awesomeness, he refused to compare it with any other’s not only because he was told but he tasted and affirmed that #NigerianJellof is lord over others.

2. Several of us clung to his affection for grey shirts, jeans and sneakers. A geek is dressed as such. Probably, the $56-billion-dollars worth is a simple man who sees clothes as trivial things. So make una free am, him wifey like am like that.

3. The tug of war on Twitter #KenyaVsNigeria has been hilarious. The struggle for the preferable country that would suit Mark and his business ideas. Remember! We are one Africa. Very important.

4. Mark not being received or met at first by at least the Information and Communication’s Ministry shouldn’t be much of a big deal because it was a solemn visit. To keep us quiet he finally did.

5. Finally, Buhari should up his selfie game by maybe having a 1-week selfie programme courtesy of the presidency.

Thank you Mark Zuckerberg on behalf of Nigerians and Africans in general, we make you Balogun, you deserve it. We hope for more visits not just from you but people of your kind- humble, kind-hearted and benevolent.

A TALE BY DAYLIGHT- GOOD BAD LUCK

Story! Story…? Story. Once upon a time...? Time. Time.

In a distant village. Green. A magnanimous one.

People of that village suffered very well and complained about the problems they encountered by yelling outrageously to their King via various mediums. This King was engaged in meeting up with his itinerary, traveling to other villages to visit other Kings and discuss important issues. His followers complained and called him a voyager, unknowing to his community that he was trying to help them.

After a while, it came to a point whereby the community was supposed to bring out its finest competitors to rival with other communities in a festival of various sports. Green village as it was popularly called was supposed to get prepared for this fest since 4 years back but they didn’t, part of which was her problem as a village. When the festival was drawing close the cabinet members unanimously; with quarrel and insults came with the finalists to represent the village.

This village was rich in invaluable resources. Gold topped the list. This was the needed for those representing. It stood as the medium of transaction for most activities.

Days before departure, red-cap-Chief Solo issued a message through Obute the town crier, that there was no gold for them at the moment.

 This message battered the hearts of those competing. They were advised to break their tincan boxes or meet friends for gold and travel to the hosting village and make the village proud by returning with accolades. In expectation that their merited gold would be made available and suffice at their return. In infuriation those selected held a meeting of the Representatives of Green (ROG) after deliberating concluded to go out on the streets and beg for funds. They went to the village square which housed the community’s market, hospital, school amongst other public structures.

Gina the ROG spokesperson spoke up – Help us get to the VillaFest. That’s all we desire.

With this they captured the people’s hearts and donations flew into the 6 x 6 wooden cube with a 5mm hole aligned to the middle which carpenter Okute carefully handcrafted. It got tense that those who relented in donating where looked at like the devil’s heartthrob who admired the village’s failure.

Still the gold gotten wasn’t sufficient.

When the news got to the cabinet, after much lambasting from the inhabitants, they denied at the monthly community meeting that neither the King nor His cabinet nor red-cap-chief Solo ever approved of such news.
                                                                                  *   *   *

Yup! The GSVI (Green Squad VI) got to the bordering village. A BIG one. Bigger than theirs. Via their little rickety boat which they managed by squeezing because managing has been their modus operandi. After passing the night at the United Community of Red, they were set to depart for the games village.

The boat became unmanageable and they sent word through the inter-village’s sparrow to the King to provide them one out of his eleven aesthetic boats. Instead of heeding and providing the demanded immediately, red-cap-chief Solo abruptly responded during the village meeting to the community by asking “what are there for?” That they went to the “United Community of Green” to enjoy themselves instead of being en route to the main village. That-that isn’t their concern.

Even Obikere, the son of wealthy Chief Otinkpu was accused of giving 30,000 worth of gold to help his squad survive which he debunked.

Dede, the King, as he was normally hailed, sent his words back encouraging them to apply what they knew. Manage. All the way to participate in the fest and come back with laurels in various categories.

From the outcry of Green participants, the UCR in benevolence lent a bigger comfortable boat to the squad and in joy the left. Aiding the Green squad, in mockery they nicknamed them BOATLESS VILLAGE and made laughing stocks of them.


On arrival at the Mutlicoloured village, 7 hours before the festival, according to the reading from the hourglass, they had little time to prepare before tugging with their opponents in the battle field.

As they stood in one accord, right hand to the left breast to chant alongside with the local orchestra who sang Blue village’s anthem instead of Green’s. It was annihilating.

In this downtrodden state the King's message resounded like the morning cry gong. Manage.

From all calamitous ends it seemed impossible to kick the ball at this point. Stress upon fatigue. Football being the first game. They proved otherwise and won with an outstanding 5-4 against White village. That didn’t seem enough they qualified for the rowing competition.

At this point of the story Green stands at a 1-0 win against the village of the Cross.

Chief Solo felt remorseful for those outrageous things he said and apologized with a bulky letter. Onwards gold came and he traveled to meet them and celebrate.

The game continues…

Children. Children? What did we learn from the story?

As a country we have adapted to soaring high despite turmoils headed our way. With back-lashing and all what not.

I see Nigeria our beloved country taking records of important medals copped in this Olympic Games.

Voila. Voili. Voilo.
Big ups Naija.
Olympic squad VI.
 



Credit: twitter, pulse ng.

A PLACE DOWN NORTH

Prologue: I sincerely apologize for not posting since November, I am sorry.

I pen this firstly to appreciate the patriotic nature of these people. Real country love. The three-coloured-flag waving high in every nook you go, from offices, schools (obviously), hostels, homes, hotels to even public bathrooms. Patriotism which is I see as quite a disrespect because for a country like Nigeria which has little national symbols and the flag partaking as one of it. Most especially, I respect them for the flag being clean.

The differences being experienced are drastic.

1. Commercial buses transporting passengers at an over-affordable price which is generic to all stops. For a Nigerian this is strange because your normal bus conductor won’t give you a normal charge as the person whom he carried from a terminal earlier. Let’s say he won’t charge a person who entered from Wuse 2 to Kubwa same as the person who entered in Jahi.

The little fare for using the tram, subways and trains, all moving at the speed of light is considered a blessing as one can get in even without a ticket and get to the desired place in minutes.

2.People are seen on the streets crossing what we know as ‘may roads’ at ease walking in front of a speeding car, the driver quickly applies brake for the pedestrians. Respect! With this acquainted behavior you surely will possess the phobia that you might walk freely to your death when you get to your country where you have to be an athlete when crossing the road.

3. In grocery stores and supermarkets the cashier discovers at the counter that your cash is incomplete after calculating your stocks and you are politely told to try and bring the balance tomorrow at your convenience, this is a trade center where the prior aim is to gain profit. An Igbo man who just got his provision store open would place an outstanding post on the wall of the shop’s entrance with bold fonts on an A3 paper saying “NO CREDIT, COME TOMORROW.” You begin to wonder what planet these people come from to trust money for goods purchased on the customer until the next day of which there is no surety of the customer coming back.

4. As an internet oriented person you are highly blessed to be here. From the mobile data which drops to unlimited 3G after the normal exhaustion of purchased data to wireless fidelities in schools for academic work and research to easily affordable routers in local distribution stores less the price by 2 for purchase and subscription in your country. The ‘internetic’ part of you is happy. No more network worries.

5. With the low fuel price you wish to own a car here maybe a Mercedes CLA 300. The constant electricity would make you have a shaky reconsideration to stay back after the purpose of your trip. Considering that when you return back to base you would miss all these goodies; with the fuel queues and ‘Up/down NEPAs.’

6. Plus sized people (especially guys) are seen floating around although less than the amount of bacteria, catching a breath to figure if it’s the sharwarmas, pizzas and poulets (roasted chickens) that causes this weight gain. Still at an affordable price you detest these small chops to your much loved akpu, amala, eba and the likes of them. This is the point where you miss the taste of naija; you are basically confined to rice (the world most popular food), beans, macaroni, spaghetti, and couscous. No morning akara and night suya and grilled fish. You search for a Nigerian kitchen and find none; you wish you can begin one.

7. You bet you must have seen a handful of mad people in your country but not here; you are just beginning when you get here, the number keeps multiplying to an extent where you loose count. They are in numbers; they increase day by day that you would think they are prophets spreading the unknown message. Prophets dressed in thicker Yeezys, geeky mad men with technological tools. You don’t know how to start laughing, when you start you don’t know how to end.

8. At this point it feels more like this and all others coming after are things you don’t like especially seeing a guy being too close to his fellow guy, that not being enough they peck: right cheek, left cheek, that not enough they go on a marathon peck of up to 6 rounds. The bond existing between them seems more than metallic with the strange man-man hugs and touches you wonder the use of their women occupying 70% of the human population and beautiful at that.

9. Moving on the streets you get infuriated seeing young boys with elongated mouths from the packaged weed wrapped in their mouths which after much debate with people who don’t know the country better than you do concludes its legal for sake that it’s sold in shops. All these old flip up phones of 2000’s are still used here, you wonder if this place is a dump site for such phones. Considering how affordable life is here.

You walk to the barber shop for your hair cut and he swerves from given instructions putting your looks in shambles, with a poker face you grumbly pay and head to the tailor to adjust your trouser, with all the attitude he gives, he collects it and inscribes a-3-digit number (your pay) and a name on a paper he says “à demain (tomorrow)” with all plea and reason why you need it today he refuses and says Q.E.D.

P.S: After all, home still remains home. There is no place like it because the love abounds the more there.