Interview with Bamidele Odufuye, Future Awards Winner for Best Use of Technology
Recently, the Future Awards 2009 was held in Lagos, Nigeria which recognised young talented Nigerians in business, IT, the media, sports, arts, fashion and entertainment. The Future Awards 2009 for the Best Use of Technology was given to Bamidele Odufuye, MD/CEO of Tsaboin Tech World.
Bami is two time Future Nigeria Awards Best Use of Technology (2008/2009) winner and recently launched a new social network called tSarite.
I had this email interview with him recently where he shares his stints for tech and how his social network would change the social networking space in Nigeria.
Enjoy!
SN: Please tell us about yourself, your background and interests.
Bami: My name is Dele Odufuye, MD/CEO of tsaboin tech world. A firm specialized in Web Services Development and Business Process Automation. I grew up in Abeokuta Ogun State where I had my primary school education to University. I graduated an Environmental Scientist and Toxicologist but my interest has always belong to the digital and technology world.
SN: As Nigeria’s newest Technology Talent, what milestones have you achieved so far?
Bami: I still have a lot ahead of me, so compared to where I’m going, journey so far are not much credits. But for records, I have managed a firm that has been able to deliver rich content website and application to clients in banking, legal, oil, educational, government sectors and so on. I administer the group of PHP (web scripting language) in Nigeria and also formed significant part of the RIMA (Record and Information Mangament Awareness) Foundation. I have to a certain extent gained authority in the Web developer and Software development sector of Nigeria’s ICT.
SN: What does recieving the Future Awards mean to you? What do you hope to achieve with this award?
Bami: Well, it meant a lot. First, being appreciated for what you are doing gives me joy of relevancy and recognition. I was able to organize some projects that reach out to secondary school students in Lagos last year (partnering with their school authority) and was able to make them hear from me, Ofuneka, Praize, Big Sam, Lamii and other recognized Nigerian Youth and bring a torch of hope. Will do more this year, because I believe the change must start from their.
SN: You recently launched a cool social network (tSarite). What’s the idea behind tSarite?
Bami: Many people have not had the priviledge of seeing Nigerians create mashup websites, consuming state-of-the-art web/development tools. tsarite is a proof that we can matchup. Plus the fact that I wasn’t impressed with most Nigerian social network sites. They are not hitting it for me. I’m a programmer for Christ sake. Something told me, stop complaining about them, create something to attempt matching up with international standards. So you have tSarite. I want to believe that you agree with me that its cool.
SN: What is your competitive strategy against social networking giants like Naijapals?
Bami: Features, Features, Features. My strategy is to provide, relevant features that addresses issues and at the same time, interesting. Just identify what people want, provide it. If they think its cool, they glue else they go. I believe we must deliver value with our contents. tSarite Team has the mandate of releasing at least one outstanding feature (as add-on) to the website per month. And each features must solve, attempt to either solve a national issue or add fun.
SN: How would you monetise on tSarite?
Bami: Adverts, Adverts, Adverts.
SN: Tell us briefly about your company - Tsaboin Tech World
Bami: Started in 2002, Established in 2005, tsaboin tech world has always focused on creating technology solutions to match up with international standards in the most dynamic way up to the point where we’ll be able to show the world the next phase of technology. We have created products and rendered services for virtually all the sectors of the economy. We have organized and been part of seminars, conferences and lectures geared toward technology advancement in our own domain (Nigeria).
SN: How many people are currently using your website services
Bami: tSarite was released for testing 25days ago (Jan 20th) and the current stat is close to 250 active users, close to 90 active FB connections, average hits per day is 108 and average page viewed per day is 277. Total hits/pages 1,418/3,541 as of 5:44 today and Average Visit Length of 5:09. tSarite will soon be launched so I expect greater and better hits.
SN: What are your thoughts about Nigeria’s tech scene?
Bami: Its advancing very well, but actually can be better. I am still not satisfied and ok with the pace but not impressed.
SN: In your opinion, what web startups from Nigeria should be watched?
Bami: No doubt, I live the Naija Pulse thing.
he is hot!
Oga tsaboin as i would fondly call him, is a lot of inspiration to me.. its a while i saw him though, but each time i read about him. i know there is hope for technology in Nigeria. Having been introduced into programming by this genius in 2003, i’d say my close contact with him tells me this is one man with a lot of guts thinking, consistency. dogedness.. i write this to tell anyone out there that these and many other qualities won him the right of place as we see today.
Kudos to my Oga, Kudos to tsaboin..
but come to think of it what are you doing to leverage and amplify his effor for this nation… as he would always tell me oga atiku (that’s what he calls me..!) get the solutions not the money.. so i ask you how are you helping us develop out own technolgy.
I want to congratulate the organizers of this motivating,programme
that has the potential of driving especially the youth of Nigeria to greater patriotism and national achievement.
Howevwer, as I watched the program I noticed a glaring defect.If this programme is aimed at appraising and honouring Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the particular areas of award, then the programme is one sided because it honoured mostly people from the western part of the country, as if others did not such calibre of achievers.It will therefore be nice to work more relentlessly to give it a true and fair National Face..
Furthermore, the singing of the National Anthem was not solemnly rendered.The National Anthem is a symbol .of our being and resolve as a Nation.The lousy way it was done was almost a carricature of
our country and could make us a laughing stock before the World.
Nevertheless,I believe that the goodwill that inspired the organizers of this programme can also help them achisve a correction of the above and other possible anomalies in the event,if
objectively considered.
Congratulations on your outing as one looks forward to a better Nigerian Future,and God Bless.