BarCamp Nigeria: Event Details, Updates, Photos and more
Note: Post has been updated
On Saturday, April 25, 2009 in a quiet and friendly atmosphere at Tom Associates Training Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, a group of technology enthusiasts gathered in an event that appears to be the best technology event that has ever happened in the history of the Nigerian web industry.
BarCamp Nigeria was born out of the desire to build connections between technopreneurs and discuss the potentials, challenges and prospects of the Internet and its tools and technologies within the Nigerian technology community.
As participant and sponsor, StartupsNigeria.com gave the event a good coverage via Twitter, the fastest-growing microblogging platform, NaijaPulse, Nigeria’s microblogging service, Gatorpeeps, South Africa’s microblogging service by Afrigator, as well as Facebook, the world’s leading social networking site.
If truth be told, the event was a very unsuccessful one as it achieved its goals and set the precedent for future technology-related unconferences in Nigeria. The keynote addresses were delivered by Justin Hartman, MD and co-founder of Afrigator and Victoria N’dee Uwadoka, Events & PR Manager, Microsoft Nigeria (West Africa Region).
Keynote Address 1
Justin (pictured above) gave a powerful slide presentation about Afrigator noting that Nigeria is their 2nd largest market (11.2%) in Africa, of course after South Africa. He also announced that Adgator, Africa’s first blog ad network would be launched in Nigeria by March 2010. We’re looking forward to that, Justin!
Then, he officially launched Afrigator’s latest product called GatorPeeps, “a micro-blogging platform, not unlike Twitter or Pownce (which died), that makes it really easy for existing Afrigator users to connect with other Afrigator users in 140 characters or less”, according to Mike Stopforth.
You can check out the BarCamp Nigeria community here. Also, check out Startups Nigeria on GatorPeeps.
Keynote Address 2
Speaking on the second keynote address, Victoria N’dee Uwadoka talked about Web 2.0, building a Nigerian technology community and ways to harness the power of the Internet. In one of the most interactive sessions I’ve ever participated in, Mrs. Uwadoka drew out responses from almost all the event delegates at BarCamp Nigeria.
She showed her strengths in managing forums, debates, brainstorming sessions and communities. I think this is a plus for her and her organization, Microsoft Nigeria with regards to connecting with the Nigerian technology community.
Panel Sessions
I was opportuned to be on the Panel Session: Realizing Nigeria’s Internet Potentials (picture above) together with Justin Hartman (Afrigator), Gbenga Sesan (Paradigm Initiative Nigeria), and Edward Popoola which focused on identifying the potentials, challenges and prospects of the Internet population in Nigeria.
The panel session on Mobile Technology (picture above) featured Oluniyi David Ajao (Web4Africa), Rafiq Phillips (WebAddiCT), Lekan and Bodunrin which focused on ways to leverage on the mobile technology space in Nigeria. Kenny Osanaiye moderated both panel sessions.
Breakout Sessions
In all, there were 10 breakout sessions including:
- Open Source
- Web development (picture above)
- Technopreneurship Derivatives
- Social Networking (picture above)
- Long Tail
- RapidSMS
- E-learning
- Internet-based Radio
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Getting people online
What’s More?
Rafiq Phillips from WebAddiCT was also at the event and shared his thoughts in the panel session on Mobile Technology. He also gave me a book (eMarketing - the essential guide to online marketing by Rob Stokes) as a gift for commenting on his blog post about BarCamp Nigeria. I thought that was very cool. Thanks, Rafiq!:-)
I could see the look on the Justin’s face at BarCamp Nigeria, which probably read: “These Nigerian folks have all it takes to lead the African web and mobile space, and I just hope they recognize that. Meanwhile, we at Afrigator and SA will be riding on the turf.”
For more details about the event, please visit @startupsnigeria, @barcampnigeria, @atadewunmi, @gbengasesan, #bcnigeria. You can also find more photos of BarCamp Nigeria 09 here, here and here. You can also read some blog posts about BarCamp Nigeria 09 here, here, here and here.
Photos Via Flickr by Startups Nigeria & Tim Akinbo and Adeleke Adesanya
Nice overview! Looking forward to an in depth report back but Justin when he gets back
Hope this is the first of many more to come, but looking at the pictures, where were all the women?!
Naija’s female geeks need to show themselves!
Nice stuff!
I had a real good time talking to you at Barcamp.
waiting eagerly for the next one.
Thanks Stii. @LoloBloggs - Check out all the event pictures on Flickr with the links on the post @Prosper - Sure, twas a nice chat.
I see myself with the wazaap! shirt backing y’all lol…The event was great I mean great………..
Good job guy,with more of such events like this,identifying and solving the challenges of the web industry,bringing out the hiding talent of Nig internet potentials, the sky is the limit for technology in africa.Good job once again!
Nice reporting loy…I’m wondering how this can get into the newspapers because people out there should definitely know about this…
@Racheal - Thanks honey:-)
@Damola - Nice tip…I’ve actually emailed some newspaper organizations and hope they’ll help spread the word.
Good report Loy. Was great meeting you offline
BarCamp was a great event. I enjoyed every minute and gained new knowledge around today’s technology landscape in Nigeria and where we need to go. I am looking forward to all the cool new ideas and software solutions that will come from this effort.
[...] This post style is inspired by frogfoot joe Read more about BarCamp Nigeria at StartupsNigeria [...]
@Victoria - Thanks for stopping by. It was nice meeting you too @barcampnigeria I’m positive that we’ll be seeing more good stuff in the next months.
Happy it went well.Missed out do you have any tips for technopreneurs that missed out?
Nice one,Barcamp was a really nice event from the keynote speaker to the panelist to the participants.
We are what we repeatedly do,excellence then is not an act but a habit- Aristotle.
Yes We Can…cheers….see u @ D Top.
[...] Okezie from Startups Nigeria has a really nice summary of the events that transpired over here and there’s another in depth look by Possicon over here as well so I won’t rehash [...]