Unotech media, a leading Nigeria/UK-based web design startup is partnering with MobilePlus to deliver an interactive gameshow called TV Superfan, the first of its kind in Nigeria aired every Sunday on AIT - the African Independent Television.

Founded in 2002 as DOLADAMS TERRAIN by Mr. Dolapo Taiwo and Mr. Damola Taiwo, the site passed through a wave of branding revitalization that became UNOTECH MEDIA, and has specialised in designing and delivering cost-effective, tailored web sites for individuals and companies all over Nigeria and the UK.

The website offers dynamic news updates and RSS feeds, an updated portfolio showcasing some recent work in print, web design, identity and multimedia and a video profile.

We are really exited to finally launch our new website and also move into our new creative space,” said co-founder and creative director, Dolapo Taiwo. “Ever since rebranding our company from Doladams to Unotech media, we have felt compelled to develop a site that flows with the new web 2.0 trend. Similarly, we have always wanted to use a space that encourages a free flowing exchange of ideas and creativity.”

UnoTech Media has a Facebook fans site that connects web-savvy people together.

And you know what?

I kinda like the site’s catch phrase: “Someone or something that is worthy of notice”, which shows that StartupsNigeria is noteworthy!

Thanks to the site author for such a remarkable review!

Zain, the leading telecommunications group has announced it has re-branded its entire African operations from Celtel to Zain. The mobile solutions company services over 50 million customers in 22 countries across the Middle East and Africa.

What this means is that 14 African countries including Nigeria will immediately rebrand to Zain. Other country operators include: Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia as well as in Francophone countries such as Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, amongst others. Zain plans to launch its mobile operation in Ghana later in 2008.

Zain also announced the creation of the world’s first cross-continental borderless network, extending and linking its ‘One Network’ service between Africa and the Middle East. The new Zain brand has a vibrant and colourful identity to create “A Wonderful World” - a world linking two continents (Africa and the Middle East).

The ‘One Network’ service will be available to 500 million people stretching from the west coast of Africa to the Middle East, covering an area larger than the United States of America. Since it was launched on August 1, customers can make calls and send messages at local rates when communicating with a travelling Zain customer who will receive incoming calls free-of-charge and be able to make calls back home at local rates.

What’s more?

Another interesting thing about this service is that, pre-paid customers can top up their phones with recharge cards bought from either their home country or more than one million outlets available in one of the 15 ‘One Network’ countries. Then, the ’One Network’ service is automatically activated upon crossing the geographic border into one of the countries, with no prior registration required or sign-up fee.

The Zain Group aims towards becoming one of the top ten global mobile telecommunications companies by 2011.

Via: Zain Press Release

NexiaCulture, formerly ng-nexus, is a professional networking site that offers Nigerian graduates and professionals the opportunity to interact with one another and make strong connections regarding job placements and entrepreneurial opportunities. I have reviewed the site earlier here.

The site is currently offering a free Nokia E65 mobile phone for a member that has 300 friends on or before September 30th, 2008. Obviously, the site is using this marketing strategy to penetrate into the overcrowded business of social networking in Nigeria.

With an Alexa traffic rank of 14 million, why shouldn’t the site give away a free Nokia phone to attract members?

But wait a minute!

This same strategy has been used by another professional networking site in Nigeria called proCareersNigeria. As a matter of fact, NexiaCulture did what some might call: Photocopying. The site has shown how desperate it could be by using a competition strategy exactly similar to that used by proCareersNigeria.com

See the competition pages for ProCareersNigeria and NexiaCulture. See also a snapshot below.

My take on this

I think that the site should be original if it wants to attract its own unique brand of members. Even if NexiaCulture got ‘copyright’ permission from proCareersNigeria, that doesn’t mean it should be careless about such a marketing strategy that might put off its members.

One word sums it up: Disappointing!

Just a quick post after a 1 month hiatus. I’ve been in Nigeria for a holiday, and it hasn’t been easy to get a steady wireless internet connection on my laptop. But now, I can work better. Yuppieeeeeee!!!!!!

The site has been around since May 2008 and has moved from a traffic rank of 22 million to about 400, 000, according to Alexa. StartupsNigeria gets reasonable traffic from Nigeria, UK and US amongst other countries. Below is the site’s Alexa stats:

What’s New?

StartupsNigeria.com will be reviewing technology/mobile news, products and services in Nigeria, in the areas of telecommunications, banking, etc. Also, I’ll be doing interview of startup founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, etc who are making an impact in their businesses.

But there’s more to come…