Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg has said that he is in Nigeria to learn about the startup ecosystem in the country.
Zuckerberg is in Nigeria to listen and learn and
take ideas back to California on how Facebook can better support tech
development and entrepreneurship across Africa.
One of his first stops on the trip was to visit a
‘Summer of Code Camp’ at the Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) in Yaba, known as
the Silicon Valley of Nigeria.
‘Summer of Code Camp’ at the Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) in Yaba, known as
the Silicon Valley of Nigeria.
CcHub opened in 2011 and at the time didn’t even
have an office. Five years later they fill three floors and the roof of a
building. At CcHub people can learn how to code, developers can get
help launching their first products, and find mentors and funding.
have an office. Five years later they fill three floors and the roof of a
building. At CcHub people can learn how to code, developers can get
help launching their first products, and find mentors and funding.
At CcHub Zuckerberg met with developers like Temi Giwa, who runs a platform called Life Bank that
makes blood available when and where it is needed in Nigeria. Life Bank
saves lives by mobilizing blood donations, taking inventory of all
blood available in the country, and delivering blood in the right
condition to where it is needed.
makes blood available when and where it is needed in Nigeria. Life Bank
saves lives by mobilizing blood donations, taking inventory of all
blood available in the country, and delivering blood in the right
condition to where it is needed.
After visiting CcHub Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of
Facebook, said: “This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I’ll be
meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the
startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I’m excited
to learn as much as I can.
Facebook, said: “This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I’ll be
meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the
startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I’m excited
to learn as much as I can.
“The first place I got to visit was the
Co-creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB) in Yaba. I got to talk to kids at a
summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who come to CcHub to build and
launch their apps. I’m looking forward to meeting more people in
Nigeria.”
Co-creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB) in Yaba. I got to talk to kids at a
summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who come to CcHub to build and
launch their apps. I’m looking forward to meeting more people in
Nigeria.”
Mark then went to Andela, an engineering organization that is building the next generation of technical leaders in Africa.
Andela is a business that recruits the most
talented technologists in Africa and shapes them into world-class
developers through a four-year technical leadership program. In the two
years since it was founded, Andela has accepted just over 200 engineers
from a pool of more than 40,000 applicants. Andela developers spend six
months mastering a technical stack and contributing to open source
projects before being placed with global technology companies as
full-time, distributed teammates, working out of Andela headquarters in
Lagos and Nairobi.
talented technologists in Africa and shapes them into world-class
developers through a four-year technical leadership program. In the two
years since it was founded, Andela has accepted just over 200 engineers
from a pool of more than 40,000 applicants. Andela developers spend six
months mastering a technical stack and contributing to open source
projects before being placed with global technology companies as
full-time, distributed teammates, working out of Andela headquarters in
Lagos and Nairobi.
Earlier this year, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
invested in Andela after being impressed by the company’s innovative
model of learning and its drive to connect the global technology
ecosystem with the most talented developers in Africa.
invested in Andela after being impressed by the company’s innovative
model of learning and its drive to connect the global technology
ecosystem with the most talented developers in Africa.
Seni Sulyman, Director, Andela Lagos, said: “We
are excited and honored to welcome Mark Zuckerberg to Lagos. His visit
reinforces not only his support of Andela’s mission, but his belief that
indeed the next generation of great technology leaders will come out of
Lagos, Nigeria and cities across Africa. Andela has created a platform
for passionate, driven software developers and engineers to break into
the global tech ecosystem, but the barriers to entry are still very
high. Mark’s visit demonstrates to all Nigerian developers and
entrepreneurs that they’ve caught the attention of the tech world, and
they are capable of succeeding on a truly global level.”
are excited and honored to welcome Mark Zuckerberg to Lagos. His visit
reinforces not only his support of Andela’s mission, but his belief that
indeed the next generation of great technology leaders will come out of
Lagos, Nigeria and cities across Africa. Andela has created a platform
for passionate, driven software developers and engineers to break into
the global tech ecosystem, but the barriers to entry are still very
high. Mark’s visit demonstrates to all Nigerian developers and
entrepreneurs that they’ve caught the attention of the tech world, and
they are capable of succeeding on a truly global level.”
At the end of the day Zuckerberg stopped by an
Express WiFi stand in Lagos owned by Rosemary Njoku. Facebook’s Express
WiFi lets entrepreneurs like Rosemary set up a hot spot to help their
community access apps and services built by local developers.
Express WiFi stand in Lagos owned by Rosemary Njoku. Facebook’s Express
WiFi lets entrepreneurs like Rosemary set up a hot spot to help their
community access apps and services built by local developers.