The Problem With Nigeria Tech Stories
It may occur to you that stories about Nigerian innovative ideas are well received. In the heat of the moment, we get overwhelmed immersed in Europium of our Country men hitting great heights in Technology. Stories as such for the most part covered by top blogs, gets more shares, more accreditation, and less care. Sooner or later it becomes a fairly tale told under the prying eyes of moonlight.
It’s barely two years ago, when two brothers broke the internet with their programmed crocodile browser. The browser takes advantage in less advantaged Africa where internet connections aren’t strong, crocodile browser addresses the hitch of low 2/3G connection, proficiently increases downloads and page loading speed.
When the news broke the Internet; wide acclaim from authority sites heaped praise on the two young innovators for their invention. For a while the news reverberated as echo, time passed and it turned to whispers. The cold Nigerian Ecosystem couldn’t be more Luke warm when its temperature is supposed to bring warmth.
A little reminisce about Nigerian Innovators, Four teenage girls who created a way to use a liter of urine as fuel would comes into picture. Their idea was aimed at bringing six hours of electricity with a liter of our waste urine. Within the age range of fourteen, Duro aina, Adebola, Akindele abiola and faleka oluwatoyin displayed their invention at the Maker Faire in Lagos. Since then, I haven’t heard a single endorsement.
For a while I thought, may be investors have shied away no sooner had the innovation laid birthed or more likely they prefer telling sweet African stories without taking part, May be.
I don’t think I need the brain of an Elephant, to know that our Stories are ostensibly told with no more than a grain of Salts worth. The technology pundits are not doing more than they should, that is, funding innovation. Yes! I really mean it with every ounce of blood running through my veins.
In contrast to what is being practiced in countries oversea, far from the shores of Nigeria. Genius brain figured out at a young age are properly nurtured, to an extent families are paid for such brains in which the tuition fee of the benefactor and other quandaries are ironed out, if need be.
The Government shares the spoils in Stories ending happily never after. Fact is, since when I could remember the difference between tooth and nail, Nigerian government has repeatedly, times without number shut doors of Technological advancement.
Funding remains an issue, for a country’s startups seed funding source which 80percent comes either from Europe or USA comes under scrutiny. Questions beg pertinently, where are the richest percentage of millionaires in Africa? Is Nigeria really a giant or rather standing on a giant shoulders? Why then can’t we see further?
The problem of Nigerian Technology ecosystem is that we have not immortalized our Nigerian achievements; more or less they’ve become fairy tales. It’s time Nigerian startups feed other seedling startups.
In the weight of filling our pockets with gems before extending a hand in help of others should be scrapped. May be, it’s time we stop asking what but how can we change the demographic state of our countries Ecosystem. This goes without the saying that the problem is not in our stars but in our underlings.
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