Webhostville and the Journey so far – 3 of 3

After I finished the National Service, I continued to look for opportunities where I can implement my idea as well as translate it into a Business having weigh my options for employment to be a bit tight and I did not want to waste my time and emotions looking for job. With the help and support of a good friend and colleague who became my Business, Professional and Technical Mentor all rolled in one, I was able to start off Webhostville up to the stage it is now.

But still my knowledge of the Nigerian Tech scene was next to none. In 2016, I decided to go on a fact finding mission searching the Internet with every keyword I could, read every link I could from the website of the Ministry of Information Communication and NITDA. Then, I found the Office of ICT Innovations and Entrepreneurship – OIIE and the Start-up Friday event for Entrepreneurs and Innovators to pitch their ideas. I was excited but all events were taking place in Abuja, which I could not attend and when the event took place in Lagos, I was engaged with other matters of importance that I could not go. I remember sending e-mail to the then Co-ordinator Mr Bunmi Okunowo making enquiry about the events.

During my fact finding mission, I found out about IDEA Hub in Lagos and CcHUb as well. Both were listed as partners in Start-up Friday on the OIIE website promoting the event. I went for a visit in January 2016 in Lagos, since both were located next to each other, I visited both and had a chat with the Staff member I met. I wanted to understand what they do and how they do it in relations to ICT in Nigeria and how I can benefit or become part of it. I was a bit disappointed because whatever they have on offer that I really need requires that I live in Lagos. I live in Ibadan and I can not possibly move to Lagos due to personal constraint. I went back home disappointed that day.

I worked at a University campus for a while on a project but I needed to work from my home as well but lack of electricity and a viable Internet connection was a big frustration. One day, I reached out to google again to search for possible provisions like IDEA Hub and CcHUB in my home town, Ibadan. My search returned Wennovation Hub, which is not far from my home. I called them up and immediately, I booked a visit to find out more. I was pleasantly surprised that what I have been searching high and low for is quite near to me, imagine that, all the way to Lagos and back. The benefit of my searches both online and offline with my special journey to Lagos is that I now have the tools I need to find-out and follow the Tech scene in Nigeria.

Working from Wennovation hub has been a double blessing for me. The fact that I can get to work comfortably on my project with stable electricity supply throughout the day and good Internet connection with little or no disruption. The second bit is, I get to know some of the ongoings in the Tech scene here in Ibadan and I can follow other Hubs and the OIIE for more information and updates. Since then, I have got to know of other Hubs in Ibadan like Ibridge, with informative and regular programmes on offer in the Tech scene. It is a comfortable feeling to know that there are a lot of people in the same field out there that you can reach out to whenever you need to. Knowing that you are not out of the loop and you are getting as much update as everyone else in the Tech goings on is very much re-assuring.

The journey so far is not bad, we continue, every step taken brings its own experience and lessons learnt.