- Title: NIGERIA: Google offers business skills to Nigerian sutdents
- Date: 22nd February 2010
- Summary: VARIOUS OF COMPUTER SCREENS SHOWING THE GOOGLE MAPS
- Embargoed: 9th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Science / Technology,Education
- Reuters ID: LVACVLQ0EDO7X07A5NXE3HFXTL8B
- Story Text: World giant search engine Google launches new detailed maps of many cities in Nigeria that will enable local entrepreneurs grow their business through web based advertising and positioning.
New detailed maps of many cities were launched by search engine Google on Thursday (February 18) at Lagos University.
The Google maps were launched during 2010 G Nigeria Google Developer Day, which hosted web developers, engineers, product managers, entrepreneurs and student to discuss the future web application development.
"Google is well known for search but we have several products that can be used as a basis to develop other solutions for the internet, like Google maps, it has APIs that allows application developers to build a solution to point a specific business on a given map or allow Google maps to be embedded in somebody'swebsites. Obviously this is all done by web developers and application developers, so the purpose of today's event is to educate the developers in Nigeria about how to take advantage of these technologies so that they can actually bring solutions that are more adequate to the people of Africa and Nigeria, obviously," said Nelson Mattos, Vice President engineering of Google.
Mattos said the new service would enable Google Maps users to search up to date online maps, look up businesses, advertise for free via Google Maps Business Centre, create their own maps and even check locations while they are on the move.
Mattos reiterated Google's commitment to driving the web forward by creating developer platforms, supporting open standards and providing building blocks for developers to create robust web applications.
"Let's bring people on line, let's help solve their problems, let's lay infrastructure, let's work with government, policy makers, operators to bring the prices down of equipment and connectivity, once a lot of people are on line, not only Google will benefit but many, many entrepreneurs across Africa are going to benefit as well," he said.
Despite being the second largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa and leading oil producer, Nigeria's poor infrastructure has hindered rapid internet penetration for the country's 150 million people.
Nnamdi Abraham-Igwe, Engineering Manager Google said there was a need to enhance the overall web experience of users in Africa and Nigeria.
"One of the issues with internet access in Nigeria is high latency…high latency affects the ability of internet users to advantage of products that can add value to their lives. Another issue is cost, the fact that people cannot find internet access affordable means they cannot take advantage of the products that can add value to their lives. So these are barriers to the internet access in Nigeria," said Abraham-Igwe.
At the end of Thursday's discussion, most of those who attended said they were impressed with what they had learnt from Google and hopped to maximise the knowledge.
"As a marketer, it's interesting to know that Google cares, at least cares for Nigeria, and cares for Africa, and it is interesting to know that there is a part that we can actually get something out of," said Biola Akinyemi, a marketing manager based in Lagos.
Others like Tolu Amune a business consultant based in Lagos said they were more interested in making money and were convinced the knowledge would help their businesses grow.
"I am more interested on how to raise money for the organisation I work for and also to market what I do for them," Amune said.
G Nigeria 2010 which was held for three days attracted over 400 participants. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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