Innovation Growth Hub – Sparking Tech and Business Growth in Nigeria’s South East Region
Usually, great stories of Tech and Startups in Nigeria are set in Lagos, and that has been so for a while until the CEO and Co-Founder of Innovation growth Hub, Daniel Chinagozi decided to change the narrative. With that decision, InnovationGrowth Hub otherwise known as IGHub began its baby steps in 2015 by facilitating and enhancing an ecosystem for Tech and Business enthusiasts in its home state; Abia State. IGHub is dedicated to startups at various stages of maturing by providing Mentorship, Co-Working Space, Event Space, Business Support Services, Warm Community and Network for Entrepreneurs in order to increase the success rate of fresh startups within the region. In light of that, IGHub has been hosting and organizing Startup Weekends in Aba and Umuahia since 2015 till present. StartUp Weekends are the brainchild of TechStars Foundation, where anyone such as Tech and Business Enthusiasts pitch their ideas, form a team and create a Startup all within 54 hours. About 600 people have taken part in the 6 Startup weekends IGHUb has hosted so far; sparking a desire within a lot of people in the region to execute their problem-solving ideas and teams immediately. This year, the winning team at the Startup Weekend – Women Abia Emergency, a Healthcare Emergency solution went on to virtually pitch at the finals in Paris and are currently pivoting on the model and set to launch soon. IGHub has stayed true to the model of Hubs, which involves clusters and ecosystems for similarly-minded individuals. In recent times, the presence of the hub has given enthusiasts assurance on where to get consulting for any of their ideas. Providing solutions such as Digital Marketing, Web Development, and Android Development in form of training and rendered services, Abia and South East, in general, is gradually transforming to its version of Silicon Valley with tiny bursts of innovation sprouting from bright ideas. [bctt tweet=”@ighubafrica is set to begin an Incubation program featuring three startups from the just concluded 2018 #Abia Hackathon” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Interestingly, the number of Developers have increased since IGHub began operation with the majority of them admitting the presence of the Hub and the possibilities it opened them to inspired them to take on that path. Bearing in mind the importance of building transgenerational businesses, IGHub has held Basic Entrepreneurship Development Courses (BEDC) which are centered on equipping Individuals with relevant skills for building World Class Brands from their ideas. Going further on this initiative, IGHUb is set to begin an Incubation program by the third quarter of 2018 featuring three startups from the just concluded 2018 Abia Hackathon. The 12-weeks incubation program will provide Startup Teams with Business Development Training, Mentoring and Seed Funding to prepare them for the journey ahead. IGHub has embraced Social Media for broadcasting latest activities and opportunities among its ever-expanding community. It also relies on local media for its Tech Evangelism as it runs a regular radio program on Magic FM in Aba. This channel has served in converting the older demographic into believers of the Innovation Journey. Due to the nature of the clime and seeing a need for supporting Business that are not Tech-based but require tech services; IGHub has also started providing Technical support and Web Development Services to these Businesses in order to position them for Global advancement. Slowly but surely, IGHub is driving economic growth and competitiveness in South East of Nigeria. Located at the 5th Floor of the second tallest building in Aba, IGHub is set to continually ignite Tech and Business Success Stories in South East and Nigeria in general. Join the IGHub community, follow them on Instagram and Visit their website. Sponsored Post.
Jobs – Marketing Associate
She Leads Africa believes in the power of young African women to build amazing careers and businesses, serve as community leaders and influencers, and eventually take over the world. Our MotherlandMoguls, as we affectionately call them, are the reason we exist – to provide them with more inspiring and educational content to help them live their best lives. We’re looking for a marketing guru who’d like to join us in promoting She Leads Africa as the number one destination for smart and ambitious African women. About the Marketing Associate Role: The Marketing Associate will manage the marketing functions for She Leads Africa events and training programs. Responsibilities: Serve as the lead content creator for promotion and publicity of events and training programs Establish and deliver leads and sales goals on a weekly and monthly basis Manage marketing and public relations strategies including media partnerships, influencers, and advertising for events Maintain a marketing calendar with a structured plan of marketing campaigns for each quarter Create “always on” campaigns to consistently market and build the SLA brand in target cities in advance of upcoming events Liaise with the content team to schedule marketing content Utilize data and analytics to drive decision making and advise content decisions Develop a deep understanding of our audience and how best to communicate with them Requirements: The ideal candidates will have an interest in building, growing and scaling communities. You don’t have to have official experience doing this kind of work but we want someone who is passionate about digital content and can learn quickly. If this role is for you, you’ll be excited to work in a fast paced environment and committed to working until the job is done. Specific requirements include: Intellectual curiosity and an interest in learning new skills Excellent English writing skills and the ability to adopt and change your style of writing Experience in building and growing communities across markets using a variety of content, marketing and partnership strategies Knowledge of digital marketing strategies Social media savvy and being up to date on current trends Able to deliver on metrics-driven results and an understanding of analytics Graphic design and video editing skills are a major plus Key Performance Indicators: Conversion rate from leads to sales Ticket sales for ticketed events Applications for training programs Cost per lead Benefits: Entry-level salary Opportunity to travel across Africa and interact with Africa’s leading voices and entrepreneurs Hygeia HMO insured medical insurance that gives you access to medical care, dental care, mental health care and wellness programs with premium health care institutions nationwide Flexible work arrangements Opportunity to work with a fun, primarily remote team who prefer sweatpants over stilettos Reporting Structure: The Marketing Associate will report to the Head of Marketing and/or Co-Founder Afua Osei. Submit your application here
The Art of Customer Service every business should adopt
As important as branding and advertising are, one of the most important elements of selling a product/service is customer service. Excellent customer service puts your business ahead of the competition as it is something that is often missing from the a lot of countries, especially the Ghanaian business model. Small businesses tend to jump straight to digital marketing or advertising without taking a moment to fully understand their business model and industry and how their product (or service), pricing, place (online store or brick & mortar store) and people (service personnel) intertwine and affect the overall brand and ROI. In case you didn’t know, people are one of the most important aspects of the business, that is service personnel across the production line or yourself if you are running a run man show. Customer service does not begin and end at the point of transaction and as a small business owner, you must consider the pre-purchase experience, purchase experience, and post-purchase experience So what does this mean for your business? Pre-purchase experience This refers to the experience your customer has with your brand before they decide to purchase anything. Is your website appealing? Does it have enough information to allow the customer to make an informed decision – or are your photos outdated? How is your advertising? Are people speaking positively about your brand? Purchase experience This is the actual moment of transaction where you exchange the product (or service) for payment. If you run an online store, you must consider your interface – is your website easy to navigate? How does your customer pay for their purchase – do you have Mobile Money integrated? Can they use a Visa Card? There are many services in Ghana that allow you to develop a website that allows your customers to shop online. A personal favorite is Storefoundry, it works very well for small businesses in Ghana. If you run an actual brick & mortar store, what is the ambiance like? Is it easy for customers to locate the products in your store? Are they on high shelves and do they always need an attendant to help? Is your store so small that your customers can only come in one at a time? Is your shop attendant interactive, willing to help and offer alternatives? Or are they constantly on their phone? Post-purchase experience This covers your follow-ups and interaction with the client after the transaction. Are you bombarding them with irrelevant SMS messages and emails? If you provide a delivery service, was your delivery driver dressed appropriately? Below are practical tips you can put into action to make sure your customer service is top notch. Recruitment & Training – Recruitment and training is the beginning of providing excellent customer service. Even if you are running a run man show, you need to stay up to date on customer relationship trends and train yourself to always put the customer first. If you are hiring others to handle the customer interaction, make sure you hire people who know and understand the vision of the brand and are willing to be brand ambassadors both inside and outside the workplace. Personnel must also be conversant in the industry-speak as well as in the product itself, in order to serve as a salesperson. [bctt tweet=”Hiring the right people will allow you to build the right company culture that is well aligned with the brand” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Go the extra mile – The data you collect from your customers serve many purposes. One of the main ones is to compile a mailing list for your newsletter but another important use would be to study your customer’s purchasing habits and stay a step ahead of them all the time. Group your customers by date of birth and send out a personal message to them via text message or Whatsapp, which has become a popular medium for business communication in Ghana. Get to know your customers personally, are they parents? Do they celebrate religious holidays? Make sure to reach out to them accordingly. [bctt tweet=”Reminding customers that you have them on your mind will make them feel involved with the brand. ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Feedback is key – Receiving feedback from your customers at least once a quarter is important. Simple tools such as Google Forms or Survey Monkey are helpful for designing easy to use surveys which gives you direct feedback from your customers and clients. This way, your clients feel involved with and connected to your brand. Appearance – You and your staff’s appearance is one of the most important elements in building a strong brand. Ensure that staff (and yourself) look the part at all times. Customers appreciate a smile and a helping hand, as difficult as it may be on some occasions. The best way to make sure your customer service is on point is to align the pre-purchase, purchase and post-purchase experience to ensure a smooth transaction! Go forth and provide an excellent service!
Jobs – Sales Analyst
She Leads Africa believes in the power of young African women to build amazing careers and businesses, serve as community leaders and influencers, and eventually take over the world. Our MotherlandMoguls, as we affectionately call them, are the reason we exist – to provide them with more inspiring and educational content to help them live their best lives. We’re looking for a hustler to help us build and grow a sales machine. About the Sales Analyst Role: The Sales Analyst will be responsible for identifying new leads, developing sales proposals for potential clients and tracking our campaign objectives. Reporting Structure: The Sales Analyst will report directly to the Head of Sales. Responsibilities: Responsible for supporting the Sales team with research and developing sales proposals Helps develop relationships with brands for both our online and offline products Tracks campaign objectives and produces client feedback reports Creates monthly and quarterly communications via newsletters and calls to keep in touch with previous clients Directly supports the Department Head with identifying leads and securing meetings for potential sales partners Benefits: N169,000 monthly (tax deductible), amounting to about ~N137,086.28 after tax and pension Opportunity to travel across Africa and interact with Africa’s leading voices and entrepreneurs Hygeia HMO insured medical insurance that gives you access to medical care, dental care, mental health care and wellness programs with premium health care institutions nationwide Flexible work arrangements Opportunity to work with a fun, primarily remote team who prefer sweatpants over stilettos Submit your application here: [typeform_embed type=”embed” url=”https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgoppnsuMZVwrM7n166p1lm9dlCtdbnTwehOs6BzWvHutpfg/viewform?usp=sf_link”]
Jobs – VP Sales & Partnerships
She Leads Africa believes in the power of young African women to build amazing careers and businesses, serve as community leaders and influencers, and eventually take over the world. Our MotherlandMoguls, as we affectionately call them, are the reason we exist – to provide them with more inspiring and educational content to help them live their best lives. We’re looking for a hustler to help us build and grow a sales machine. About the VP Sales & Partnerships Role: The VP Sales & Partnerships will be responsible for developing relationships with brands for both our online and offline products. Responsibilities: Position She Leads Africa as the top media platform for brands and agencies looking to reach young professional African women Establish and deliver monthly and quarterly revenue targets for digital marketing campaigns and event sponsorship Deeply understand the products and services of the company and be able to articulate their benefits effectively Research brands, agencies, public relations companies, and management teams and generate leads for outreach via phone call or meetings Attend networking events and industry conferences to develop relationships with marketing decision-makers Understand the budget cycle and decision-makers at relevant brands and create a database for future engagement Manage the sales process and develop ways to improve the conversion rate Create compelling marketing materials and proposals Scope of work: Clients with revenue potential greater than $5,000 Geographic focus: Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya (Primary), United States and United Kingdom (Secondary) Requirements: The ideal candidates will have ample experience with researching, identifying, contacting and partnering with top brands and businesses. If this role is for you, you’ll be excited to work in a fast-paced environment and committed to working until the job is done. Key Performance Indicators: Primary sales goal: Monthly revenue Secondary sales goal: % growth month over month New contacts rate Lead response time Conversion rate (how many leads move to confirmed clients) Benefits: Senior-level salary Opportunity to travel across Africa and interact with Africa’s leading voices and entrepreneurs Hygeia HMO insured medical insurance that gives you access to medical care, dental care, mental health care and wellness programs with premium health care institutions nationwide (Nigeria team only) Flexible/remote work arrangements Opportunity to work with a fun, primarily remote team who prefer sweatpants over stilettos Reporting Structure: The VP Sales & Partnerships will report directly to an SLA co-founder. The VP Sales & Partnerships will manage a team of two full-time employees, as well as any interns that may come on for large campaigns and projects. Submit your application here:
Uganze Ude Kalu: Your Food Geek
Meet Uganze Ude Kalu a Restaurant Blogger and a Restaurant Visibility Builder. She studied Law at the Abia State University. She practiced a while before starting a new niche. Her “Your Food Geek” brand focuses on assisting diners to make informed decisions when it comes to dining out. Her recommendations have significant sway over her readers and where they have their next meal. In this interview with SLA, she shares on her journey and lessons since starting Your Food Geek. You operate quite a unique niche. How did you begin? Yes, it’s quite a unique niche, especially around here. Well, for as long as I can remember, I have always loved to eat out. So after years of continuously eating out, I was spurred on to create a guide for the next person. A guide to assist diner owners makes informed decisions on dining out, thereby getting value for their money. A lot of diners do not know about the existence of so many restaurants, because these restaurants are not visible enough. The restaurant industry is fast becoming a competitive one. With lots of competition and rapidly changing trends in the business, it becomes tough for them to stay at the forefront of customers’ minds. With the struggle to acquire new customers, to retain existing customers, every restaurant needs all the visibility it can get. And that is what Yourfoodgeek helps them to achieve. How did you make the switch from Law? Are there things from your Law background that help in your unique business? Truth is, I haven’t totally switched. I’m in between. Law is dragging me, restaurant visibility business is dragging me on the other hand. It wasn’t difficult getting into restaurant visibility because it’s something I love doing. I love the art of dining out, so I’m always encouraging people to go out and have a meal. While at it, I noticed a gap. A lot of people don’t know where to go to. They don’t have any guidelines as to where to go eat, how to get value for their money, the types of the restaurant out there based on what you feel like eating, the type of crowd you have and what the“occasion” is about. This is for the diners. And for the restaurants themselves, a lot of them do not have the type of visibility that they require. A lot of them. Some are just existing on their own, without a lot of people knowing about them. And this affects sales and profits. While some of them do not have the measures on how to treat your diners well. These were some of the gaps I noticed in terms of dining out, both on the diner’s side and the restaurants themselves. And that’s where Yourfoodgeek comes in. I assist both parties. As to things I learned from Law that are transferable to my business, maybe how to write and think logically. What challenges did you face and how did you scale through? My niche is quite a unique one and I needed to find my own voice. It was a bit of a challenge initially, but I pulled through by being consistent. With consistency comes acceptance. That is, people tend to “come round” when they see commitment and consistency. It simply shows them that you’re here to stay and not going anywhere. How would you advise a young woman wanting to start something but with no one in that business/industry to look up to? As with every kind of business, regardless of the niche, I will always advise it to be passion driven. Passion is the first thing to put you on the right path. Create a simple service Craft a marketplace for your niche Become the leading authority in the niche Be specific, distinctive and relevant Give us some tips to start a successful niche Find your passion and what drives you. Carve out a niche with the passion, and then drill down even deeper. Create value with the niche. Be consistent Are there any career opportunities in the restaurant visibility business? There is Restaurant Consultancy. When a restaurant is having trouble with some aspect of its business, its management can hire a Restaurant Consultant. As a restaurant consultant, you offer plans, advice, training, and support for the improvement of a restaurant. So someone might think this is just about eating out and hanging out in the cool places. How important is this niche to the average consumer? It’s beyond hanging out in the cool places. The restaurant industry is fast becoming competitive and this stems from the fact that restaurants are sprouting up like mushrooms on a daily basis. There are so many of them around. So every restaurant needs to be visible to be able to stay top on the mind of diners. On the other hand, people are beginning to embrace the culture of eating out, but they need a guideline. The average diner needs to make informed decisions when it comes to dining out, in other to get value for money. What’s the next thing for you? International partnerships? I’m looking forward to great partnerships, both local and international. I’m looking to form a formidable force and create more magic in my niche. What do you wish you knew earlier when you started out? I wish I knew the essence of believing in one’s dream, early enough. I struggled with believing in my passion, but when I eventually did I was happy. Final words to our Motherland Moguls To every female entrepreneur out there, all you need is to birth an idea from a place called passion. Believe in it, stay focused, stay consistent and watch it blossom/bloom. If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your story with us.
8 Great Ways For Bosses To Treat Employees Better
Everyone wants to be treated well. This is most especially at work – all employers want to have great treatment from their bosses. Nobody wants to be treated as though they are not human. Toxic environments as a result of disorganized hierarchies and office politics make it hard for employees to be productive. Therefore, to ensure your employees don’t quite faster than you hired them, you need to make sure that you treat them well. Here are 8 great ways to treat your employees better and make them feel dignified. [bctt tweet=”Hire people that are hardworking, have a positive attitude, that will bring positive vibes to your organization” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 1. Hire and fire employees on attitude, not ability We all know that there is no remedy for a bad attitude. No matter how much you invest in training people to change their attitude, it will most likely not happen. What is worse, is that a bad attitude is contagious. Though it will start with one person, a bad attitude will soon spread throughout your company. To ensure your company culture remains positive, you start at the beginning. This means hiring people who have great, hardworking and positive attitudes that will bring positive vibes. 2. Treat them as if they are better than you No one is an island of knowledge. We all learn new things from babies, toddlers, little children, beggars and even from animals! With each new person you meet or each new experience, you get an opportunity to learn something new. So, treat your employees with the same curiosity and respect that you had towards your teachers. Even if they criticize you, do not be defensive and wield your ‘super boss power’. Take a step back and really listen to their feedback. If an employee is brave enough to speak up, its because they care about you and your business. 3. Discourage gossip about anyone Though gossip may start with one person, it can become very dangerous. The first thing is when you spread gossip, the person you are talking to may begin to have a negative perception of your personality. Once they develop this perception, it may be very hard for them to trust you again with information. Therefore, to ensure that your employees are the most productive, try to discourage a spirit of gossip in the company. Instead of discussing people’s weaknesses behind their backs, train your employees to have open and safe feedback sessions. 4. Show them what it means to establish a business How do you do this? Expose your employees to the tough decisions, choices, and situations they need to experience to start their own businesses. Give them a sense of ownership and responsibility. Guide them to see the importance of adding value to their work and the people around them. Be a source of inspiration and role model for them to look up to. While they might leave you eventually, they will always look back and appreciate you for all you’ve taught and done for them. [bctt tweet=”Please treat your employees like you would please a client” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 5. Surprise them Who doesn’t like surprises? Please treat your employees like you would please a client. Surprises can range from monetary gifts to even offering afternoon offs. As they say, it is the thought and effort that matters when it comes to surprises. Remember, your employees are there to not only increase your wealth but to also help you build on your dreams. Therefore, it is important to show them appreciation and ultimately support them on their journey’s to becoming successful. 6. Teach them how to sell Your employees need to know how to market products or services even if they’re introverts and aren’t too keen on talking to potential clients. Introverts are most times deemed as trustworthy and professionals by clients/ therefore, bring them to your meetings. You’ll be amazed at how they listen best and ask more questions. All these are qualities to look out for in the best salespeople. 7. Show them respect If there is another thing that everyone wants, is to be treated with respect. Respect not only makes employees happy, but it also helps you avoid unnecessary disrespect. Treating your employees with respect begins with common courtesy, politeness, and kindness. It then progresses towards encouraging them to express their opinions and ideas. While doing so, they should not feel underestimated or insulted because of what they say. Building on this, you can even use and credit these opinions and ideas expressed. It is also important to be equal and fair in the treatment of your employees. Though they may fail sometimes, do not constantly criticize everything they do. Instead, try and give everyone an equal opportunity to express their ideas irrespective of their characteristics. 8. Picture every employee calling their mother at night When we were little, our mothers used to ask us how our days were at night. Now imagine if your employees would be called by their mothers and asked: “how was your day at work?” You would, of course, want them to give a genuinely positive response. Try to make sure that every day you positively challenge and strengthen your employees. If you treat your employees well, then you can rest knowing their mothers are wishing you well. Want to become an SLA contributor? Send an email to content@sheleadsafrica.org.
Gogontlejang Phaladi: Where there is passion, there is an undying spirit of persistence
Gogontlejang Phaladi is a philanthropist and development practitioner from Botswana. She is the founder and executive director of a non-profit making NGO called the Gogontlejang Phaladi Pillar of Hope Project (GPPHP). She founded the organization over 10 years ago in response to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children affected and infected with HIV in Botswana. She is currently a Board Member of the Global Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), and a member of the National Vision 2036 Council. GPPHP is an NGO that is mandated in capacity building, civic education, human rights advocacy, promoting gender equality and doing humanitarian work. Gogontlejang is also the team leader of a company called SWAHIBA (PTY) LTD which provides leading Technology and Innovation solutions for human and social development issues and broad internet services. In this interview, Gogontlejang talks about her humanitarian work, running a non-profit organization, and how she manages her leadership roles. Tell us what we don’t know about Gogontlejang in detail Gogontlejang Phaladi is an African woman leader who is passionate about transforming lives and believes a world free of poverty, with equity and dignity, is possible with more youth driving the development agenda as agents of change. You can say I’m a seasoned human and social development expert who has served as a member of the African Union High Level Advisory Group on Humanitarian Effectiveness in Africa, Botswana Presidential Task Team of Vision 2036, UNICEF Botswana Child Ambassador, a former Radio Presenter, member of the WHO external advisory group on the Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA) Framework and a Motivational Speaker. I am also a trained SRHR, CSE and HIV and AIDS educator, Governance and Leadership trainee and campaign facilitator having worked on several campaigns aligned with UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO and UNESCO. I am currently pursuing my undergraduate studies and doing humanitarian work, motivational speaking as well as development work consultancy. During my spare time, I mentor girls and women through an initiative dubbed #SIMI (She Is My Inspiration) and I also enjoy farming. [bctt tweet=”We must continue encouraging a culture of giving back no matter how trivial the gesture may seem” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You became a leader from the age of five. As a young woman now, what three personal values have you appreciated that are transcendental to the Gogontlejang Phaladi Pillar of Hope? I think three things are essential for a leader regardless of at what level you are: Discipline and integrity These two values were central to my upbringing. My mom is a tough disciplinarian and continues to instill discipline in me and everyone around her. She is an innate leader and does not tolerate any form of indiscipline. So I have always known that wherever I want to get to in life, discipline is the vehicle to take me there Doing my best to apply discipline in every aspect of my daily living has been very helpful in getting to where I am today. My dad believes in being a person of integrity so that part was instilled in me by him. He is a man of principle and consistency, often says little and shows more through his actions what he values most. My parents have always taught me to do my best to stand by my principles no matter how compromising them may seem temporarily convenient. Not leaning on your own understanding It is important to appreciate that there is value in listening to others’ opinions. Even if you may not agree, they bring the much-needed objectivity to your point of view. I value conversations with people who come from a different background from me. There is a lot of humility you learn through listening to others and allowing yourself to be guided by the wisdom of others. This also helped me a lot professionally, personally and socially. Passion If you don’t love what you do how will you get the motivation to keep doing it? Challenges are inevitable. Obstacles, setbacks and even sabotages are all things you will face in your workplace and as a leader. If there is no passion you will quit, be consumed by your detractors’ negativity and give in to their predictions of your downfall. But where there is passion, there is an undying spirit of persistence, perseverance and a thirst to thrive and succeed. What are the responsibilities of the GPPHP with being a member of these local and international organizations? The GPPHP is a member of the UNFPA African Youth and Adolescent Network (AfriYAN) and of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) Adolescents and Youth Constituency. Membership is sought once an organization believes they align with the core mandates of the global/ regional bodies. The purpose of belonging to such entities is to encourage a culture of fostering partnerships with stakeholders who work together in order to harness and enhance capacity. The networks also enable a space of learning from all the other members. There is strength in numbers when advocating for certain issues, in concerted efforts, consistent messaging and capacity building. Currently, the GPPHP is a member of the two networks and is involved in various initiatives of both networks. it is also in the executive leadership positions. I am the board chair of the Adolescents and Youth Constituency of the PMNCH while one of my colleagues is an executive committee member of the AfriYAN network in Africa. Give us an insight into how your typical day looks like It’s difficult to say what a typical day looks like for me. To be honest I would be worried if I saw a 23-year-old with a typical day. We are at a lucrative and fertile time to take risks, try out new things, apply ourselves fully and be active. I think at this point in my life, it makes sense to have days that add value and growth in all aspects of my life. During the month I’m doing plenty of NGO work, the mentorship programme I run for young
CoLab Kaduna: Growing a community of IT Experts
CoLab is Kaduna’s first innovation hub and co-working space. The goal at CoLab is to grow a collaborative community of programmers, developers, designers, bloggers, graphic designers, photographers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups and tech enthusiasts generally. CoLab organizes some weekly and monthly events and programs to achieve these goals. Some of them include: [bctt tweet=”We want to attract attention back to Kaduna through technology – @CoLab_kd” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Code School Code School is CoLab’s introduction to computer programming initiative that immerses users into the world of programming for the web with an introduction to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The whole course takes 5-7 weeks to complete and students are able to build simple sites upon completion. Code School is built around the hypotheses that: It is much easier to learn as a group as against learning as an individual. It is important to learn how to code as part of a team. (This is a critical skill-set that employers look for.) CoLab for Women CoLab for Women is a platform that serves as a means to drive the adoption of technology by women and will also be a safe space for any sort of discussion among women. This particular initiative is organized and run by women only. It has its meet ups once every month. CoLab Elite This is CoLab’s talent accelerator program which has been designed to fast-track intermediate developers into world-class talent. If you already write code but keep wondering how to build projects, work with teams or follow global best practices, then CoLab Elite just might be what you need. CoLab Weekly meetups Meetups happen every weekend at CoLab where we cover topics that range from basic to very technical. They are usually free for all to attend. If you want to learn about business, web or app development, machine learning, digital marketing, network or just play video and board games, you should attend one of our CoLab meetups. If you would love to be a part of the awesome CoLab community, you can connect with CoLab on social media. Everyone and anyone is welcome to take a tour of the facilities anytime or attend any of the meetups. Three things inspired CoLab: 1. Kaduna is ideal for a startup/technology hub. On the average, there is the better power supply in Kaduna than anywhere else in the country. The cost of living is low and basic infrastructure is available. Another good thing about that region is that fast internet is esily accesible. Kaduna has a lot of talented young people. The state also has a number of tertiary institutions (which are an important factor in creating a pipeline for talent). It is also in close proximity to two key markets (Kano and Abuja) and can access a third, Lagos via air and train (for people and goods respectively). 2. Over time, the best IT people we had come across – programmers, network engineers, big data scientists, Internet of Things (IoT) hobbyists etc have been from around Kaduna. However, very few of them understood the value of the skill(s) they had or had ever tried to apply it to solving actual problems. 3. Technology is the single biggest vehicle for taking people out of poverty and poverty in these part of the country is rampant. CoLab intends to make this push by aiming to achieve 5 things: 1. Provide an environment that allows natural curiosity, fosters learning, and inspires creativity and innovation. CoLab has gone all out to make the space as aesthetically motivating as possible within budget constraints. [bctt tweet=”Given the right environment, smart people interacting with each other naturally tend to create cool stuff -@CoLab_kd” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Currently, CoLab’s facilities include two open indoor workspaces, a private meeting room, a conference room, two Outdoor workspaces (in view), internet, constant power supply and a modern library with paper books and kindles. 2. Offer high-level mentorship from both national and international mentors who have made an impact globally. The founders of CoLab believe a well-rounded education is a key to building a successful company. They want to double down on not just ICT knowledge, but also everything required to succeed. We currently have the ex-Director of Global Search at Yahoo as one of our international mentors, also the former Vice President of an Investment bank in the UK as another. Some of these mentorships and one on one sessions with mentors outside the country will take place virtually. 3. Train anyone interested in the ICT skills that are necessary to compete at an international level. We’re talking Code, UI & UX Design, Blogging, Content Creation, Digital Marketing, IoT etc. CoLab will cover recent tech languages and global best practices. There is a high demand for these specific skills across the world, yet we have many who could easily fit into such positions, with some training. Most of these roles can be filled remotely, i.e having people work for companies across the world from CoLab… However, we are not pushy about them remaining domiciled here. 4. Beyond training, CoLab intends to go a step further by linking its community members with jobs and opportunities, both remote and physical from across the country and globally. The best way to break the mentality that the only way to earn a living is via a structured, salaried job (civil service, banks, etc.) which is prevalent in this region is to actually link people up with an alternate means to earn a living. 5. Lastly, CoLab wants to build an in-house team of the best brains to tackle national and global problems. We want to attract attention back to Kaduna and show people how to be profitable through technology. Our subscription fees were decided by the public and have no bearing on what it’ll cost to set up fully. The long-term goal is to make Kaduna as a whole, an IT hub, the go-to place in Nigeria when there is an IT need. Who knows? It may be the next India.
Revealed: The Secret To Staying Motivated
The year is almost halfway done, and chances are, the energy you started with is most likely not as powerful as it is now. Being motivated for a whole year can be quite challenging when life is constantly throwing us different surprises. Even then, motivation can only take you so far when trying to achieve your goals. So, how do you stay motivated amidst all? The secret is – drum rolls please – ‘Find your Vision’! Your vision will guide you and keep you going on your journey to success. Vision ensures that you don’t go around in circles and get frustrated when things go left. But how do you find your vision? The following tips offer a few steps on how you can find your vision and stay motivated. 1. Listen to your inner voice To have a clear idea about your vision, you must look inside yourself. Vision comes from within, from the spirit or subconscious, whatever you choose to call it. Everyone has a vision that is unique to them, and you are no different. When searching inside, you should yourself questions such as what stirs you? What is your greatest desire? What kind of dreams do you have? Once, you ask yourself these questions, chances are your vision will start become clearer for you. 2. Prepare yourself mentally Your vision begins in your mind and heart. It is something that burns within your soul. it should be greater than your all of your past memories, mistakes, and accomplishments. If you know what your vision is, you will have a purpose and won’t get lost on your journey. Sometimes, when you don’t have a distinct vision, it is easy to become distracted. If you don’t know where you’re going or how to get there, the journey will seem a lot longer and harder. To avoid this, make surer you prepare your mind for challenges ahead. 3. Surround yourself with people who have a clear purpose Greatness breeds greatness, and it is for this reason that you should seek out the company of others who can appreciate and support your vision. Network with winners and it will keep your motivation high. 4. Develop your vision Do you want to be the next Bill Gates but because of the way your bank account is wired it may seem impossible? The truth is, there are times when it is hard to understand how to apply your vision to your life in order to reach your goals. Don’t worry, all visions start from scratch! Your vision will grow from your experiences, talents, dreams, and desires. So don’t worry if your bank account is not growing as fast as you would have wished. Great visions take time to develop and perfect. Allow your vision to slowly but surely reveal itself to you. 5. Keep a notebook and pen handy All too often, we come up with great ideas and thoughts and by the time we want to write them down, they are forgotten. With that in mind, you never know when your vision is going to come to you, you have to keep a small notepad with you at all times. Even on your nightstand when you sleep. Write down whatever comes to mind, no matter how silly it seems at the time. You may write down a hundred crazy ideas but number one hundred and one just might be the vision you were searching for. Don’t try to filter right now, just write down everything that comes to mind. 6. Follow your vision The vision you are seeking will most likely come to you in ways that you won’t fully understand at the moment. That’s okay. Even your friends or family might not understand it. That too is fine. Just follow as much of your vision as you can right now, and more will be revealed to you as time goes on. All truly successful people have a vision that they follow, no matter what challenges they may face. Begin following the above steps to seek your vision today and remember that true, lasting success will never come to you until you know what your vision is and how you will follow it. And you will be unstoppable if you combine your personal vision with a healthy dose of motivation. This article was originally written by Tariro. If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your story with us.