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Lucky You! 5 Startups/People Mark Zuckerberg Actually Spoke to in Lagos

  • BellaRose Duruji
    • facebook, Mark Zuckerberg

    The Zuck has left Nigeria for Nairobi, Kenya but I will not sit here frontin’ like I am not pained at the fact that I didn’t get a selfie with him while he was in Lagos, Nigeria. I will not sulk either. I have chosen to forget those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I celebrate every individual and startup that got a few seconds or minutes with arguably the most influential tech personality in the world. Specifically, the startups. They are the thread with which we weave our tech fabric. The entrepreneurs who are unflinching in their resolve to solve the myriad of problems we face as a country and continent. The true heroes laboring for a future that is soon to become a glorious past. A past that Mark Zuckerberg came in rather early and surprisingly to etch his name on; a success story he reckons with; not as a foreign investor far away in California but as a son of the sparse Nigerian hustler soil in person and virtually.

    It is against this backdrop that I highlight 5 of the many startups and people he met and spoke to, sharing their innovation and inspiring development as well.

    Rosemary Igbokwe Njoku

    Rosemary Igbokwe Njoku recently married and self employed, Rosemary runs a Facebook express wifi stand in Lagos and not only did she meet and talk to Mark Zuckerberg, she was featured on his official Facebook page where he extolled Rosemary’s entrepreneurial prowess and shared the essence of Facebook express wifi. See for yourself:

    Genii Games

    Genii games, developers of Asa, a growing collection of interactive mobile apps and web videos for kids to learn about African Cultures in fun ways also met with Mark Zuckerberg where he tried their app and tested a new animated series they are working on.

    I love that he was able to interact with the Nigerian/African culture on the virtual turf and even more, an app for kids. We all know Mark is a dad now so, yeah, that would leave an imprint.

    Life Bank

    I will allow this one speak for itself. Look, there is strategic tech innovation across sectors in this country, not necessarily backed by government or ministries and it is working! This one in particular gives me joy!

    Afrinolly

    With regards to this I am neither her nor there. This was a good opportunity to show the Zuck what our Nollywood looked like but sadly we do not exactly have one. (Moment of silence) Thankfully, Afrinolly (a mobile application that broadcasts Nollywood content; trailers, full length movies, etc) has a nice work space where Mark Zuckerberg met with actors, musicians and a few other entertainers. “At all, at all na im bad pass”

    Andela

    Andela. Yes, a no-brainer. How won’t a man check on his investment, right? Streamlining this one a bit; the fellows at Andela are the lucky ones here. There are no words to describe the smiles on their faces in the selfie they took with the Zuck. Look, that picture said “Legend of Andela: The Software Benders!”Nothing captures the essence of a generation that will change the plot of Nigeria’s tech rhetoric like that!

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    Editor’s Note:

    His first stop being Co Creation Hub sends very strong indications that the entire team at Yaba are doing something very right! Every Nigerian entrepreneur, your hustle has paid! When next I’m in Yaba, I will park right in front of CC Hub, get down and just clap my hands… for the immense contribution you made to putting Nigeria in the world’s eye, for good reasons. Thank you!

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