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‘Yookos Set to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide’

Published

12 years ago

May 28, 2012

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Tomisin Fashino is the group CEO of Yookos.com, an Africa based social networking site. A computer engineering graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU and an MBA from the University of Lagos; Fashino started his carrier with JHK, a Lagos based computer company as a corper. His post NYSC saw him sojourn in the banking terrain as an IT professional across the EMEA. In 2011 he resigned to establish Yookos.com. Fashino spoke with peter ugwu on the company’s agenda. Excerpts.

Overview of Yookos.com

Yookos is an African social networking site. Yookos commenced on January 1, 2011; but only went commercial six month later in June. So, we are barely a year. We identified an opportunity to create a unique cosmological social networking platform that will bring our people together – those living in the African continent and others in Diaspora. A lot of times, we talk about social networking, and one will discover that some parts or continents of the world have developed networking infrastructure that promote their interests, values and ideas. For instance, Brazil, today has its special site, even China has two or three. So, we believe that there is an opportunity to have something that is uniquely African and that is the opportunity Yookos is ceasing.

Why Africa?

We also launched Yookos to enable us bridge a perennial digital divide that has plagued Africa and to bring Africa into the mainstream of global communications. How do I mean? In Africa today, there is about a billion people, out of this number, only about 140 million have access to the internet. That figure represents 14 percent. The global average is 32 per cent. It means that there is a significant digital divide that seats in Africa and remember that it is only 14 per cent now with the advent of mobile.

Before the advent of mobile telephone in Nigeria, only about a hundred thousand people had access to internet – that figure has risen to over 45 million. Then you can imagine that phenomenal growth in a period of 12 years, because the revolution started in year 2000. And the major driver is mobile telephony. So, we thought that to bridge the divide and even bring Africa to the global average, it means that we need about 250 million Africans to have access to the internet.

Can Africa afford 250m PCs?

I think that will be impossible now; not from our infrastructure and wealth. So, the generation of mobile phone is here. In essence, it is very possible to bridge the gap, but not on the traditional laptops. Africa is diversifying to mobile. For instance, we presently see more of iPads, Android, BlackBerry and other smartphones. Recently, I read an article on a business magazine that Nigeria is now the biggest market for BlackBerry world wide.

Yookos has identified that as a significant niche and we have launched our apps on IoS devices, that is iPads, iPhones, Android, tablets and of course, the BlackBerry. Launching our apps on these platforms make them available and make any Yookos user gain easy access to Yookos. These applications are available on Apple Stores – it is called Yookos mobile. It is part of our commitment to bridging the digital divide and to make the platform relevant to or growing user base, taking into cognizance that not everyone will get a whole of these on laptops.

For instance, while going for business trips, all I need is my iPad – the laptop is becoming increasingly no longer fashionable. With the advent of the smaller devices, you will discover that they can actually do virtually all that a laptop can do. The smaller it becomes the more convenient and available it becomes.

Digital Divide

We got huge ambitions and currently have over seven million users across the world. We are been accessed from over 180 countries and territories and we will continue to grow. Like I earlier stated, we have a cosmological social networking, however we are not restricted to Africa. The site is open to everybody, although we are focusing our marketing strategy on Africa. We looked at it and said with all the hype about Facebook, how many users are from Nigeria, only 4.5 million; in a country of 160 million people. Africa as a whole, there are 40 million Facebook users, out of a global 900 million connections.

So, there is still a huge digital divide – Africa lags behind. And we are saying that we can do something uniquely African. If China, Brazil, Russia, and India can do it, we can do it as well.

Economic Value

Talking about the economic value is not about how we will make money with Yookos. Yes, it is a business and we know that we are going to make money, but before that you must invest, build a product and render services that people will be willing to buy or patronise. In the social networking business, what is most important is to ensure that there is relevance, the product capacity is there and acceptance in the market. More so, value addition, once we have these and people see reasons to interact and connect; view our content as acceptable that will go along way in making Yookos the peoples’ delight.

We are a private company. We have invested heavily to get to the stage we are now. We have developers still working in both U.S and South Africa to make sure the system meets global standards. It is challenging because if you are going to play in that field, you better be playing very right. We have advert banners on our web version, but not yet on the mobile apps version. The purpose is to add value to what African have to showcase to the world. And currently with seven million users, we are projecting to get up to 20 million users by the end of the year and if you ask me, we will have a hundred million by 2013.

Inculcating Moral Values

We are a value based organization, which means there are certain contents we do not permit, like pornographic pictures, foul languages, villains, threatening comments, among others. However, it does not fall under the purview of social networks to give you moral values. Moral values exist in the society. A social network can only enhance what exists in the society. And what does a social networking site enhances if not openness, transparency, communications that is free flow of information and ideas.

One of the things we must realize is that things that went wrong happened that way because there was no appropriate information or access to valuable information. But if I can go on social network and tell someone doing something the wrong way, the consciousness to embrace the right thing will be reactivated. While we were growing our parents thought us that things should be kept secret; the days that people can’t tell you where they live, but today, everything is virtually online; the openness of the social media makes everyone would want to belong there. And the more it becomes open, the more the moral rectitude of the country gets better.

Who regulates the internet? As a social platform, however, we self regulate to ensure comments, pictures that are not edifying or threatening are not given opportunities to make waves on the platform. In fact it is a combination of our self regulations and our user community that regulate what happens there. We have rules, so on signing up, one has automatically accepted to play the game according to the rules. The terms and conditions are not ambiguous; anyone who violates them, we reserve the right to investigate, although no body will be just shown the way out, but the right thing must be done.

Strategy and Expectations

We seek, in few years, to dominate Africa. We are getting to a point where if someone needs profile about any African, he or she should be able to find that on Yookos. We are getting to a point that Yookos becomes the tool for communication in Africa. We are building on other things like Yookos Literature, Yookos Education, Yookos Music, etc. We have already launched Yookos games. And we are making sure that the applications are relevant to the people. On the literature, there is something for everybody. Suffice it to say that we are going to compete well in Africa.

Selling Africa to Africans

We want everyone to embrace it as truly African. We are not just selling Africa to Africa, but we want Africans to appreciate the digital age; getting them to talk and see each other. For instance, Facebook is making impact in parts of the world is because they throw it open for apps to be written, we are doing the same. Interestingly, undergraduates in Africa will have better stories to tell, because we are taking the platform to universities in Africa. We have a lot of universities offering computer studies, but what are the chances that somebody in University of Abeokuta or a student in Malawi will write an app and get to Facebook. Such app will get to Yookos that is what makes it African. We don’t need hand outs and aides, rather opportunities.

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d.light Provides 10,000 Solar Home Systems to Refugees

Published

6 days ago

May 16, 2024

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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d.light, the global provider of transformational household products and affordable finance for low-income households, is providing 10,000 subsidized solar home systems to refugees who have fled conflict in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and who are now living in refugee camps in Northern and Western Uganda.

The 10,000 units are part of a wider initiative to supply 23,000 solar home systems to Ugandan refugee communities.

The project is being funded by a USD$3.4M grant from Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), a body made up of business associations, companies and public sector agencies in Uganda: and Energising Development (EnDev), an international programme by the German, Dutch, Norwegian and Swiss governments to provide access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy for delivering social, economic, and environmental change.

The project began in April and is scheduled to run for 12 months. Funds from the grant are subject to results based financing (RBF) and d.light will only receive funding for solar home systems that have been installed.

Each solar home system from d.light features three high-efficiency LED lights, an FM radio with MP3 playback, mobile phone charging capability, and a portable solar flashlight.

Commenting on the news, d.light’s Managing Director for Uganda Douglas Gavala said, “With this grant, we can expand the important work we’re doing to improve living conditions for underserved refugee communities from South Sudan, the DRC and elsewhere who are living in refugee camps in Uganda.

“A solar home system significantly improves the quality of life and wellbeing of a household – whether it’s providing entertainment or letting a family stay up to date on local and global news on the radio or enabling children to continue reading and studying after dark.

“As well as benefits at home, d.light products also bolster household income in Uganda’s refugee settlements by extending working hours for tradespeople and small businesses, and providing an income for residents who work as d.light salespeople in the settlements.

“By providing high-quality solar products at an affordable price, we are improving the quality of life for displaced people while simultaneously encouraging economic activity at a grassroots level.”

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DG NITDA Reiterates Needs for Safe and Inclusive Digital Environment

Published

1 week ago

May 14, 2024

Ugo Onwuaso

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To forge strategic partnerships and collaboration for the advancement of Nigeria’s digital transformation Agenda, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa has reiterated the need for a safe and inclusive online environment responsible for human and Artificial Intelligence (AI) practices in country.

Inuwa made the statement while playing host to a team from TikTok who visited Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja to seek alliance towards bolstering the country, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu priority area of strengthening national security for peace and prosperity.

The DG stated that content moderation strategies will help in addressing online problems like hate speech, misinformation, and cyberbullying in relation to the protection of minors across the country.

“With the Code of practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries in place, this has helped in ensuring digital safety in accordance with global best practice and content moderation to enhance security”, he said.

He further noted that “no organisation or institution can operate in silos, we need each other for the actualisation of our goals and objectives towards services delivery and for the advancement of the Nation.”

Highlighting some critical areas, Inuwa stated that leveraging on the platform will advance the country through Digital Literacy 4 All (DL4ALL), Capacity Building, knowledge sharing, trainings, and curbing misinformation, digital safety with the aim of creating a safer cyber space and empowering online environment for Nigerian users.

He added that the platform allows for creative expression through filters, stickers, and editing tools, entertainment and comedy are dominant themes, and informational videos on various topics are gaining traction which has become a launchpad for influencers and trends that can go viral.

Inuwa also explained that NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 (SRAP 2024-2027) is structured around eight pillars which include; Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talents, Building a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem, Strengthening Policy Implementation and Legal Frameworks, Promoting Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services, Enhancing Cybersecurity and Digital Trust, Nurturing an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Forging Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations, and Cultivating a Vibrant organisational Culture with an Agile Workforce.

In her earlier remarks, the Head of Government Regulation and Public Policy TikTok Nigeria and West Africa, Mrs Tokunbo Ibrahim has revealed that NITDA is one of its biggest and critical stakeholders in Nigeria that has an outstanding strides and performance in advancing the digital economy sector.

Ibrahim commended NITDA for its various initiatives, programmes, and policies set in place and aligns with that of TikTok, providing the opportunity were Nigerians use the platform to market, sell and export their products and services as well as talents to the outside world and make a living out of it.
She pointed out that there are projects and programmes that TikTok platform has forge ties of collaboration with, like the Africa creator hub where they do campaigns for tech creator, support, empower, and educate them on how to create contents and explore other sections of the platform, changing their narrative and adding values to what they are doing.

Ibrahim also added that TikTok platform considers online safety as one of its critical areas to secure the cyber space by providing an avenue for users to thrive and be productive in their various activities.

TikTok is currently running African mall to push the narrative of Africa to the world and creators are being equipped with information that they can create contents for products and services in Nigeria, thus can be exported to other countries of the world attracting investments

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Dr. Adesina, AfDB Group President Calls for Media Transformation to Uplift Africa’s Global Narrative

Published

2 weeks ago

May 11, 2024

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank Group, delivered an impassioned plea for more balanced media coverage of Africa and its development, noting it was critical for changing false narratives.

Adesina said this on Thursday in a keynote speech to the All Africa’s Media summit in Nairobi, attended by nearly 300 participants from across the continent. He praised the crucial role the media plays in strengthening democracy and advancing inclusivity.

The Bank Group president said there were many positive developments in Africa yet the continent continues to suffer misrepresentations which undermine its economic progress and investment potential.

“Despite the significant progress within our continent, the prevailing media narrative often focuses on negative stereotypes, overlooking the substantial advancements and resilience Africa demonstrates,” he added.

Adesina said there was plenty of positive news to report about and highlighted the continent’s economic resilience regional and amid global challenges. He said that in 2023, Africa’s growth rate surpassed the global average, with 11 African nations ranked among the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Adesina referenced a 2021 Africa No Filter Report, which revealed significant adherence to outdated and negative clichés in media reports about Africa. “It’s time for change,” he declared. “We must reshape the narrative about Africa to reflect its true spirit and potential.”

He emphasised the critical nature of information and its ability to have a profound negative impact on development and investor perceptions even though an in-depth investigation by Moody’s Analytics had shown the continent was much less of a risk than many other continents.

“We must promote a balanced view that highlights both the challenges and the many successes of Africa. It’s about changing perceptions and showcasing Africa as a continent rich with opportunity and innovation.”

The Bank Group President also spoke about the challenges and transformations within the media sector, highlighting the impact of digital technology.

“The media landscape has dramatically shifted with the rise of the internet and mobile technology, leading to a proliferation of digital platforms,” Adesina declared.

“While this has democratised information, it has also complicated issues, the distinction between fact and fiction can become blurred.”

To counter unfair and unbalanced narratives, Adesina urged the creation of a powerful, globally respected African media and proposed strategic collaborations among regional financial institutions to support this cause, emphasising the need for media to act as a catalyst for development.

“We need to celebrate and promote the continent’s successes, turning the tide against the longstanding stereotypes that have clouded the global view of Africa… What you call yourself, is the name others will subscribe to you.”

“For as long as we continually denigrate ourselves and play into the hands of those who control the narrative about Africa, we will be stuck with a label that does not belong to us,” he concluded.

He highlighted the African Development Bank’s own successes which included maintaining a AAA credit rating and launching groundbreaking financial initiatives that have earned it respect as an innovative and successful multilateral development bank.

“We have proven that Africa can lead with innovation and strength in the global financial landscape,” the President remarked. “Yet, these achievements receive minimal attention compared to the persistent focus on Africa’s challenges.”

Adesina added that just one month ago, the Bank launched a landmark $750 million hybrid capital instrument, again with a Triple A rating, which was oversubscribed eight times. He described this as a huge “testament to the confidence and trust in Africa’s burgeoning financial capabilities.”

He pledged that the African Development Bank remained committed to supporting initiatives that would help the media present a more balanced and progressive portrayal of Africa and support its economic development.

In a discussion with Julie Gichuru of the Mastercard Foundation after his address, Adesina said Africa was blessed with energy sources, but millions remained without electricity. “This must change,” he said.

“We cannot industrialise in the dark, we cannot develop in the dark. Our children cannot be competitive in a world of darkness,” he concluded.

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