BLACK AMPHI

Ihas Idriess, CEO of PC Klinic, Shares his Views

…sincerely, I can’t explain. Maybe Nigeria has taken a vow to take the Black Amphi emblem, flag and logo hostage until another Afro nation pays a ransom. Francis .O. Oghuma, Ugo Uchechukwu (UCHEUGO), Ola White Yusuph and now another guest still from Nigeria?

The success stories up to this point have been very exciting and educating and we do hope these web, software and business “celebrities” hiding in plain sight will continue sharing their world with eager fans.

Shhhhh! Silence please. We have one more guru on stage.

What are your names?

My names are: Ihas Idriess (the official way I write my name is iHAS iDRIESS lol)

Where do you live and work ?

I live in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital in Nigeria, you know in Naija nobody survive on one job…so I have two full time jobs, 1. I am a Computer Programmer with Federal College of Education, Yola. I write computer applications for my employers, accounting and payroll packages mainly and sometimes I lecture programming and networking courses, I also work in my company pcKlinic Nig. Ltd as MD/CEO

How did you get the skills as a business man (university, professonal, school, online certifications, study from home, internet)

Can’t say exactly how, but I think it’s mainly due to my condition, I mean myself being a physically challenged person (I am a cripple), I grow up wanting to prove that I can make the difference in my life and I always wish I will change the life of other physically challenged around… I want to prove all pundits who believe that once you are physically challenged you are condemned to street corners collecting alms’ (sadaka) wrong. So I think it is this zeal that kept me going… am a fast learner, I learn on the trade (lol). I did not go into any class to learn business skills and today I thank God, I employ on full time over 7 intelligent bright young guys with over 10 interns.

What are the tools you use in your daily activities (windows/Mac/linux, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, twitter, salesforce, facebook, etc)

Hmmm…. I juggle between Linux n Windows depending on the work at hand….. all servers that we deploy for our clients are Linux Based, and we also use Linux to secure all networks we handle especially wireless. I use only facebook for my social networking.

How long have you been doing business in Africa?

I started making real money in programming since 1998, but my company came into existence around 2000, so I can say I have been in ICT business for 11 years.

Can you give some examples of products (name+description+web link) you have launched to the market or you have been a part of (urls, screen shots if offline)?

We did a lot of jobs for companies and multinationals, and most of our work are proprietary so we hand over full ownership to our client… but I think our portfolio on our site say it all.

Are you more into web ventures, desktop software or general consultancy and services?

General consultancy and services… any IT deal we handle from programming to networking we do a lot of out sourcing. But basically we concentrate on deploying networks, LAN/WAN/VOIP

What do you use for your accounting (eg frontaccounting, webERP, excel. google docs, etc)

Mainly Excel

What do you use to manage you team, staff or contract workers(collabtive, unfudle, basecamp, etc)

Collaborative is the best method, but base on the work we are handling the tides may change.

What quality assurance mechanisms have you put in place to ensure that your products are top notch?

We try as much as possible to involve the client from the project design to implementation down to deployment, this way our product always come out the best, it gives our clients 100% satisfaction and this is our watch word. Our clients must have 100% satisfaction.

Can you tell us some of the business strategies you employ for competition and what results you have been getting ?

When we learn of a project and decided to pitch for it, I will then create an adhoc research team for that particular project, they scout for information both online and otherwise on the client and our possible competition. We gather and brain storm extensively on both the client and possible competition before the pitch or submit our proposal. This way we are able to stay ahead of our competition and to our client we always are able to second guess them.

What are the difficulties you face with the government and tax systems in Africa?

The major problem is the corruption in the tax system, and also the fact that in most African countries ICT is new and the tax system do not have room for it, so at the end your are being over charge for your product.

How difficult is it to get capital/investment for your ventures in Africa ?

Very very difficult… our investors believe in buying and selling and doing deals on physical things, they can’t understand how it is possible for them to invest money on an idea in your young head lol

Do you use kiva or veecu or other online microfinance systems to raise funds?

Not at all, I don’t have any idea of their existence

How do you get capital for your ventures (VC, family, loans, etc)

From what the company has as its savings and on rare occasions my personal savings.

What is the criteria and tools you use to employ your staff ?

I am so much particular about team player… I employ only team players, because when it’s ICT you have to work as a team in all you do else success will elude you.

Its known that most IT professionals in Africa change jobs at a very rapid rate. What do you think could be the cause ?

I think it’s because of the fact that IT is dynamic and a growing technology.

How do you ensure that you retain the best talents or always have the talents in place to do the job ?

It is difficult but I make sure all guys in my company have a sense of belonging and I make them feel that they have a stake in company’s success, and I ensure their pay package reflect the pocket and success of the company.

What is the minimum educational level you consider in the people you employ ?

I don’t give much shit about paper qualification… if you can drop codes for me your good… I also look for enthusiasm and team player in whoever I consider for employment.

What are some of the challenges you face as a business man in Africa ?

The major challenge was my age when I start, am now 30 when I start I was younger and also the stereotype of people considering the fact that I am physically challenged was a big huddle for me, I always have to go out of my way to tell my client not to worry, I can handle the stairs I can find a way of going up the building to work on their VSAT etc….

What do you think could be done to get rid of these challenges ?

Hmmmm difficult to say, I think I will advice people to treat all equal both young and old…

How can people interested in working with you or for you get to contact you?

On my email, gsm and facebook: ihas@pcklinicng.com, +2348024650275 and ihasidriess on facebook

Are u married?/Do u have children?

No am not yet married, but I will pretty soon.

How soon?

Before the end of the year or very early next year

Who is the lucky girl?

lol May be am the lucky guy, her name is Beekiss

Am sure she is also into IT

lol why?… she is not, she is an accountant, but she use computer a lot in her work… very beautiful and intelligent girl, very independent minded.

You sound so much in love, how long have you been together?

Yeh!! I have never felt this way before, yes am so much in love and am proud. I have known her for 3 years plus.

What is the strength of your love?

I think our strength is we are very honest with each other and we respect one another so much

We wish you luck and hope we will get an invite for the wedding

Sure you will

Thanks for your time and please give us some closing words.

Thank you very much too, am also honored to be hosted on this great site… it’s a pleasure to be associated with young great minds… I believe the future of Africa is in ICT

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