BLACK AMPHI

Adesoji ‘JesusFreak’ Adegbulu Sees No Limit!!!

We are not done with Hello Nigeria yet. As a matter of fact, I am not sure we will ever be able to get done with Nigeria or any other African country. Nigeria is fast patronising this Amphitheater. In just a short while we have met five Naija robots already(a.k.a naijaborns). Yeah, I call them robots because like me, I doubt if these guys do sleep at all. They work very hard to get software and web development running smoothly in Africa so that we don’t have to sit on our arms and wait for others to babysit us. There are many entrepreneurs in Africa who have vowed that in the nearest future, the West will have to outsource to Africa NOT only for  cheap labor but also for bigger brains.

There is a freak, a freak for Jesus, I will want you to meet. As the curtains open, let’s put our hands together for… oh, let’s hear everything from the horse’s mouth.

What are your names?

I am named Adesoji Adegbulu. Some friends know me as JesusFreak and freeblogger.

Where do you live and work?

I live in Nigeria and work from home as a Consultant – Social Media and Web Technology. A Web Developer, Social Network Marketer, Entrepreneur, Coach and a Blogger

How did you get the skills in web development (university, professional school, online certifications, study from home, Internet)?

I will say it’s a combination of all. The reason is that, I studied Agricultural Engineering as a major in the university but did web development as a minor course. During most weekends and Academic union strikes, I either go to a professional school or study from home or study on the internet.

What are the tools you use in your daily activities (Windows, WAMP, Visual Studio, Dreamweaver, Netbeans, Eclipse, etc)?

The tools are very obvious. I use the internet as my first tool. I use that for reading and learning new things on web development. I also use windows (I’m considering using Mac), Dreamweaver, Photoshop, SwishMax, Corel Draw, Flash, FileZilla (FTP), Wordpress and other tools and websites I come across online.

How long have you been writing codes or doing any form of web development?

Though I started learning about it sparingly in 2002 but I started doing web development in 2007. And you know web development involves writing codes too.

Can you give some examples of projects you have developed or you have been a part of the development?

I have always developed websites as a team. You should know that it is the best thing we can do. Things are achieved more as a team. I have been part of the development of www.ccfnifes.org,  www.getinspiredng.com and www.9jacorp.com (will be launched on November 6th, 2009).

Which part of web development are you more into?

I am more into building dynamic sites, web content management and web administration.

While developing, do you believe in KISS (Keep It Simple…) and Less is more?

Sure, I believe keeping things simple will make the web to be easily navigable. The website will be somewhat ‘user friendly’. The web users will be able to make good use of the website than one bulky site that gets web users confussed. Less is actually more, focused and direct to purpose. Anyway, keeping things simple does not mean neglecting the core stuffs that should be on the website.

Do you find design patterns useful and do you think they help make codes orderly for teams to work together and future maintenance a breeze?

Yes. I consider design patterns as a foundation or a blueprint. Without them, working together as a team or working on the web in the future will be a hard task to come. It will be like reinventing the wheel over and over again.

How important are deadlines in your work?

Deadlines are very important. I hate being disappointed and I would not want to disappoint others. So what I do is to give my clients enough time. This is done at the start of the basic planning. If I’m going to complete a work in 4 weeks, I will add an extra 1 or 2 weeks. So, at the start, I will inform my client that I will deliver in the next 5 or 6 weeks.

Which do you prefer more: php, python, java, CSharp, ruby, etc?

I prefer and use HTML, PHP, CSS and JAVASCRIPT. I’m learning to incorporate SQL, AJAX

What do you think about open source vs proprietary technologies?

I think both have their own advantages and disadvantages. I like open source for what it is – “OPEN” and also like proprietary technologies because it motivates developers to work and learn more. To me, there is nothing that cannot be learned and made better whether open source or proprietary.

What are some of the challenges you face as a web developer in Africa?

The major challenge is competition. There are lots of web developers and aspiring web developers in Africa. One other challenge is the image to which we see ourselves and which other nations of the world view Africans. The last challenge to web developers in Africa is limited access to Information and Internet Technologies and trends.

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

To get your share means that you have to devise your own uniqueness. It is your uniqueness and excellent service that draws the market to you. Once this is done, the effect of competition will be minimized. On the image thing, without prejudice, we see ourselves and other nations see us mediocre not until we prove the stuff we are made of. They see our skins as black and thinks we are black within not until we show that we are not judge by the color of our skins but by the content of our minds. On the challenge of limited access to Information and Internet Technologies and trends, what we need do is to get out of our comfort zones and lay hold on the things we should have. So far that some people can have adequate access gives us leverage that we can attain the same. We should make good use of the internet to learn, relearn and unlearn some whacked ideas.

If you are “Jack”, too much work without leisure will obviously make you a dull boy LOL. What do you do when you are off the job?

It is either I sleep or watch movies or go to the cinema, play PC games, go and see friends or read a book at times I just listen to music.

What word do you have for other aspiring web developers in Africa?

I am still aspiring though but my word is simple – and telling myself too. We must keep learning, getting the required knowledge and wisely putting them into practice with our own specialty and uniqueness. I will also say that we should seek more of value, qualitative relationships and good networking with the made web developers and other aspiring web developers. We have a lot to learn and do as African web developers.

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

I live on the internet. I have houses on Facebook (www.facebook.com/adesojiadegbulu and www.facebook.com/freeblogger), on Twitter (www.twitter.com/adesojiadegbulu and www.twitter.com/9jacorp), on Naijapulse (www.naijapulse.com/adesojiadegbulu), on Twitternaija (www.twitternaija.com/adesojiadegbulu), on One Page (www.onepage.com/jesusfreak), on Naijaborn, 9jabook, Myspace, Linkedin etc

You can get in touch with me on any of these. You can also get in contact with me on
Phone: +2348059605025
Email: adesoji.adegbulu.com
Skype: adesojiadegbulu
Yahoo messenger: adesojiade
Google Talk: adesoji.adegbulu@gmail.com

Some final words.

I came to know Mambe as if i had known him before. Thank you for this opportunity to be featured on BlackAmphi.

God bless AfroVisioN Group, God bless BlackAmphi, God Bless Africa. We would make God and our continent proud!

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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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Ola White Yusuph of Nigeria Gurus Talks Business…

After Francis .O. Oghuma and Ugo Uchechukwu (UCHEUGO), we are going back to Nigeria to meet a renowned businessman in Nigeria who despite all the beds of roses (few) and beds of thorns (unlimited) is working hard to make ends meet, happy doing business and proud of his origin.  Through this interview, we hope you will get to know him (better), appreciate the way he does business and have his views and opinions about doing business in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

On behalf of the Black Amphi team, I welcome you here and thank you for honouring this invitation. What are your names, please?

Ola White Yusuph

Where do you live and work?

Live and work in Lagos, Nigeria

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

Just like any other IT and Computer geeks, I do not get my skills from university days; I got practically all through online certifications and internet research

What are the tools you use in your daily activities (Windows/Mac/Linux, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Twitter, SalesForce, FaceBook, etc)?

I use Windows, Microsoft Office and Google Apps, love twitter and FaceBook anyways

How long have you been doing business in Africa?
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)?

2009 would be my 3rd year as an IT Entrepreneur, I provide website and online application development services, I lecture in workshops and seminars. I have two companies to my credit which are Naija Gurus and Good Living Foundation.

Nigeria Gurus is an organization that encourage, promote and celebrate Nigeria within the country and the Diaspora, right now the website lacks update because of too many activities on our sleeves but we are working on the beta version of the website and which also has three sub companies; WhitesoftX Web design Studio, Xplore Promotions and Naija Media Planet. WhitesoftX Web design Studio offers web design and development and General Info.Tech. solutions. Xplore Promotions is an Event Management Outfit. Naija Media Planet basically helps to promote the Nigerian Entertainment Industry and its people, both at home and abroad.

Good Living Foundation envisions a world, in which communication saves lives, improves health and enhances well-being, through extensive communication and social mobilization programs being carried out at both the national and local levels. We are working on some media productions which include Documentary and Movie to mark our humanistic values and devotion to human welfare.

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

I think I would say I’m more into offline IT venturing, though part of online is providing web services but that could be given just 30% attention

What do you use for your accounting (e.g. Frontaccounting, webERP, Excel, Google Docs, etc)

I use Microsoft Excel

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

Well, to the best of our capacity, we always give out best to serve our clients/customers and we receive a lot of testimonials, I think that’s some kudos and giving us way ahead

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

Basically, I have tried a thousand times to create a better niche online doing online business but just doesn’t work YET for us in Africa, may be in little future time we could be the focus but I finally settles for direct and physical services and I think it’s working for now but right now, we don’t need to deceive ourselves in Africa, online business is not just working for us as it is for the Americans and other continents.

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

Tax is minimal in Lagos, Nigeria and no problem whatsoever with that, it’s cool by me

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

Capital/Investment? In Nigeria? Forget it! We’ve been fooled a couple of times. Nothing comes out of it. Sometimes they ask for impossibilities. Just imagine a situation whereby you would need a Loan of 1M Naira and they request for property worth 2M Naira and even post you that you must operate a good relationship with them for six months before they can grant your loan. That is total nonsense to me. Forget it. No help from anywhere. WE STRIVE to sponsor everything by ourselves. It’s a big problem for us and it makes our business crawl. That’s why other continents are better than Africa; they help each other through thick and thin.

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

I don’t use any of those, they always suspects any request from Nigeria is a fraud and delays a lot and besides, they don’t give good amount of money, it can’t help grow a big aspiring business

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

As I earlier said, we strive to sponsor everything by ourselves, it’s a big problem on me and it makes our business crawl, that’s why other continents are better than Africa, they help each other though thick and thin

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

Skills, not Degrees! What I believe in is ability not certificates. Let’s get live not just diplomas; wizards in any field would have a good place in my staff profile

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

Yeah, that’s right. Our problem is basically money, and we work to get money! And again, my people are afraid. Afraid of what will happen if they re-arrange. That’s why most of them like to do what the crowd does. Do what the system say they will allow them to do. We just need to break free from crowd mentality so that we can achieve the new reality.

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

I do encourage and empower them a lot, though, some come and leave and again I make it a contract work for some of them in percentage. I still retain those I believe are sure of what they are doing and they are not just working for money

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

Secondary school certificate WITH professional certificates and SKILLS most importantly, I test and trust them in various ways before I employ

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

Not enough money to achieve the best, no government empowerment and lack of support from international bodies, basically its all about money, if I have enough money within, I don’t think anything will stop me from achieving the best

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

I don’t see any hole through these challenges for now because our governments are not ready to empower anybody, they are all there for themselves by themselves, we still have a long way to go in leadership in Africa, our governments are the ones ruining us, it’s not that way in overseas, government encourage and empower the youth and young professionals and they even celebrate them because they believe in them, our African leaders don’t believe in us, they believe is wealth, they just want to be rich and famous without contributing to the development of the future of our communities, that’s why they embezzle money

What word do you have for other aspiring entrepreneurs in Africa?

Believe in yourself. Don’t question your talent. Instead, rededicate yourself to the process of becoming better to achieve your goals.

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

Through my email address (olawhite@naijagurus.com) and phone numbers (23418705501 and 2348056159604.

Thanks for your time. We do hope your words spark stars of encouragement for all. Feel Free to contact us anytime for any necessary updates you will want to share.

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Revealing Ucheugo – A Top Nigerian Graphics Designer

I love to refer to what Black Amphi is doing right now as “Entrepreneur Hopping“. We are jumping from Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur and have no plans of leaving any Afro Born Entrepreneur out of the loop. We started with the AfroVisioN CEO (my humble self) in Cameroon, and to my good friend and partner, Francis .O. Oghuma of Naija Born, Nigeria. We navigated south to South Africa where we met Vinny and Justin of  the Silicon Cape Initiative. We are giving you the best of what we can about these shots and from time to time, we won’t hesitate posting updates about them.

Now, we are back again in Nigeria to meet the great Ugo Uchechukwu (UCHEUGO) of Ucheugo Interactive. Since he is right here in the Black Amphitheatre with us, let’s get the story from the horse’s mouth.

[BA]What are your names?

Ugo Uchechukwu (UCHEUGO)

[BA]Where do you live and work ?

I live in Lagos/Nigeria and I juggle gigs as an ART DIRECTOR in one of the top advertising agency in Nigeria.

[BA]How did you get the skills in graphics design (university, professional school, online certifications, study from home, internet)

My skill in graphic design is just a self taught thing..really I just love colours and all that. I did computer science and you must know that studying computer science, its either you end up been software developer or just the normal computer engineer you find around.

When i was little younger, I did some drawings but my mum had to stop me because she felt I was not going to make anything out of it. That was then but now in Nigeria, ART is more worthwhile. That can be seen from the fact that people do motion design and related stuff.

Now I think it is lucrative.

[BA]What are the tools you use in your daily activities (Windows/Mac/Linux, Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator, Frontpage, Dreamweaver, FLASH,etc)

Well for my graphic jobs, I shuffle between Photoshop and Illustrator depending on the task given to me.

For website design, I just use Fireworks and Dreamweaver, Flash. Also it depends on the task ahead. Sometimes I just use Photoshop instead of Fireworks.

[BA]What do you use more? Fireworks or Photoshop? Do you find any more suitable only for a particular or specific purpose?

Well you see people don’t really understand their software. Fireworks is really meant to be use for WEB. It all boils down to your ability using it. All those stuff you see that people do using Photoshop on the web can also be achievable using fireworks as I said earlier on, it all boils down to your capability of the software. You need to study the software very very well before jumping into another software.

Photoshop is pretty good for PRINT JOBS and photo enhancement but also It can also be use for the web but the layers is not helping matters..

[BA]How long have you been doing graphics design or any form of design jobs ??

Well in music, you will find people saying I started as professional singer some years back lol but in my case 7 years now , but I started as commercial designer earning good bucks 4years ago.

[BA]Can you give some examples of things or products you have designed or you have been a part of the design team.(screen shots if offline)

I can’t start mentioning because i have hundreds of them but I can say am part of the success of some interesting design both offline and online. Below are just 4 out of hundreds I can remember lol. If you want some creative design you can email me at info@ucheugo.net I can zip them for you from Art directions, to still design, to motion design jobs.

SMS NAIJA (http://www.smsnaija.com/): I did their interface design and the programming was handled by the team.

NAIJA BORN (http://www.naijaborn.com/): I was actually honored to be their associate interface designer. After d mock-up of the Naija Born T-shirt, I got a lot of buzz! On the shirt and my phone keeps ringing for enquiries.

THE NEXT MOVIE STAR AFRICA (http://www.thenextmoviestarafrica.tv/): This is a Reality TV Show that depends on me for most of their branding jobs and website.

Excite OnTV (http://www.excitetv.tv): handle some branding design and working on their website.

[BA]Are you more into web design, print, branding or Multimedia design(adverts, TV, Music videos, commercials)?

Well am more into anything that has to do with Design and Music but my Specialty is Branding, Advertising, Print, Web Design.

[BA]How often do you apply the color theory

Everyday, because I am really meticulous about it.. clients don’t want see how much noise you can make on their brand but how good you can interpret their brand colours to their creative jobs. And that has really affected the way I dress lol, because when I wear black, i wear sneakers black, sunshades black to compliment my dressing I don’t wear colouriot that’s the popular saying in Nigeria when you wear off colour dressing.

[BA]How much do you consider usability principles in your work.

Well it’s very useful, when am working on a web job for instance, I make sure its load faster because in Nigeria we still have poor ISP around and client might get frustrated waiting for web to do download.

[BA]How is aesthetics important to your work

100% important

[BA]Do you consider accessibility as a strong influence in your designs ?

Well it’s very useful, when am working on a web job for instance, I make sure its load faster because in Nigeria we still have poor ISP around and client might get frustrated waiting for web to do download.

[BA]Do you believe in KISS(Keep It Simple….) best practise and LESS IS MORE when you do your designs ?

I don’t make too much noise.. what is the essence? When u make noise and your job is kinda clumsy ? I make noise with my simple design and clients never complain about it.. so I believe in keep it simple

[BA]Do you use more of CSS or you just slice and dice from photoshop or fireworks into dreamweaver ???

I use both of them. Depending on the job

[BA]Do you use any web design (html+css) frameworks like YAML(http://builder.yaml.de/) and the others out there

It’s just like asking me if I get Pre-made template out there.. well Capital N.O I build design from scrash.

[BA]Do you find these css+html frameworks helpfull in your work if so how?

Yah they make my work easier and they load faster on the internet.

[BA]Do you work in a team environment if so what tools do you use for collaboration (eg collabtive, unfuddle, basecamp)

We use Adobe Tools.

[BA]How important are deadlines in your work?

100% important.

[BA]Are you into outsourcing and do you think it will help enrich and empower Africans

Well I believe in outsourcing because one person can’t do the job alone.. but in Nigeria you find the stingy ones who believe they can handles everything from Video, Web, Advertising, Multimedia, e.t.c

For instance I can do some fantastic drawings but I just outsource it to someone else and concentrate on other things.

[BA]Which do you prefer more: photoshop, fireworks, GIMP or ????

Photoshop and Fireworks

[BA]What do you think about open source vs proprietory software packages.

Open source are the best software that has ever happen to me.

[BA]what are some of the challenges you face as a Graphics designer in Africa?

A lot of challenges, when someone condemn your job, making you feel useless, inferior..

Another one is that people don’t really appreciate what we do well. And beside we don’t have a body that governs us in Nigeria… Over there in US, they have an association for graphic designers, website designer. And also Copyright is not really helping matters at all. Someone can just jack-up your designs and tweak it and he/she doesn’t gives you credit.

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

I think when we have an association and people who don’t just feel that the graphic industry is just for making money, but having passion for it… Some people just design for the money and no passion.

[BA]What word do you have for other aspiring Graphics designers in Africa ?

They should be focused and be the best they can be, because if you are good, money will look for you.

[BA]How can people interested in working with you get to contact you ?

I can be contacted via email: info@ucheugo.net my face book is: UCHE UGO

And also I can be followed on twitter:  http://twitter.com/ucheugo

[BA]Thanks for your time and please give us some closing words

I’m very honored to have you guys, you guys are the best, and great work!

On behalf of the Black Amphi Team, I will like to thank Ucheugo very much for honoring us with this interview.

Letting the cat out of the bag, our next guest here will be Minang Suh Franklin, from within the four walls of the AfroVisioN Group Lab.

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Let the Candles Glow for Francis .O. Oghuma…

…when all of a sudden I heard loud drum rolls. “I know that sound”, I thought to myself. “The melody is unique”. I jumped from bed, “wiped” the sleep off my eyes and turned my head towards the direction of my wooden clock. It read 5:55am but looking through my window, it was a little too dark for me to catch a glimpse of the famous black hurt-like amphitheater, about www kilometers away.

As I stood by the Window waiting for “the sign”, I hear the town-crier crying out louder than ever before…

“…silence, silence. Put your candles and lighters up and let’s all light them on the countdown. 3,2,1…Go!”

All of a sudden, I saw the Amphi glow and a few seconds later, a thunderous applause. My thirst for awareness couldn’t keep me on the spot any longer, so I reached for my extra large mobile phone and dialed CHURCHILL. Upon enquiry, I got the good news.

They are celebrating the birthday of a cherished friend, brother, entrepreneur and partner. His name is Francis .O. Oghuma.

Who is he?

…fast-forward >>>>

…is a 24-year-old Nigerian, the big guy behind NaijaBorn and Qubestreet. He studied in his home country but is currently in South Africa pursuing further education in communication engineering.

Having a close look at his projects and his “lifestream” at twitter (http://twitter.com/papaqube and http://twitter.com/qubestreet), one can tell that Francis .O. Oghuma is brilliant and hardworking. He is one of those who will stop at nothing to making it to the top as far as the “Afro Web” and Ventures are concerned. NaijaBorn and QubeStreet are some of his pojects proving he is an innovative African known for his publicity stunts and media strategies which all attribute him the nick name “MR HYPE”. I am particularly in love with NaijaBorn and sometimes, I wish I could be a Naijaborn just to get a profile on NaijaBorn. Ha ha ha.

I can’t really talk about Francis .O. Oghuma as much as his personal friend and partner on Naija Born, Mambe Nanje Churchill, would. I therefore “hand over the mic” to him for updates on this post tomorrow morning… but before then, on behalf of the entire AfroVisioN Group and Black Amphi Team, I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Francis .O. Oghuma. I hereby urge everyone to pray unceasingly for 7 breakthroughs to happen in his life before this same time next year.

Long live Francis .O. Oghuma. long live Qubestreet and hope he gets alot of returns in this his new age coming with alot of exciting and challenging activities.

BlackAmphi

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