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Hey Techie,

You need to read this!

So, you're making waves in the tech industry or at least, you're on your way to

making those waves... you're building apps, software, websites, solutions! You've got these great ideas that can make the world a better place and solve the problems in the society. Your dreams are valid and the world is your oyster.

From our observation and experience, one aspect is often ignored- Security. How safe are your solutions? Let's have a 'moment of silence' to think about that, shall we?

Are the users of your solutions at risk? Do you think of the security of their details first as you design and build? Seeing that every app/software/website will require personal details or at least have access to information like location, security in tech cannot be ignored.

At this year's Facebook 'F8" Conference, Mark Zuckerberg during his speech shared certain steps taken and new features all geared towards ensuring the security of the users of Facebook. Here's an excerpt from the keynote speech:

"Now I also want to share one new thing that we’re working on with data privacy, and we have a lot more updates like this coming. But this is an example of the kind of thing that we are working on. In your web browser, you today have a simple way to clear cookies and clear browsing history. And the idea is that a lot of sites need this data to work; you need cookies, but you should have the ability to go in and clear your history at any point you want. So we’re working on a version of this for Facebook, too. It’s a simple control where you can clear your browsing history; what you’ve clicked on, the websites you visited and so on. And we’re going to call it clear history.

And we’re starting with something that a lot of people have asked about recently and that’s the information that we get from websites and apps who are using Facebook’s advertising and analytics tools, so you can — you’re going to able to use this tool to see the information about the apps and websites you’ve interacted with; you’ll be able to clear all this information from your account and you’ll even be able to turn it off having this information stored with your account going forward.

So overall we’re going to keep investing heavily in security and privacy. But security isn’t a problem that you ever fully solve. This is an arms race and we’re going to be working to stay ahead of our adversaries forever. So while we’re doing this, we also have a responsibility to keep building services that bring people together in new ways."

In building your solutions, you cannot downplay the importance of the security of your users, neither should you make data privacy less than a priority. So much has gone on the world to make users wary of websites, apps and solutions, it is your duty to do the work necessary to ensure data security and win the trust of the users... and hey, using data security as part of your USP (Unique Selling Point) isn't a bad idea, it's actually an edge!

Stay SHARP!

The beginning of the year is usually tricky... some people are pumped and super excited, some are anxious and fearful, whilst others are indifferent. We hope you are as pumped and super excited about 2019 as we are. We have so many things planned and it would be great for you to keep tabs on us via our social media accounts, website and mailing list, so that you do not miss a thing. Every activity we embark on is for your growth and development. It would be good to commit to living and growing intentionally this year.

Just a few tips:

1. Get comfy with AI. It's not going anywhere and it is rapidly disrupting the tech space and the world. You do not want to be knocked to the sidelines because of ignorance. Get with the programme. Hop on that trend. It is here to stay.

2. Focus more on the application on Technology. Technology by itself is similar to a brand new car in a showroom... it just looks cool. The beauty and power of technology is seen when it is applied and used to solve problems. Be motivated by the possibilities that come with the application of technology. Take some time this month to define what problems you would like to solve with technology and set out to work. This way your approach to technology, work and even life will be value-driven... and this is a powerful way to live.

3. Do not be too "data saving conscious". There is little or nothing you can do without data use. See the money spent on data as an investment, not an expense.

4. Make machine learning "a thing". It is a worthy tool that can be used to help resolve societal problems, like improvement in agriculture, the health sector and other troubled areas.

5. Most importantly, commit to growing intentionally. You may not be very proficient or skillful in tech areas right now but in 12 months, you can become excellent, if you commit to doing the work.

We wish you all the best.

The KSIH Team.


It’s been proven that more people use their mobile phones than their laptops. Almost everyone has a smartphone and they are constantly using it for communication and looking for information. We live in a fast-paced world and it isn’t going to get any slower. Patience, like the average attention span is dwindling. People prefer to get information in order to make important, purchasing decisions on the go. This means that they should be able to know everything about a brand, service or product (via the website, social media profiles or apps) using their phones as they go about daily activities.

At the Ken Saro-Wiwa Innovation Hub, we teach developers the essence and rudiments of building mobile-adaptive websites. Join us!

The term “mobile-adaptive” means that they must be mobile-friendly and mobile-responsive. Mobile users need sites that work well on smaller screens, use touch controls, are easy to navigate, and load content quickly. Having a mobile-adaptive website has become a critical part of having an online presence. You must make sure that the users of your website can have great experiences when viewing/using it on their phones.

The terms mobile-friendly and mobile-responsive, though similar have different meanings. Mobile-responsiveness is a very important characteristic of a mobile-friendly website.

What Does a Mobile-Friendly Website Function Like?

The desktop version of a site is usually difficult to view and navigate on a mobile device. This requires the user to pinch or zoom in order to read the content and navigate through the site. This is a frustrating experience and usually causes users to abandon the site for a mobile-friendly one. A mobile-friendly website is readable and easily usable.

The mobile-friendliness of a website begins with the appearance. This determines whether users begin navigating through or not. Here are some features that must not be skimped on when building websites, and even applications, that will attract and keep users.

  • The website must be appealing to the eyes if it will command attention. Lots of web developers ignore this all important trait.

  • It must have a responsive display. When a website is responsive, it means that the layout and content adapts to the size of the screen it’s presented on. A responsive website will automatically change to fit the screen size of the device it is being used on. Typically, there are four general screen sizes that a responsive design must be adapted for- the widescreen desktop monitor, the smaller desktop (or laptop), the tablet, and the mobile phone. As the screen gets smaller or larger, the content shifts and changes to the best display for each screen. This feature is critical for every website.

  • The fonts must be easy to read, else the content on the website will be of no use. Script fonts, for example, will be difficult to read.

  • The media (images, infographics and videos) used must be adapted for the right screens, without the need to scroll or resize to see the complete item… you don’t want them looking blurry.

  • Think “swipes & taps” rather than mouse clicks. Websites designed for desktop users are easiest to navigate with mouse clicks, not swipes, taps, and touches. However, there’s no mouse on a smartphone, so you’ll need to give mobile users a way to navigate using touch controls.

  • Ease in Navigation. It’s frustrating looking for certain categories or price lists on a site, it is even works trying to type in the search bar using a smartphone keyboard. It would be better to organize your mobile site in such a way that users can find what they need without having to type in the search field, or filling out the “Contact Us” form. In terms of navigation, Flat site architecture is a best pal, because it helps mobile users to find things on your site without having to tap through too many layers along the way or use to the search bar.

The bottom line? If you’d like your website to “be on the map” and stay relevant, ensure that it is mobile-adaptive.

The bottom line? If you’d like your website to “be on the map” and stay relevant, ensure that it is mobile-adaptive.

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