9mobile, Africa’s Talking Partner to Empower Software Developers, SMEs with APIs And Etnik-Dyragga Out asDavido,Wizkid make AFRIMA List

9mobile, Africa’s Talking Partner to Empower Software Developers, SMEs with APIs

Lagos, Nigeria, July 31, 2017: Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications company, 9mobile has partnered with Africa’s Talking to empower software solutions developers and Small and Medium-scale Enterprises with access to telecommunication infrastructure through mobile communication Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

 9mobile’s partnership with Africa’s Talking, a Pan-African company focused on providing developers with an easy and reliable way to access telecommunication infrastructure, aims at boosting the activities of Nigerian software developers and enabling SMEs to effectively engage customers across multiple channels.

 The Director, Digital Business, 9mobile, Adia Sowho, said that through the direct connection to 9mobile’s infrastructure and the unified API platform that Africa’s Talking provides, developers will be able to access and build innovative applications while SMEs can use the platform to improve their marketing capabilities.

 She said, “We at 9mobile are delighted to partner with Africa’s Talking in our bid to support Nigerian software developers and small businesses as they build viable and scalable businesses. This partnership will provide businesses with quality and affordable mobile communication tools like 2-way SMS and USSD APIs that they can then embed into their day to day business activities. With these tools, SMEs can improve their marketing capabilities and interact easily with their customers”.

 “In the past decade, mobile communication has proven beneficial for businesses seeking to create and maintain meaningful relationships with their existing and future customers. It is through this that businesses are able to offer effective customer support, real time communication solutions, collect data as well as optimise their operations. With this solution, SMEs will also be able to tap into the local developer community to build systems that enhance business efficiency, leading to job creation and overall support of local talent.” She added.

 Sowho noted that with the partnership, individual developers do not need to interface directly with telco-grade protocols which prove to be difficult and time consuming.

 “With an estimated 250,000 developers in the country, having easy access to this infrastructure will encourage more developers to build innovative solutions that can directly impact the lives of the Nigerian populace. At 9mobile, we are always passionate about providing technology based support to innovative thinkers,”Sowho said.

 She added that 9mobile and Africa’s Talking were dedicated to working closely with the developer community across the country through supporting training workshops, hackathons and other developer activities, with the aim of educating and encouraging developers to take advantage of the tools that are now available to them locally.

 Africa’s Talking has also provided a sandbox environment for developers to use while learning how to work with the APIs as well as testing out their applications before taking them to production.

                Etnik-Dyragga Out asDavido,Wizkid make AFRIMA List

Fast rising dancehall act, Etnik-Dyragga, popularly called Etnik, narrowly lost out in the race to be crowned the “Best Artist Male Category from West Africa at the ongoing AFRIMA Music Awards. The ragga artiste who is tipped to be the next biggest thing in Africa will have to wait next year for his second attempt at the trophy.

However, Runtown, Teckno, Wizkid, Mr. Easy, Davido, will still be flying the Nigerian flag for the male category why Tiwa Savage, Sheyi Shay, Aramide, made the female list that will compete with other talents from Africa and diaspora.

Etnik-Dyragga recently released three massive singles which are currently on the MTN network as ring back tunes: “The Question”, featuring late OJB Jezreel (1032682); “Diva Demon” (1032683) and “Follow Follow” - 1032684. All three songs will be downloaded when the codes are sent to 4100 on the MTN network.

The artiste has not hidden his disappointment at not going the extra mile and feels reggae and dancehall artistes shouldn’t compete in the same category.

Speaking about the outcome of the nomination Etink said: “This reduces the chances of a reggae or dancehall musician because singers have different genres and compete on different platforms but reggae and dancehall which are different genres are clogged together as one. Everyone wants to compete at AFRIMA and win because it is the best awards but reggae and dancehall have to be separated.

“A singer and rapper like drake gets awards for singing and rapping which are completely different genres but reggae and dancehall which is also a rap kind of music are placed on the same category.”Etnik-Dyragga said.