Facebook Partners With Local Developers As It Launches Free Basics In Nigeria
Facebook launched its Free Basics services in Nigeria yesterday in partnership with Airtel Nigeria at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Free Basics by Facebook provides free access to basic internet services to over a billion people around the world.
Following the launch, the company organised a Fireside Chat at the iDEA Hub, Lagos, to talk about the values presented by Free Basics to business and product developers across Nigeria.
“Our mission is to connect the world, and important partners in making this possible are the local developers and ecosystems we work with around the world," said Ime Archibong, Facebook's Global Director of Product Partnerships. "We believe that local entrepreneurs and developers will be the ones to meet the needs of their immediate community, and that’s why I am here in Nigeria spending time with developers to know how we can support them in doing so."
The session was anchored by Bankole Oluwafemi of TechCabal and attended by developers across the country.
Free Basics launches in Nigeria with more than 85 free services dedicated to health, education, jobs, and finance. To date, Facebook estimates that its connectivity efforts, which include Free Basics, have brought more than 25 million people online who wouldn’t be otherwise.
About Facebook
Founded in 2004, Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what is going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. Facebook has 1.04 billion daily active users on average worldwide and 7.2 million daily visitors from Nigeria.
About Red Media Africa
Red Media Africa ( http://www.redmediaafrica.com ) is the PR & Empowerment Marketing division under the parent brand, RED.
It focuses on using inspiration, empowerment and action to help brands and organisations connect with their audiences, enhance their bottom-lines and lead in their industries. It has 6 major practice
areas: Corporate Practice, Technology Practice, SME Practice, Governance Practice, Faith Practice and the International Practice - with work for brands across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. RED owns the continent's largest portfolio of youth media brands. Its Content Division holds brands across TV, radio, online and events including Y!
Magazine,YNaija.com, Rubbin' Minds, #YTech100 and the The RED Summit. It also anchors a development firm, The Future Project, which projects include Africa's leading youth platform, The Future Awards Africa, HowCanIGetInvolved.com and Aiki.ng, which is run in conjunction with Microsoft.
