Around this time last year, I wrote an article on WPDaily now TorqueMag titled “My Journey (and Love) for WordPress from a Nigerian View” you can read it here.
In that article I shared how I got introduced to WordPress and a lot of other things regarding WordPress, you can read the article to get the full information.
One of the things I talked about was starting a WordPress Meetup group in Nigeria (Lagos for a start).
A lot of things happended between then and now, I graduated from school, started working with Cart! and went for my NYSC which am currently doing. So have been very busy.
The last time a WordPress centered event was held in Nigeria was in 2010 when a WordCamp happened. I didn’t know what happened but that was the first and the last time it held. Even though a lot of WordPress centered session are being held once a while (usually you pay to attend), but this was still different from what I wanted to see in Nigeria.
In Africa I know that WordCamps have only been held in two countries consistently. WordCamp Cape Town South Africa was held in 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013 {lest I forget South Africa is home to Woothemes}, WordCamp Kenya was held in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
And as I mentioned earlier the last time a WordPress centered event was held in Nigeria was WordCamp Nigeria 2010, that was like three years ago.
Fast forward to the present day, after writing that article January last year, I started working towards making sure a WordPress meetup group is started in Nigeria.
WordPress is very popular in Nigeria a lot of blogs and websites are powered using WordPress some of which include notjustok.com, bellanaija.com, gloworld.com/nigeria , 360nobs.com, techcabal.com, mobility.ng, bits.ng, ynaija.com, jaguda.com, olorisupergal.com, this site is also powered using WordPress and a whole lot of other sites.
This shows that WordPress is very popular in Nigeria. There are a lot of bloggers, designers, developers, enterpreneurs who uses WordPress. But the thing that we are lacking is a commmunity of WordPress users.
In fact we don’t have an active developers community in Nigeria. We all need to work towards changing this and start creating developer communities.
I am pleased to introduce to you Lagos WordPress Meetup Group. Lagos WordPress Meetup group is a group consisting of WordPress users whether you are a blogger, a designer, a developer or someone who uses WordPress this group is for you. So far you use WordPress you are welcome to join.
How this Works.
For those of us that don’t know how meetup works basically I will be working towards organizing monthly meetup events (with time this will likely change to twice or thrice monthly) where those of us that uses WordPress can all come together to talk about WordPress ranging from topics like, managing your WordPress blog, blogging tips, getting started as a blogger, designing WordPress themes, developing WordPress plugins, running a WordPress powered business, in fact everything that deals with WordPress.
These meetings can be anything from very casual get-together over a drink to more formal presentations and networking events. The main aim is to gets people who like WordPress or uses WordPress into a room together.
Speakers will always be around at this events to talk about various topics and share ideas.
The best thing about this is that the group is open to all who wish to join, regardless of ability, skill, financial status or any other criteria. Attending Meetup events is also free.
Any member of the group is allowed to organize events, just get in touch with me before you do so.
Few Simple Guidelines With The Meetup Group
- WordPress Meetups are for the benefit of the WordPress community as a whole, not specific businesses or individuals. All actions taken as an event organizer are with the best interest of the community in mind.
- Membership in the local meetup group is open to all who wish to join, regardless of ability, skill, financial status or any other criteria.
- Meetups are volunteer-run with volunteer speakers. In cases where a modest attendance fee might be necessary, this fee should only cover the costs of the meetup and shouldn’t be used to pay speakers or organizers.
- Meetup groups allow events to be organized by any reliable/trusted member of the community.
- Meetups are welcoming places where everyone works to foster an accepting environment which is free of discrimination, incitement to violence, promotion of hate, and general jerk-like behavior.
Lagos WordPress Meetup Group is hosted on meetup.com and is part of the official WordPress account which receive certain benefits, including having the meetup.com dues paid by the WordPress Foundation.
The first Meetup event will hold in February or early March this year.
In the main time you can follow us on twitter @wplagos to get more information regarding the group.
Kindly click the button below to join the Lagos WordPress Meetup Group.
NOTE
Presently I am serving (NYSC) in Jigawa state so I am looking for two co-organizers who are based in Lagos to help out with this. Just contact me via the contact form on my website here if you are interested.