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• Building Android Apps with Agility: Continuous Integration

After Another Long Break

Waoh! Waoh!! I have not posted anything here on my blog in the past two years. Another long break. Well a lot has happened, so much. That doesn't mean that I have not been writing stuffs though. I remembered re-designing my old blog to this current one and starting off with a post I titled "Born Again". Well I guess, a similar thing happened again. The only difference this time is I have not redesigned or changed anything.

I have been learning new stuffs. I am not done yet. I look forward to sharing them here as soon as possible.

The Dirge Lingers On

Today makes it exactly one year since you passed away, Oluwayemisi Saidat Lawal (YSL). That we miss you is an understatement. A whole lot of the sad times we went through last year still linger in our mind. I remember that wednesday night, when the news broke and all of our coursemates gathered together between Tedder and Mellanby Hall, the loud cries, the bitter feelings. They are all still fresh in our mind. The dirge too lingers on too.

"When I remember Yemisi, water comot my eyes, aye aye, water comot my eyes"

"Yemisi da? A o ri, Yemisi da? A o ri, Se Paris lo wa, A o ri, Canada lo wa a o ri".

It is true that we have to put the past behind and move with our lives. Truly we have learnt also to accept that you are no longer with us, but 3rd of March brings again to our mind, the loss, your smile, your gentle face and caring self.

We truly miss you Oluwayemisi. Right now, we are on the verge of going to serve. Sincerely I wish you are around too, to pick up call up letter and all those stuffs. I am sure, however that you are taking a good rest from all the wahalas of this world.

Rest well YSL. We miss you and we'll always remember you.

Projects: November-February

The past few weeks have been overwhelming for me. So much work and projects have been on my desk, my hands and my head. Keeping my write ups and thoughts together, penning the few thoughts that say hi to me.

Here are the screen shots of some of the works that have kept me away from blogging aggressively for a while now. I worked on them between November and now. Enjoy and do leave your comments. Thanks!

West Africa Market Information System Network (WAMIS-NET)

ECOINVEST

EventDiaries: Online Event Management and Planning Tool

Simba Travels and Tours Travellers' Information System

Eclipse Development Environment

I work here too-Dreamweaver CS5

We are the government!

Maybe the announcement of the removal of oil subsidy by the federal Government of Nigeria has made us see something more, far more than angry people protesting on the streets and voicing their discontent.

I've been following the news for a while. This is the fifth day of strike and protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and Trade Union. I wouldn't know if you've noticed what I'm noticing. Do you notice the bond, oneness, solidarity spirit among the Nigerian people? It is obvioulsy obvious!

KWAM 1 (Musician) addressing the protesters in Ojota, Lagos

From the cries of Pastor Tunde Bakare to Prof. Pat Utomi, Femi Falana to Nasir El-rufai, Pasuma Alabi to Raskimono, Chinua Achebe to Wole Soyinka, the massive turn out by Nigerians everywhere to voice their discontent on the level of governance is laudably impressive.

I see people from all walks of life, different ethnic groups, professionals-doctors, lawyers, scientists, coming together for a course, set on a voyage irresolute until the government heeds to their call. The removal of fuel subsidy has awaken the giant in us. Never in the history of Nigeria has it been like this, at least for all I have seen. We are probably reaping the dividend of democracy-A government of the people, by the people, for the people. We are the government and what's more?

I have seen the power of oneness, women weeping together, children holding hands saying a prayer for the nation, men who love their country and are willing to sacrifice anything to bring back the pride at any price. I see a new nation emerging. This is a revolution of a life time as much as the eclipse of the sun is for a lifetime.

Protesters on the street

I see a nation where everyone cares about each other again, where everyone is her brother's keeper. Where we are so concerned about the lives of our comrades and will not stop to hurt anyone who dares hurt them (especially the black uniform men, will they kill us all?). I see a nation where the lives of every citizen matters now, at least this strike has shown how much people care.

Until the government succumbs to the cries of the masses, we will not comprise. Who is the government anyway? We!

Fuel Subsidy or Not? Taking Sides.

I refuse to be in a dilemma over this fuel subsidy removal crisis. In fact I bind and cast out every spirit of dilemma. Listening to both sides of the story and analysis that has been drawn up, you could really be confused about what sides to take, except you really don't want to put any reasoning into it.

The government is talking about the economy crashing if the subsidy is not removed. The minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke went as far as saying that the debts their regime would leave behind if something drastic is not done would be so enormous that our children's children will not be able to pay it.

The government is saying that the economy would be grounded if the fuel subsidy is not removed but masses are saying "No way!"

Now, when you put some reasoning into it really, you would realize that subsidy is a lot of money on the part  of the government and according to the some sources, corruption in Nigeria  stems subsidy itself. The minister of petroleum said, no allowing subsidy removal and fighting corruption is like fighting a monster with your hands tied. The Cabal (or how is it spelt?) in the government, evil, and corruption is deeply rooted in the subsidy (or so they claim). So how do we resolve this issue?

We, the masses are saying No. In fact, we are asking for more. Yes, more than subsidy removal, we want corruption to be dealt with and defeated in Nigeria once and for all. I love the slogan "Kill corruption, Not Nigerians". Our leaders and the Nigerian people are way too corrupt. Our names have been soiled time and time again internationally. The name "Nigeria" has been synonymous with corruption for some time now. Enough is enough. Let's deal with this monster once and for all, that is what Nigerians are saying. This is beyond subsidy removal. I completely agree.

Hearing the two sides of the story, you may have to think deep what is at stake for Nigerians if subsidy is removed or if it is not. If it is not, price of commodities will skyrocket and of services too! Will workers' salaries go up too? What is the shock absorber  for Nigerians? This is paradigm shift and that is very hard to accept and implement.

This is the real issue. We could say, "Ok, go ahead, take away the subsidy" but we do not trust our government anymore in Nigeria. If we give them the go-ahead to remove oil subsidy, what is the guarantee that things will change as promised. It has always been empty promises for a long time now. Let the government begin to do what they promised to do, chiefly among all is electricity, transportation, rebuilding of infrastructures and resurrection of our refineries. Then political positions are too attractive in Nigeria, let the government do something about it. Executives, senators, and government officials lavish too much on themselves, alienate themselves from the masses as soon as they get into power. Let it end now!

One of the 7 habits of highly effective people cited in Stephen R. Covey's book is the Win/Win habit. Let the government apply a Win/Win approach here making both them and the people happy. Period!

7 years since 'Hello World!'

That it's exactly 7 years since I made my first programming project brings me feelings of joy and fulfillment. Indeed it's been years of fixing bugs, testing and deployment. Some of my junior colleagues back at the university have asked me at one time or the other how they could grow, improve on their programming skills and all I usually do was encourage them to press on, to keep learning and coding. All they need to improve is time.

I started programming in QBASIC and made my first project in December, 2004. It was a payroll application. I have learnt and used the following technologies and programming languages. QBASIC, VBASIC 6.0, VB.NET, Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2003, 2005, MSSQLSERVER 2000, 2005, PHP/MySQL, Oracle 10g, Javascript and some its frameworks like jQuery, AJAX, XML, Java (J2SE and J2ME), Python, NetBeans IDE, Eclipse IDE, Adobe Suites (especially Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Photoshop and Flash), DBMS, Google Maps, Google App Engine, Software Engineering Techniques and Project Management.

A screen shot of part of the source codes of my first project

It would sound like exaggeration to say that I have worked on over 30 projects, because I have lost count too. I decided then to make a comprehensive list of the major projects I have worked on since 2004.

Some of the works are still in use, some have evolved and have new programmers on them, while some are out of use.

2011

• EventDiaries.com (Work in progress)
• Ecoinvest (Work in progress)
• West Africa Market Information System (WAMIS)
• SpreadIT (Mobile SpreadIT Messanging) Final year project at the University of Ibadan deployed at  mspreadit.appspot.com
• Final Year Book (RCF Final Year Brethren, University of Ibadan)
• Card Manager (ID Card Generator Engine)
• Travellers' Information System (TIS)

2010

• TrainingIT (Logistics App for a Short Training Programmes)
• Road Marshal (Driving Licence, Vehicle Registration App)
• Schmitt Automations
• The Mobile Examiner (Let's you take examinations and tests right on your mobile phone, a Samsung Developers' Challenge First Runner-Up Prize Winner for Education Category)

2009

• Patient Archive System (PAS) currently in use at Crestview Radiology Clinic, VI
• Wish For Africa Content Management System (CMS) running wishforafrica.org
• Students Record Management System (SRMS)
• Paycard Loyalty Solution
• File Upload System
• Interactive Tutor

2008

• Flomat Bookshop Catalogue System
• Baby Palace (Baby Shopping App)
• Family First Bookshop Catalogue System
• WANEP Early Warning System (An environmental monitoring and evaluation system)
• Recharge Card Vending App
• Educo (Educational Management App for test taking, exam prep etc.)
• Content Management System for OlusolaAkinseye.com

2007

• Porfolio Management System (Final year project for my National Diploma at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos)
• Event Manager (Calendar App for managing events, exhibited at NACOSS Software Exhibition)
• TwentyNaira.com
• ECOWAPP Website
• ECOWAPP ICC (Information Coordination Center)
• Setlin.com

2006

• Hotel Reservation App for Parkview Hotels
• Matrix Solution (An app that solves any matrix problem written in QBASIC and exhibited at NACOSS Software Exhibition Yabatech in February)

2004

• Payroll System (Project at the completion of my IDPM training in Lagos, written in QBASIC

Well, I think I have come a long way. Besides programming and working on projects, I love teaching others what I know too and look forward to doing more of that. Over the years of programming, I have been nominated for programmer of the year awards at the University and have won twice. I also won the "Guru of the year" faculty award. My project "The Mobile Examiner" also won a prize on Samsung Developers' Challenge shortly after I developed it in 2010.

The projects I enjoyed developing most are the Mobile Examiner, Patient Archive System (PAS), WANEP Early Warning System and Matrix Solution. I have worked with quite a number of interesting people, Oghenekohwo Tega, Oluremi Onitilo, Diji Adeyemo, Biola Ibrahim, Itua Ijagbone, Dr. Onifade (Unibadan), Mr. Fatoki (Yabatech), Efosa Omogui (Alpha Consortium), Mr. Ayo Odeyemi (Delsoft), Mr. Eric Amagada (Delsoft), Mr. C.K. Bona, Mr. Ademola Ademokan, Mr. Welfare Nwocha (Alpha Consortium), Mr. Awele Okonkwo (Alpha Consortium), Mr. Femi Fajemirokun (ECOWAPP), Mrs. Ayo Fajemirokun (Easyduzit), Mr. Adeleke Orekoya, Mr. Adebanjo (BAFUTO), Dr. Awe, Dr. and Mrs. Fatade. They have all influenced me in special ways.

There are quite a number of people that have been my mentors, role models, and inspiration. My friends at Grid (the producers of the Unilag Website)-Ayo Lawrence, Mike Otasanya, Samson Adegunle, Charles Oribi and Mbong Nkana. Programmer C. K. Bona, Ademola Ademokan, Mr. Femi Fajemirokun, Mr. Awele Okonkwo and Mr. Samuel Fadipe (that's the man who made me believe I could be a programmer too back in 2004). I am ever thankful to God for helping me come across these wonderful people.

I have been a source of inspiration and influenced some special people too. Thank God for helping me to be a blessing to others. 

Amazingly, I cannot see the end of the road yet, definitely not. I still have a lot to learn, so much to perfect and be better at, more teams to work with, more projects to do. A whole lot more to achieve!