Automatticians, the individuals who construct WordPress.com, take part in occasions and tasks around the globe daily. Periodically, they report again on the thrilling issues they do locally.
This 12 months’s CMS Africa Summit was my third attendance at this superb convention. My colleagues Marjorie, Sarah, Hannah, and Luminus joined me for the occasion and in doing so we despatched Automatticians from three completely different continents.
Democratizing eCommerce
For a number of years now, Automattic has been the title sponsor for CMS Africa Summit. After conferences in Kenya (2015) and Uganda (2016), the 2017 version came about in Abuja, Nigeria. The crew behind the summit consists of business leaders from all three of these nations. Collectively in addition they characterize a few of the world’s hottest open supply content material administration techniques (CMSs): Joomla, Drupal, and (in fact) WordPress.
As one of many tech hubs in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is leading tech innovation on the continent. The convention by consequence centered on the sensible use of CMSs, extra so than in earlier years: how they will increase native companies and develop the economic system.
For that cause, the attendees had been very focused on eCommerce as a solution to take their startups on-line. We launched them to WooCommerce as an open supply device for financial empowerment, and shared sensible and localized pointers. Most of the entrepreneurs we encountered expressed their love for open supply software program as a result of it doesn’t require them to take a position their treasured startup finances in software program.
Presence
The slides and summaries of our talks might be discovered on our respective web sites. Right here’s a number of a few of the different talks we cherished. Prosper Otemuyiwa, our favourite keynote speaker, centered on how to build a product the open source way. Nigerian CMS organizer Adedayo Adeniyi talked in regards to the want for on-line development in Nigeria and placing checks and balances in place for high-quality native net improvement. Software program developer Idris Abdul Azeez highlighted the significance of documenting not solely software program configuration but in addition its improvement course of, since writing readable code is a needed cornerstone for the open supply neighborhood and facilitates members’ contributions.
We had been moved when lead organizer Oduor Jagero shared his pleasure that Automattic had despatched a crew of employees to attend, current workshops, and join in particular person with the Nigerian tech and open supply neighborhood. Past the monetary assist, taking the time to show and to hearken to the native tales is particularly appreciated. If you happen to’re able to hear too, right here’s an amazing place to start out: Jagero requested his pals on Fb to share their weblog posts about love. Three of one of the best tales might be awarded a basket of WordPress goodies. Listed here are one of the best ones he chosen: Lovine Mboya, Akello, and Nepenthe.
CMS Africa Summit 2017 was superb, simply as in earlier years. As outsiders, the area people welcomed us with open arms. The eagerness to study, develop, and achieve success was inspiring. On to the subsequent one!
Beneath are some photos taken by organizer David Aswani.
Filed below: Automattic, Events 
