The Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerbergs of the world are known around the world for extending the frontiers of technology I’m ways we would never have imagined. While these men have changed our world in unprecedented ways, there are also a number of noteworthy men who are doing extraordinary things in the Nigeria tech space. One of these men is Mark Essien, founder and CEO of Hotels.ng.
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Mark Essien is not only changing the status quo as far as innovation is concerned but he is also harnessing the power of social media to usher in an era of tech-driven youths. He founded Hotels.ng in 2013 and very since the company has grown to become one of the most notable* hotel booking agencies in Nigeria. Today, Mark used his platform to raise conversations about tech trends and organise tech programs and internships for youths.
Mark’s Essien’s venture into the tech world was relatively straightforward. He had already acquired prior knowledge by studying Computer Science at Beuth University in Berlin, Germany and obtaining an MSc in Computer Science at Freie University, also in Germany. However, he picked up an interest in coding while working night shifts as a caregiver. According to him, this was something he did to keep awake at night.
Before long, he had developed his skills up to the extent of building a file sharing software that was later sold to a company and shut down afterwards. He went on to build more products including iPhone apps and one of the first Mpeg Encoders, Standard Mpeg, which was bought by companies like Disney and the American military.
After spending years building his own products and working for other companies, Mark created Hotels.ng on his return to Nigeria during a school break.
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Barely two years after its launch, Hotels.ng was described as profitable in a Forbes article. As of 2018, hotels.ng boasted over $50,000 in revenue. Mark is big on youth empowerment and this reflects on his platform which organises internship programs. These internship programmes have contributed significantly to the growth of hotels.ng.
With over 100,000 followers on Twitter, Mark is apparently an inspiration to many young tech enthusiasts. In a time when technology is relatively young in Nigeria, it is safe to say he is on the right side of history.
Featured Image Source: Star Gist
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