WordPress is Thriving in Nigeria w/ Emmanuel Eluwa

In this episode of WP Minute+, host Matt Medeiros interviews Emmanuel, a WordPress agency owner and community organizer from Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

My conversation with Emmanuel was truly enlightening and left me feeling optimistic about the state of WordPress in Nigeria. It was refreshing to hear how WordPress is thriving in his part of the world, powering an impressive 65% of websites in the country.

I was particularly impressed by the vibrant WordPress community Emmanuel described in Port Harcourt. The mix of students and professionals, ranging from 17 to 40 years old, actively participating in meetups and events speaks volumes about the platform's appeal across generations.

Emmanuel's insights into running a WordPress agency in Nigeria were fascinating. Despite the competitive landscape, it's clear that there's a strong demand for WordPress services.

The upcoming first WordCamp in Port Harcourt is an exciting development, and it's great to see the WordPress community growing and organizing larger events. This progress bodes well for the future of WordPress in the region.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

1. The WordPress ecosystem in Nigeria is competitive but thriving, with WordPress powering about 65% of websites in the country.
2. Word-of-mouth and referrals play a crucial role in acquiring clients for WordPress agencies in Nigeria.
3. The WordPress community in Nigeria is growing, with a mix of students and professionals aged 17-40 participating in meetups.
4. Open source aspects of WordPress are less important to end-users in Nigeria, but the community values the ability to customize and learn from the platform.
5. Elementor is popular for client projects due to its customization capabilities, but there's interest in Gutenberg's evolving features.
6. WordPress events, including meetups and hackathons, are gaining traction in Nigeria, with plans for the first WordCamp in Port Harcourt.
7. Blogging is still relevant in Nigeria, especially in the entertainment sector, but faces competition from social media platforms.

Important URLs mentioned:

1. Brela
2. thewpminute.com/subscribe

Chapter Titles with Timestamps:

1. [00:00:00] Introduction and Recent WordPress Hackathon
2. [00:02:00] WordPress Business Landscape in Nigeria
3. [00:06:00] WordPress Usability and Client Onboarding
4. [00:09:33] Elementor vs. Gutenberg: Feature Comparisons
5. [00:13:42] Open Source Significance in the Nigerian Market
6. [00:16:16] WordPress User Demographics in Nigeria
7. [00:18:28] WordPress Meetups and Events in Port Harcourt
8. [00:22:01] Blogging Trends and WordPress Adoption
9. [00:24:07] Future Plans: First WordCamp in Port Harcourt