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In this enlightening episode of the David O. Oshin , we are joined by Nnamdi Uba, a seasoned techpreneur dedicated to harnessing technology to tackle Africa’s challenges.

As Co-founder of House Africa and Sytemap, Nnamdi Uba is on a mission to revolutionize land ownership in Africa through innovative solutions.

Enjoy this insight filled Podcast.

David Oshin: Welcome to the podcast, Mr. Nnamdi Uba. You have a wealth of experience in the tech industry. Can you tell us about yourself and how you developed your passion for technology?

Nnamdi Uba: Thank you for having me. My name is Nnamdi Chukwuebuka Uba. I’m passionate about technology, which started when I was in secondary school. In 2003, my school introduced us to viewing our results online, which sparked my interest. I spent a lot of time browsing the internet and learning about computers.

David Oshin: That’s fascinating. What drew you to web design and development?

Nnamdi Uba: In 2005, I started teaching computer classes and later pursued a degree in Information Management Technology. During my holiday, I saw someone designing a website and was intrigued by the animations. I decided to learn web design and development, starting with JavaScript and HTML.

David Oshin: How did you transition into blockchain technology and start House Africa?

Nnamdi Uba: My co-founder was scammed after purchasing land, which led us to explore blockchain technology to solve this problem. We started building House Africa, specifically the SYTEMAP platform, to remove scams in land transactions using blockchain technology.

David Oshin: What challenges have you faced in building House Africa?

Nnamdi Uba: Timing and adoption have been significant challenges. COVID-19 also impacted our progress. However, it also accelerated the shift to digital solutions, leading people to explore alternative sources of funding, which ultimately benefited our platform.

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David Oshin: In terms of funding, have you raised funds or are you facing challenges raising funds?

Nnamdi Uba: We have closed our pre-seed funding round, raising $400,000, which we announced last year. This funding has helped us build our product and understand the market properly.

David Oshin: What’s next for House Africa?

Nnamdi Uba: Honestly, we’re moving into the next phase, which is launching our marketplace on September 28th. This platform will allow people to access estate projects in Africa, starting from Nigeria, from anywhere in the world. Users can virtually view land, choose a plot, reserve it, generate a contract, make payments, and receive land documents immediately after payment confirmation.

David Oshin: What advice would you give to a young person just starting their career, aged 15 to 18?

Nnamdi Uba: At 16 and 17, it’s the age of learning and exploring. I wouldn’t recommend building anything unless you’re a genius. Instead, focus on learning, making mistakes, and understanding what works. Build relationships and friendships, which I didn’t do when I was in school.

David Oshin: That makes sense.

Nnamdi Uba: I was too focused on school and didn’t make many friends or attend social events. But I’ve learned that having a strong social network is crucial. As they say, “knowing people is better than riches,” so it’s essential to build social capital.

David Oshin: How do you explain blockchain technology to those who may not understand it, like government officials?

Nnamdi Uba: We approach it by removing the technical jargon and focusing on what they already know. We start from the familiar to the unknown. Our system, SYTEMAP, doesn’t introduce new concepts but rather uses technology to enhance existing processes in the real estate industry.

For instance, real estate companies already buy land, divide it into plots, and create layouts. We explain that our technology, tokenization and fractional ownership, achieves the same outcome but with added security and efficiency. By focusing on the familiar aspects, we can break down the barrier of understanding blockchain technology.

David Oshin: What role do you see SYTEMAP playing in the blockchain and Nigerian space in the next five years?

Nnamdi Uba: SYTEMAP is a prime example of a practical use case for blockchain technology, specifically in creating transparent and trusted real estate transactions. In the next five years, we envision SYTEMAP becoming the infrastructure backbone that enables secure and efficient real estate transactions. Our goal is to make land and property ownership transactions transparent, safe, and reliable.

David Oshin: That’s great. If you were to leave a legacy, what would it be?

Nnamdi Uba: Setting aside SYTEMAP’s vision, my personal entrepreneurial vision is to leverage technology to drive Africa’s growth. Whether through SYTEMAP or other initiatives, my aim is to make a positive impact on the continent. My ultimate goal is to leave a lasting legacy by solving at least one significant problem facing Africa.

David Oshin: I understand.

David Oshin: Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Nnamdi.

Nnamdi Uba: Thank you for having me.