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Multi-billion-dollar search company Google has changed its homepage to celebrate the Nigerian Independence.

Google put a waving Nigerian flag on its homepage, alongside writing the company’s name in green and white colors.

When a user searches anything on the website, the Nigerian Flag is displayed at the top right corner of the google homepage.

Google usually celebrates notable events in the history of nations and individuals around the world. The google doodle is the avenue used for the celebration. Today, it was dedicated to celebrating the Nigerian independence.

Nigeria celebrates her 62nd independence anniversary today, the 1st of October 2022, after being granted independence by the Britain on same day in 1960.

Exactly 62 years ago, on October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained independence from the British Empire and was added to the growing list of independent nations which the United Kingdom had set aside to grant independence to become a sovereign state.

Nigerians celebrated this historic break from colonialism across the country. There were lots of celebrations and jubilation within the country, especially in Lagos.

The historic day was celebrated in grand style, from fireworks to dance troupes, masquerades, and even a state banquet where dignitaries mingled and danced. People rejoiced together regardless of ethnic and religious background, while Nigerians in the Diaspora joined in a unified celebration of the independence of Nigeria.

American multinational technology company, Google, in what appears like a snubbing of Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, has announced the establishment of its first Africa product development centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

The centre which is expected to help create transformative products and services for people in Africa and around the world is coming barely 4 weeks after Microsoft opened new African Development Centre at Ikoyi, Lagos.

This was made known by Google’s Vice President of the product, Ms Susan Frey, at a Virtual Media Round Table, where she said that Google would also be hiring for the development centre.

According to NAN, Frey said there would be hiring visionary engineers, product managers, UX designers and researchers to lay the foundation for significant growth in the coming years.

Frey also said that the centre was looking for talented, creative people who would help solve difficult and important technical challenges, such as improving the smartphone experience for people in Africa.

She said that talented people would also be building a more reliable internet infrastructure.

Frey recalled that in October 2021, at a `Google for Africa’ event, the Chief Executive Officer, Sundar Pichai, announced plans to invest $1billion over the next 5 years to support Africa’s digital transformation.

She pointed out that the investment is expected to focus on enabling fast, affordable internet access for more Africans, building helpful products, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses and helping non-profits to improve lives across Africa.

The Managing Director for Google in Africa, Nitin Gajria, revealed that there were 300 million internet users in Africa who were young, mobile-first and had similar patterns to mobile youth globally.

Gajria said that by 2030, Africa would have 800 million internet users and a third of the world’s under-35 population, adding that the potential for Africa to become a leading digital economy was right on the horizon and Google was committed to accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through human capital.

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Google Celebrates Nigeria’s Independence On Website

Google snubs Nigeria, establishes first Africa Development Centre in Kenya