Currently putting together a Business case for an exciting IT development Project which is initially an educational sector focused, and as part of the documentation need to estimate the staff cost over a period of time, hence your assistance with regards to the following areas will be immensely appreciated.

1. Average* monthly (Permanent / Contractor) rates for the roles identified in the team profile section of this post.

2. Concentration point for the skills, e.g. will I get Java developers more in Lagos compare to Abuja. Also, how much does the rate differ by location.

3. The tax rates (& other national contribution) that needs to be factored in as part of the staff cost both from the employer and employee perspective.

TEAM PROFILE - IT
Interns: Non-students/Students that want to be part of a team in order to gain practical and relevant experience.

System Analyst (Junior / Senior): interpreting requirements and documenting the functional & technical specification.

Development (/Technical) officer: at least 2 years proven experience and exposure to more than one of the following technological skills; C++, Python, JAVA, SOAP, UNIX/LINUX, PHP, MySQL, XHTML, CSS.

Development Manager: at least 5 years experience and exposure to various technological skills with the added impeccable ability to manage people.

Network (/Infrastructure) Engineer: responsible and accountable for maintaining and troubleshooting the servers uptime are within the Service Level Agreement (SLA) tolerance level.

User Interface Designer: responsible for engineering the innovative graphical user interface. Experience of Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator is a must.

*Understand that what people expected to be paid is different from what the average market rate is, but feel free to state how much you THINK people with skills above should be paid considering the current market climate.

@poster

Nice layout thumbs up, keep it up. I definitely agree with the last to posters, I have an issue with the font as well, especially the latest update part of the site.

I am assuming this is just a prototype site/layout!

I see you are using a mix of gif and jpeg - for photographic images

Mixing your CSS and X(HTML) on the same page not really a good idea

But credit to you for the good design. waiting for the finish product

@poster

A friend recommended this to me,

http://ws.textanywhere.net/web/Home/

why not refine your seach by including the industry/sector the website belong to. Also make use Yahoo, Microsft Livesearch and Ask. thought sometimes they return similar result, but just have more choices, we have all relied too much on Google, thinking if google does not supply the result, then it does not exist,

@poster

Dont mean to be cheeky, but have u heard of the greatest invention since slice bread called the "INTERNET" and the creme de la creme called GOOGLE

I certainly agree with most of the folks that .NET platform is probably the best platform to go for.

With the newly released Windows Server 2008 added security, virtualisation, etc feature integrated within it, the .NET platform would even make web application even better than before.

But according to reviews, JAVA is also suppose to be extremely powerful as well

I currently use ASP as a backend script using the CDOSYS

do you have an SMTP email account on the server where your website/contact is/would be hosted

try the new real player application. It provides you with the ability to download currently playing videos or audio onto your PC hard disk library.

http://uk.real.com/player/

@poster

You first need to decide what programming/scripting language you want to program in. is it ASP.NEt, PHP, C++, VBScript, Actionscript, JAVA, etc. After that, stick to it, and as the prvious poster said READ READ and PRACTISE x10.

You would be glad to read that the internet is the best invention after bread and butter, hence access to learning tutorials both in video and text form is available at your disposal.

Not forcing ASP.NEt on you, but Microsoft has been generous enough to provide Visual studio for free and the ASP.Net website also has many video tutorials on how to build website from beginners to advance users.

I am not forgetting that access to the internet is a big issue in Nigeria, but strive hard and not loose hope.

start with this links

http://asp.net/

http://www.unix.org.ua/orelly/perl/learn/index.htm

i do agree with skima, I hack once in a while but not network, but libraries (AJAX, Flex, etc) and modify it for my own use.

@poster: what are u really trying to become an hacker in?

A friend once told me that if u ask how to become and hacker, then you probably do not have the potential to become one, please don't ask me if it makes sense or not

Start with this link
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html

@ poster

was this just to waste my time and others that really wanted to help?

@poster

what is the server technology u are using, is it ASP or PHP. if its ASP i should be able to help

Flash definitely, and with the easy integration of flash, adobe, fireworks and flex, what more can one ask for. Microsoft should stick to the desktop arena(which they still fail to do well), still waiting for the SP1 for Vista.

@ ahuramazda

ahuramazda:

Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo Typeface (Fonts) is the little I can contribute.

Windows version (All Platform) and Apple Macintosh version is available since 1990.

Use for Igbo Oxford Dictionary in 1990 by a topmost Publishing House in the country on Apple Macintosh (Check this out in any Bookstore) Likewise all their Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa publications. Also, many of the leading Publishing House, Christain organization and Business Center enjoy this little contribution.

Direct typing that give you "o" "e" "s" with their dot underneath in True Type. Likewise Naira sign and many other Nigeria special characters available from your keyboard in any of this three language.

The fonts and their User Guide is available. Contact ahura027mazda@yahoo.com to place your request.

Have you ever implemented your typeface into any website before. I am currently looking for a feature that allows users of a website I would be implementing in 2008 to select a Nigerian laguage to display the whole website content in.
How much do u sell the typeface or is it free(me being cheeky)

@ poster

The reason why I go clubbing here in Liverpool, is because of the music. I listen to hip hop, but my friends dont, but we all still go to the same club, becuase they have three floors catering for all taste in music, I don't know if music taste is a big issue in Nigeria, but here it is.

Girls that are ready to chat to guys are also good, even nights when I am not on the pull, the ability to have sensible and sometimes meaningness conversation with girls/even boys are great.

Reasonable priced drinks is also a good idea.

The latest thing with the clubs in my city at the moment is they have a boys nightout and a girls night out, the same day, but different floors with all catered for (sex not includede)

What about a live band or try and tempt some celebrity to your club

astronp7:

I think its time that accademic institutions should explore how to strenghten indigineous development in this field. It will go a long way to reduce cost.

I definitely agree with Astronp7 on that. Here in the UK a lot of University do such a thing, a very good example is Liverpool John Moores University provides web servers for developers(and even host company) and charge a reasonable fee for it, while at the same time it provides them the infrastructure to teach thier students with the lastest hardware and software.

I suppose the big oil companies(that rip our country off) should also try and invest in the IT infrastructure, and they would also gain from it.

Investors from abroad or even within the country would also help, since the government does not seem to understand the importance of INTERNET

I found a product in the form of Oracle SQL Developer. Dont know what it does but I am about to give it a shot

Many thanks my2cents, I shall keep you posted.

Hello,

Just wondering if any body knows an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that I could use to analyse the SQL code which I have written.

I am having syntax error, but I have spent hours on it going through each line of the code but to no avail.

I am sure there must a software/IDE used by advance SQL statement developers.

Many thanks in advance

Note: the SQL statement consist of the IN, SELECT, UNION, INNFER JOIN keywords and it is used to query an Acess Database

@poster

You would need to open an account, a merchant account to specfic. A friend in the past had worked with the paypal, but I have never. To my undertstanding he made mention that it was quite easy, but how easy to implement I really do not know.

according to paypal website, they do have ready made cart for customers or you can build yours

Important thing to note, since your client is based in the UK, I urge you to use paypal.co.uk, i think they(paypal) recommend it as well

Another thing is I don't think it comes cheap using their service, but thats up to you and the client to decide

I think the following links should be useful for you:

https://www.paypal.com/uk

https://www.paypal.com/IntegrationCenter/ic_uk-pro.html

https://www.paypal.com/IntegrationCenter/ic_pdnHome.html

I can only say great website, it was simple, dark, informatice and sleek. be it a woman or man that had designed it, it is a nice piece of work. I think it did have a womans touch to it as well(or may be its just me)

@tundewoods

Actually at my end here I have a lot of friends that are girls that are into interactive and graphic design, but none at the time of typing this has created a mini full blown site like the one in question.

I think is also good to have female onboard on women related project, as they would have a better understanding.

Thanks for sharing the site, nice concept

Hello,

I have just edited a web application for a client, it is based on Access Database and would be using the HTTPS for secure transmission for the client/server transmission of data.

I have carried out the xhtml validation, css validation and followed the w3 consortium regarding image, alt tags, etc

I dont know of any tester, but I was just curious if any one knows step I should take to check the security of the application and more.

Many thanks in advance

@alexis

Your forthcoming project sounds interesting, can wait to see if your company can pull it off.

I know you have not started your analysis, but would you be using Apache and Windows Server or are you going to focus on one platform(which I dont think is financially feasible)

Keep all of us posted.

@ruemu
I think you would need to first decide what core area you want to focus on, web, desktop or mobile application. After that you can start the debate as to what program to use.
But in the world of IT, things change rapidly, and now that everything seem to be emerging(web coming to desktop as in Adobe AIR, Flex, etc), its crazy but interesting.
Choose your area and language and I am sure people would be willing to provide you with great help


@Stanoz.com

I would recommend Visual C# (just been selfish) I am gradually moving into it from classic ASP, with the great features and capabilites and ease of creating application with Visual Studio, it is amazing.
But I think it depends what kind of web app you are looking, they are loads of technology out there today. Talk about, flex, Adobe AIR, PHP, Visal C#, Flash, to mention a few.

@etin

my excuse always is that english is not my first language. So i guess i should revise my state to
"if you cant take crticism dont ask for review" excluding the insult. thanks for that.

@poster

just passing my time, but i am glad u are responding. lol

I said put 'ALL' you css in an external file. I am intelligent enough to see that you have an external file, but a mixture of HTML and css still mixes on a page(and i wont be surprise if there are more)

the page i am referring to is: http://www.justnigeriaentertainment.com/j_cat.php?cat_id=2

[b]<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
<title>Just Nigeria Entertainment | Musicians</title>
<link href="models.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" />
<style type="text/css">
<!--
.style10 {
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #000000;
}
-->
</style>
</head>

<body>
<table width="900" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><link href="models.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" />
<style type="text/css">
<!--
.style2 {color: #FF9933}
-->
</style>
<table width="900" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<tr>[/b]

hope you can check the codes and lets see who is in reality

Afam:


I agree with you on this one. I have perfected the art of accepting criticisms just as I have perfected the art of responding to insults and believe me I know the difference between the 2.

wont we all like to say have perfected the art of accepting criticism and responding.lol

@poster.

Honestly, let me start by apologising if you think i insulted you, I do seriously apologise.

But lets face it, if you cant take insult and crticism then I suggest you dont ask for website review, i do apologise seriously for my previous post and for this one.


If you are intelligent enough you would notice that I did not design the blog, idiot it was done on google platform, hence my dog would not be able to desgin that.

Secondly the latest web i deployed is well out of your league to design, but one thing i know is that my dog would do a better job that you would in a life time.

the front page of your site was to boring for my to navigate to the next page, but eh i took the time out to view it and realise it was php(does that now mean i know programming, lol, dumb)

Maybe you need to seperate style from content by putting all your CSS in an external file.

Maybe you should add more content and complete the site before you start asking for review and please learn to accept criticism

@poster

i am must say congrats for the brief decision to undertake such a project. But common let us face it, the website is not up to standard, dont mean to insult who designed it, but my dog (if i had one) would do better.

Someone did talk about mtv.com, i think there site is a bit to heavy to be entertainment site.

A good site i would recommend you look at are

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/default.stm
very accessible and fast loading with minimal/close to none flash component

http://www.eonline.com/
well designed with links on the front page to the relevant section

I am not sure what your devine goal is for the site, maybe you might want to share it with us

out of curiosity are you using a Content Management System and what programming platform are you using

as long it is something that has not been developed before, or something that gives the nigeria a better form of identity

Hello you all(especially the administrator),

I just wanted to know what Nairaland is planning for the future, web 2.0/3.0 or whatever the new coin for the web is.

Would there ability to create a mobile phone version(WAP)(as the telecommunication companies here in the uk are pushing internet on mobile phone) of nairaland

A lot of website now have some form of application on the fastest growing social site, facebook. Would there be a a kind of nairaland application on facebook or are they currently working on any now?

Is there an API or some sort of access to the Nairaland backened database for developers to interact with, so as to come up with better and innovative plugins/add ons

I am just thinking nairaland should lead the way and I think it would drive more traffic to the site, hence more revenue

funny enough I love to cook, and cook everyday. My girlfriend loves my cooking and I sometimes think she is only hooking up with me because I can cook (just joking)

Learnt to cook from my mum and sisters and I like to think I am better in the kitchen than most girls i have met. Might be opening a resturant soon, hope you lot would come down,

@ poster

I propose the best source of information on how to appeal is to british the consulate, I dont know if they are still arrogant as they are 5 years ago when I went for my interview, but I am hoping they should be able to provide you with better information

LOl, split up. I find it very integring that you lot would even consider us to split up. As one unit we can stand, so how can each region/privince/state stand on their own if we split. I still think one nation we have more chance of becoming a global power. What is needed is a leader that is educated and looks beyond this balck gold called oil, as our primary source of national income.

I can still oil being a crucial energy source this time in 100 years, hence my dear friend splitting is not going to come anytime soon. Moreover I dont see the oil companies(shell, chevron, Texaco) to mention a few moving on to another source of income.

If you guys ever make mention of this subject again, I would arrest you guys, well just joking. Well its good that at least as one nation we do respect each other freedom of speech.