YouTube launches localised Nigerian site

Online video-sharing titan YouTube has launched a dedicated localised site for Nigeria. The announcement comes just days after a similar launch in Uganda.

According to YouTube, the new site will “promote content that is most relevant to Nigerians”.

“Content uploaded by Nigerian users will show up as “browse pages” on the YouTube Nigeria site, creating a new virtual space for the national community and giving Nigerians the opportunity to increase their exposure online,” it claims.

One Nigerian channel already making waves on the international scene is frequently used by YouTube as an example of what how people can use the video-sharing platform as a source of online revenue. Nollywoodlove boasts over 400 Nollywood movies that can be downloaded and viewed for free from anywhere in the world.

“The power of the internet presents great opportunities. YouTube gives people the power to broadcast themselves,” said Obi Asika from Storm360, a leading entertainment company in West Africa. “Our channel has helped connect us with local and international fans and artists all over the world, and is helping us to achieve our full potential.”

Other popular YouTube channels in the country include Chocolate City, Channels TV and Mayorbosspromo.

At the launch, YouTube’s Senior Director for Content Partnerships in the Europe Middle East and Africa region, Patrick Walker, reiterated the claim that the video-sharing platform is a “mode of communication that allows everyone’s voice to be heard”.

“Nigerians are passionate about music, entertainment and many other genres that YouTube offers. By launching YouTube locally, we help people to find the most popular videos in Nigeria, along with those that are rising in popularity”.

YouTube also claims to be profoundly aware of the challenges inherent in assessing its content in emerging markets.

To this end, Nigerian YouTube users will also be able to view content in a bandwidth-light “Feather mode”. This “light” version only includes the site’s most basic features, to help ensure that those with low-speed internet connections are able to play videos play faster.