By Emeka Aginam

Google West Africa, recently celebrated its 10 years of operation in Nigeria, bringing together popular video bloggers, sometimes shortened to vloggers who use their YouTube videos to share  memorable moments with youths.

Tagged “YouTube & the Stars Event,” held in Lagos   recently, the event saw the presence of Ariyike Akinbobola, with Youtube channel ariyikeweekly;  Kunle Idowu popularly known as Frank Donga; Olisah Adibua, with YouTube channel

Olisa.TV running a show, TheTruth ; Toke Makinwa  with YouTube channel TokeMoments; TechCity NG, a group of youths with interest on new gadgets; Naijas Craziest , a group with interest on comedy skits,among others.

At the event it was revealed, the role YouTube is playing in the export of Nigerian content. Latest figure shows that in 2014, YouTube views in Nigeria increased by 78%, while views of Nigerian content increased by 95% .

Speaking at the event, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications & Public Affairs Manager for Google in West Africa , told the gathering that the programme was put up to showcase individuals who are behind the videos watched andshared on YouTube.

Ogunlade advised Nigerians to seize the free opportunity given by google for individuals to share their experience through videocontents on YouTube. He however, stated that “on YouTube, you don’t do it alone, you share advice with people who can help contribute meaningfully to your cause. “

Sharing her experience on YouTube, Akinbobola, a lawyer and mother of two said with Youtube you can gather a lot of experience and be yourself, stating that on YouTube, I talk about relationship dynamics, She said: “I have in the past did videos on YouTube on how to spy on your nannies, I have also done videos on parenting. But you know what, the views I get on my channel aren’t up to 5, 000. But when I don’t box myself, and do freestyle videos, amazingly, I get over 100,000 views.”

Speaking on some of her videos on sex and relationship, which had come with barrage of criticisms, she said: “Well, my channel is not for babies, but for adults. Most times when I talk about sex, people tend to look at me as if  it’s a no-go-area, But as a married woman, this is something I do, even, people who are not married do this. So, why do we shy away discussing it?”

Asked how she reacts to hate comments about her videos, particularly those on sex, Akinbobola said: “I pay attention to comments on my channel, including the hate comments. But what I do is reply with love because I think for somebody to visit my channel, they have a problem especially, relating to sex and marriage.”
Also speaking, Adibua said he got his inspiration while he was growing up in the United Kingdom, adding that when he got back to-Nigeria, he was employed at age 17 to work with the NTA 5 on contract.