Yahaya, 26, creates social media app, Tabarau

A 26-year-old Nigerian web designer and developer, Abdullahi Yahaya, has created a Social Networking Platform, Tabarau. In this interview, Yahaya from Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, speaks about the features and gains of the app. How does Tabarau work? The app is named ‘Tabarau’, it works like other Social Networking Platforms (SNP), allowing […]

A 26-year-old Nigerian web designer and developer, Abdullahi Yahaya, has created a Social Networking Platform, Tabarau. In this interview, Yahaya from Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, speaks about the features and gains of the app.

How does Tabarau work?

The app is named ‘Tabarau’, it works like other Social Networking Platforms (SNP), allowing people to interact with each other, chat in private, post updates, create groups to discuss issues and topics, and so much more.

And why did you create the social media app?

I created the app mainly to ensure Nigerians have a channel to express their opinions with confidence, because we here in Nigeria rely completely on foreign social media platforms, and in fact so many countries have their own kinds of these platforms, so they use foreign ones without relying totally on them.

What inspired the name, ‘Tabarau’?

I chose the name, Tabarau for the app to symbolize the being of the App made in Nigeria, because almost all those BIG social media platforms are named in the language of their owners, and as the name was a Hausa word.

How can one get the app?

The App is Available on Google Play Store as ‘Tabarau’, and I’m working on the IOS one which when ready will be available on the app store, the platform can also be accessed on the web.

Where did you acquire the know-how for this innovation?

I have been an internet addict for years, and passionate about technology and new media, so I always research and try to find out something new, especially one that will help humanity, and I am somehow technically savvy.

What’s your educational qualification?

When it comes to educational background, I currently hold SSCE Certificate only, so secondary school is my last step so far, but I’m currently having a plan to go for BSc in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola.

What is the acceptability of the app so far?

Because we’ve used social media pages that have broad audiences to disseminate the information about the app, the app is of course broadly accepted here in Nigeria, neighbouring African countries and other parts of the world, and the app currently has 5000+ users.

Can you say you have 100% patent rights to the app?

I can’t claim its total development since I used paid services to integrate some features of the app, such as audio/video call which is still being worked on. There are also some technologies I used.

How similar is Tabarau with Facebook, WhatsApp or other social media?

Tabarau verily looks like Facebook in appearance and many features, but it has unique features that Facebook haven’t, including but not limited to audio upload in post and comments.

Does Tabarau support ‘End-to-End Encryption’?

Yes, messages on Tabarau are End-To-End Encrypted, we use technologies to ensure messages on Tabarau are very secure.

What are the challenges in running the app?

So many challenges are being faced of course, one and biggest of which was the inability afford expenses of maintaining the platform. We don’t have enough space to accommodate and host much things on the platform, the reason that made it compulsory for us to have recently disabled some features, like audio and video uploads on the platform.

How can one access Tabarau?

The app is available on Google Play Store as Tabarau, one can find and install it from there, open it and follow the simple steps to create an account.  I call on Nigerian youths to show patriotism and get the Tabarau app to sign up and use it to express their opinions and promote peace in our dear country, Nigeria. I hope that the Tabarau app will be globally accepted and patronized.