How a Random Twitter User Triggered ‘Angry’ Nigerian Developers into Staking $6k

It is always exciting to be on Nigerian Twitter because of the activities/banters that take place there notwithstanding whether it is good or bad. This banter to rebuild Hotels.ng is a typical story of the internet never forgets. The #HNGChallenge started after a 2017 tweet was revived. A Twitter user with the handle @_Olamilekan_ had boasted that he could rebuild Hotels.ng stack or website within a week.

P.S : The amount of Python and Javascript Developers in OAU alone is enough to rewrite the whole @hotelsng stack within a week.

— Olamilekan (@__olamilekan__) September 3, 2017

He was replying Mark Essien’s tweet that said Almost all web applications are best written in PHP. For a Nigerian startup with local coders, not using PHP is irresponsible. NB: PHP ( Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server scripting language and a powerful tool for making dynamic and interactive Web pages. 

Almost all web applications are best written in PHP. For a Nigerian startups with local coders, not using PHP is irresponsible.

— m_e (@markessien) September 3, 2017

So, how did a 2017 tweet become a trend in 2019 with #HNGChallenge? Like earlier said, the internet never forgets! A certain Valentine with the handle @chiefoleka played a key role in the revival. Perhaps, he just came across Dubbonet’s tweet. Valentine whose profile reads software developer was willing to stake some dollars to encourage Dubbonet to perform his ‘magic’. He was obviously pissed that someone could have the effrontery to say that he could rebuild the whole Hotels.ng stack in one week. Ahhhhh…What an insult!

I challenged the person who believes it can be done in one week to come forward, not because he insulted my friends and practically all the developers and employees that has come and gone through HNG over the years. That was 2 years ago. It was gone and forgotten.

— Valentine Oleka (@chiefoleka) March 19, 2019

Challenge is off. Thanks to everyone who dropped money on the table. I hope we continue to play our part in building a strong tech ecosystem and we continue to represent well everywhere we go. I pray we all continue to support each other and keep growing.#HNGChallenge

— Valentine Oleka (@chiefoleka) March 19, 2019

@__olamilekan__ I see you've been silent on the issue. Do you want me to increase it? I don't mind. If you need any further support, please let me know.

You have till 5pm to accept, so you won't have a shorter time that necessary.

— Valentine Oleka (@chiefoleka) March 19, 2019

To up the ante, a Google doc was created for other Twitter users to contribute to the challenge and that was how #HNGChallenge hit $6k and the hashtag trended for several hours.

Use this link to add new bounties, that haven't been curated yet. #HNGChallengehttps://t.co/PKgAL4zCTK

— Michael I. (@mykeels) March 19, 2019

https://twitter.com/Am_dapz/status/1107988080697462784 Unfortunately, Dubbonet did not accept the challenge. However, this did not stop him from bragging that it could be done in one week!

I was the one who said I can build it with a team of students from OAU. I STILL stand by that. https://t.co/Ndj22gUBJ4

— Olamilekan (@__olamilekan__) March 18, 2019

Funny enough, the CEO of Hotels.ng, Mark Essien did not say anything about #HNGChallenge. It is like the adage-cutting someone’s hair without the person present. If Dubonnet had accepted the challenge, would Essien have allowed him to rebuild Hotels.ng? How long does it take to rebuild a website? From research, it is near impossible for you to rebuild a quality and responsive website in one week. A typical website will take 14 weeks at a minimum from start to launch. This includes 3 weeks discovery, 6 weeks design, 3 weeks initial development, and 2 weeks of modifications. It could take much longer if you wait until the end to start writing content.