The foreign investors have run. But local guys are stepping forward in the investment ecosystem in Nigeria.

ogaVenue the Lagos-based online events venue booking platform, today announces that it has secured a $45k seed investment from Spark and Hotels.ng. The investment will be used to increase inventory, for further expansion to more states across Nigeria and to build out the product, engineering and business development team.

Launched in 2014, the online events venue search & booking platform enables customers to source the perfect venue for weddings, conferences or birthdays.

It’s common to get busy and put off car maintenance (we’ve all been there)—but preventing minor issues from becoming major car trouble is easier and less expensive than you think. In fact, proper car care can save you up to $1,200 a year in emergency repairs, says automotive expert Lauren Fix. See guide here: her tips for bypassing the most common warm weather car issues without breaking a sweat.

The Problem: Check Engine Light

The sight of a “service engine soon” light can mean many different things—some simple enough to fix yourself (like a cracked or loose gas cap, the second most common culprit) and others requiring a trip to the mechanic.

Prevent It: Read the service schedule and stick to it to keep things running in tip-top shape (find out which maintenance moves you can easily take care of yourself here).

The Problem: Flat Tire

Between a major uptick in construction and more people on the road, flats are more common during the summer. It’s a good know how to fix a flat yourself, but it’s even better to give tires regular TLC to reduce the chances of a blowout in the first place.

Prevent It: Set a reminder in your phone to check your tire pressure once a month. Look for a sticker on the inside panel of the driver side door for the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch). To add or release air, use an air compressor or a gas station air machine. While you’re down there, check the treads, too, to make sure they’re not worn out. (Here are 5 signs you need new tires.) Don’t forget to check the air pressure in your spare tire as well.

The Problem: Car Overheating

Keep your eyes on the temperature gauge and look out for an “engine overheating” message or lit radiator icon on your dashboard. You may also notice steam coming from the hood. If you smell gas, that’s a different problem—most likely a fuel leak.

Prevent It: Check your coolant levels at the beginning of every season. If the liquid doesn’t reach the FULL line on the reservoir, add a 50/50 mix of water and coolant until it does.

The Problem: Dead Car Battery

Although most people associate a dead car battery with winter, just like with the cooling system in your car, soaring temps can put extra stress on the battery and cause battery fluid to evaporate.

Prevent It: Head to any major chain auto store to have a professional check your battery, starter and alternator (it’s usually free). And while it’s OK to leave your devices charging for a few hours with your car off, leaving them plugged in overnight will most likely require a jump start the next morning.

Source: www.wlap.org/best-obd2-scanner/

Cisco announced layoffs. The California-based networking equipment company said it will let go of about 7% of its workforce,roughly 5,500 people, as it shifts its focus to software. It’s the second major tech layoff this year, after Intel in April announced plans (pdf) to lay off 12,000 people. The business of selling routers and switches makes no sense for Cisco in this age of Chinese rivals where margins have dropped heavily.

Amplify is running a program. It is a paid Fellowship program for talented African storytellers and creators. Amplify is a partnership between aKoma and MasterCard Foundation.

It is a six-month paid Fellowship program where twenty five Fellows from the continent are selected to receive training, projects and mentoring in content creation and media.

The theme:

Do you want to make a difference for your community and country, but don’t know how? Do you have a burning desire to contribute, but don’t know where to start? Do you need help mastering new storytelling skills and tools, but don’t know where to turn to? Do you have the creative energy, the ideas, the compelling stories, but don’t have access to the networks to get your voice heard?

aKoma is here to help. We will provide you with a platform to have your voice heard and your stories shared with the world. As an Amplify Fellow, you will be exposed to the craft plus techniques to help you succeed in the digital age, connecting you with a circle of mentors to provide the necessary guidance in constructing your personal stories about Africa to appeal to a wider audience.

They are looking for motivated applicants from Kigali (Rwanda), Nairobi (Kenya) and Lagos (Nigeria). Yes, young, aspiring content creators 21-34 years old that show significant upside and looking for careers in media and content development. We are looking for at least 8-10 hours a week commitment for Amplify.

Program starts in September. Apply here: apply for the program here.

Travelling is all about fun and fresh experiences. What isn’t fun is getting lost on a trip without a clue of the local language or how to get yourself understood. Imagine being stranded at a train station in Japan with over a hundred persons walking past you, and you can’t even get a direction from one person of the lot on how to return to your hotel, and this is after you’ve probably walked in circles like seven times! For most travellers, travelling out of one’s comfort zone means everything, even typical routines like: finding where to eat and drink, finding a place to sleep and places to visit could become rather awkward if you have travelled without a plan. In today’s world, there is no better way to explain why investing in a good travel guide and making sure your smartphone works, is a wise investment for any traveller—regular or first-timers.

Planning your trip: Tickets, Packing tips and all that prep stuff
Whether you’re travelling alone or going with family or friends, you will have to prepare. Travelling is like managing a project—actually, travelling is a project. So if you’re keen on a hassle-free, smooth trip, you will need to research your destination and even plan your finances by making careful choices. From dealing with airfares, hotels and rental cars to finding entertainment stops for you and your family.

While employing the services of top travel agencies like Wakanow.com and Travelstart.com is not a bad idea, you can also consider planning your trip on your own using the Internet. Using Google Search for example, you can research your options of flights, duration and the best ticket deals. For example, searching for “Lagos Amsterdam” on Google Search presents you with a complete list of airlines flying that route, how long they take and the number of stopovers per flight.

Once this is set, the next step will be to get a hotel that will suit mood and your pocket. Again, you can do this yourself without breaking a sweat. On Google you can find an exhaustive list of hotels close to your area of interest. For example, typing “hotels hotels in Amsterdam city centre” in Google presents you with a list of over 50 hotels, as well as their prices. And to help you decide on your ideal hotel, you can look through photos, and reviews from other travellers who have stayed at those hotels.

As for packing into that small suitcase—it’s all right, everyone gets flustered about packing their bags so that they can travel and feel comfortable. This however needs skill. Thanks to the internet, one can now go on YouTube for expert advice from butlers who have turned packing into an art form, teaching many how to roll and fold their clothes without wrinkles.

Now you’ve arrive at your destination… what next?
You probably are feeling jetlagged and peckish, so you need a nightcap? Exploring the places mentioned in your guide book or simply clicking on the Google App on your smartphone, and you’ll get a larger display of nearby hostelries, complete with ratings and helpful reviews.

What this means is that being a wise traveller today means having a travel guide along with a smartphone—as even Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide in the world has a YouTube channel. So whether you’re logging around your tourist guide map or simply punching letters for a description on Google Maps, which you have the option of using offline or online, you can explore Street View imagery of where you want to visit, look at local transport connections to all major attractions/airports and Compass Mode will make it feel like you’re standing right in that location, get a glimpse of the cultural nuances and etiquette primer of the place.

So even when you’re squeezed on a bus in a bustling city, and your fingers can’t punch in the words correctly, using the Google Voice search for enquiries that range from where to hire a car, top up on petrol or even find out know where you are.

On the trip to your fun location, there could be instances of short boredom, and you can tap into the enormous content on Google Play, to watch movies, play games, read books and even listen to music.

Emergency Checklist
A good travel plan is one that has a checklist of quick reference to things you may need in your travel location. From Medical to transportation, and a small index on smart phrases so you don’t go about in circles when lost or in need of something. There would however be instances where the needed phrase is not in your travel guide, all you need to do is open your smartphone and take advantage of Google translate, which has over 64 different languages to understand better.

Moments are Forever
Selfies, family poses and those special moments on the trip deserve a place, and this is one thing your travel guides can’t offer. If you’re taking a lot of photos you won’t want to lose them at all. Thankfully, apps like Google Photos brings all your videos and photos in one place, offering you an opportunity to repeatedly enjoy the great moments and those they’ve enjoyed them with. Backed up and safe.

In all, as you travel this holiday, remember if you plan your travel, you’ll most likely return home after exploring new destinations, feeling like a newly cased book with fresh ideas.