At the recent concluded Google For Nigeria event in Lagos, Nigeria, there was a special announcement by Google that thrilled many of the event attendees. Google announced that it had made available a local accent in a Nigerian voice as one of the new features of Google Maps. Many Nigerians have long wanted a Nigerian accent on the world’s most popular navigation app and Google just took one step in reassuring us in its commitment in developing local products for users in Nigeria.
In the past week, I have been asked by friends, Bolt drivers, who notice my app provides navigation instructions in a Nigerian accent how they can have theirs like that. I have shown them how they can easily switch from the English US or English UK voice to a Nigerian voice. I have also made a quick video in which I have published to YouTube. So if you find someone who doesn’t know how to change their voice navigation settings, you can share this video with them.
Wherever you are, you can also try to explore this new feature during your next navigation and tell me how it goes
Congrats @HelloSamsonR to be part of this and congrats Google to add the Nigerian accent on Google Maps. I believe that everyone will enjoy listening to their own national accent. It will help to increase the sense of belonging of Nigerian Google Maps Users. Greetings from Brazil.
Thank you @JulienH . I was working as a Google Ambassador for a day for the newly launch Family link app whereby I get to introduce and talk to guests about the app, it’s uses and benefits, hence my smartness perhaps
@ChinonsoOnukwugha Same here, it has led to so many mixed reactions online for the past couple of years. We are very glad to have this awesome feature now.
Hey @HelloSamsonR , thanks for sharing with us about this update. This is very nice and you made really helpful video. I am sure that it will be very useful for the Local Guides. Keep posting and contributing!
This is a welcome development. It will solve a lot of problem especially with local taxi drivers who would struggle to understand western accents. It will be really great if they can extend it to indigenous Nigerian languages Yoruba, Ibo,Hausa etc .
