Much like the stories of most local guides, I assume, I didn’t know what it was all about at first. But I know that I started adding places to Google Maps as far back as 2015, because I remember trying to describe this clothing store for a friend on where to get these shorts he was looking for. But he was still finding it difficult locating the store, so I had to make out time and take him there. Upon getting there, it was then I thought of adding the store to Google Maps. It might have been my very first contribution. I can’t say that I have an idea on whether that helped the store owner’s business gain more traction at the time, but I remember thinking that if I was going to recommend someone to go there again, I would like that it’ll be easier and more straight forward.
It wasn’t a regular thing for me, but I kept adding places every once in a while and naming some unnamed roads and I started receiving these mail updates basically letting me know that my contributions were making a difference! What really drew my attention to the fact that I was indeed making some sort of contribution to something bigger was when I corrected this routes’ flow of traffic that links Life-Camp roundabout to Gwarimpa/Kado Bridge in Abuja - it’s a short stretch of road, just a little over a kilometer long - the next time I was passing through there, I had noticed that my correction had been acknowledged and effected on Google Maps! I remember being so excited that I had something to do with that! It may not mean much to other people but you see, things like that matter more than a little to me.
I have lived in the city of Abuja for quite a number of years and I can’t claim to know everywhere but with the Google Maps, I have nothing to worry about. And considering how heavily dependent on the Map I am, not only for locating places I have never been to, it helps me find a faster and better route to where I am going; I know how many times I have turned up at barely popular places that I’ve been invited to using Google Maps (for example, the Acropolis Park) and people wonder a little how I got there without calling for further directions. So I like to think that some intelligent person, somewhere and sometime, had the foresight to put these places on the Map. And in following their example, I too, become like those intelligent persons with the foresight to help others who are also Google-Map-dependent like myself, locate their destinations easily. Sort of like giving back…returning the favor.
The Local Guide program also helps me in contributing to my country’s Tourism sector. You see, my country is still a developing one, and our tourist sector a developing one as well. So, I see it as my little way of contributing to the tourist sector. Since I only ever travel within the city; most times when I go out, I just start up my Google Maps, put in my destination and go, not because I don’t know where I am going but because I am hoping to see what I can add that is not there - a business, an unnamed road, an institution…you name it. And other times (and I do get a kick from this one), to find a faster way to get to my destination. Sort of like a competition between me and my Google Maps. It has even become more of a habit that every once in a while, I take note of a street name and quickly check to see if it’s on the map. Who knows, I may just be helping a foreigner with a valid driving license and a car have a better experience than they expected in my city!