A Sneak Peek At Nigeria’s Stunning Smart Home Industry

Is Africa really backward? Or is the continent a victim of a one-sided media representation? What if we told you there are smart homes in Nigeria, what will be your reaction? These questions will plague the mind of anyone privileged to visit certain neighborhoods in Africa. The neighborhoods we are talking about are comparable to Beverly Hills and Bell Air residential neighborhoods in the US.

Victoria Island and Banana Island in Lagos, Nigeria, attest to the wealth and splendor of the continent. It is common to see first-timers gasp in wonder watching the display of wealth as each edifice tries to outdo the other. But, the feeling of euphoria from seeing these magnificent edifices from the outside, dulls in comparison to what is inside.

In recent years, the proliferation of smart home technologies has shifted our perspective on what a home should look like. There are different levels of smart homes. While some smart homes can only boast of security features, there are smart homes in Nigeria that are taking it to the next level. Today, we’ll give you a peek into smart homes in Nigeria and list some companies that can assist you to set them up. Below are some of the features of smart homes in Nigeria.

#1. Voice-activated Smart Home Assistant

Perhaps, this is one of the most intriguing features of smart home technologies. The voice-activated home assistant helps you to control other smart home gadgets with your voice. Many people may be familiar with this feature on their android and apple devices.

You can now give commands to your home in the same way you give commands to your phone using either Siri or Google Assistant. Top on the list of smart home assistants in Nigeria are Google and Alexa. However, these assistants require a smart hub which is a device that connects all your other smart home gadgets together.

#2. Smart Hubs

Smart hubs are what enable voice-activated automation in a smart home. Needless to say, the Nigerian smart home industry spots some of the smartest smart hubs in the market. These are the Amazon Echo and the Google Nest Hub. Each of these smart hubs has its own uniqueness. While the Amazon Smart hub offers a wider variety of automated 3rd party controls, Google smart hubs have the backing of Google’s large data pool.

Many Nigerian smart homeowners opt for Google smart hubs since it works seamlessly with most android smartphones. This makes it very easy to control your smart home using Google Assistant on your android phone. As the brain of all smart homes, the smart hubs connect to and controls other smart features available in any smart home.

#3. Automated Door Locks With Facial Recognition

Another impressive smart feature found in smart homes in Nigeria is automated door locks. But we are not just talking about doors equipped with motion sensors. These smart doors have facial recognition, voice recognition, and fingerprint recognition technology. The voice recognition is synchronized with the personal assistant used whether it is Alexa or Google Assistant.

This enables the visitor to communicate with the homeowner easily. The camera used for facial recognition also doubles as a security measure. It sends a picture of the visitor directly to the homeowner’s phone. If it is a regular visitor, the system can easily recognize the face and even call out the name of the visitor during the next visit.

#4. Motion-Activated Camera

Motion-activated cameras aren’t that new and are being in use in many homes. However, with the advent of artificial intelligence, motion-sensing cameras are now capable of tracking movements. The camera is activated when there is a movement within the Geo-fencing zone. With the ability to rotate freely about its pivot, the camera is able to follow trace the source of motion. This information is also sent across to the homeowner in real-time.

#5. Smart Lighting

Motion sensing lights installed outside the house serves as an extra layer of security. They automatically turn on whenever any movement is detected within the premises. This feature conserves energy since the lights don’t have to be on all night as is the case with many other security light fittings.

#6. Automated Media Control And Home Ambiance

Control your television easily from the comfort of your couch by simply speaking to the Voice assistant. The range of commands differs and depends on the time of assistant and smart hubs in use. You can set your tv to be turned on immediately you step into the house and even preset a particular channel or music to be played if you want to.

An additional feature that many Nigerian smart homeowners use alongside media control is ambient light control. This smart feature can be used to set the perfect scene for any occasion like a date (romantic atmosphere) or movie night (cinematic atmosphere)

#7. Automated Home Gadgets

Nothing says smart home like fully autonomous gadgets capable of carrying out specific commands without any assistance. Common smart gadgets found in Nigerian smart homes are vacuum cleaners, water heaters, and air conditioning units.

Smart vacuum cleaners can be programmed by the homeowner from anywhere at just a click of a button. You can also specify areas you need to be cleaned and the device will intelligently avoid tripping wires and any other obstacle on its path.

Top Smart Home Companies In Nigeria

Smart home technology is gradually growing in popularity especially among the elites in Nigeria who can afford it. Because of the increase in demand, several companies offering smart home services have sprung up across the nation. As usual, the battle for dominance in this exclusive niche market means that companies will go the extra mile to satisfy their clients. Here are four smart home companies in Nigeria that we believe are worth considering.

#1. Savant Nigeria

Located in Ibadan, Nigeria, Savant Nigeria claims to be the first Nigerian automation company to offer mobile control. The company provides automation solutions for home security, lighting, and entertainment. In our opinion, one of the major limitations of the company is the Savant Host which is its own smart hub. Despite claiming it is top of the line, one thing is certain, it can’t compare to the likes of Google Nest and Alexa.

#2. Hausba

The first impression you will get when you visit the company’s website is how intuitive and user-friendly it is. And what’s that saying about first impressions? After taking a closer look, we weren’t disappointed with the company’s services. Unlike Savant, Hausba goes a step further with enhanced door locks, automated gates and security lights, IP cameras, and alarm systems. Also included in their services are in-door automation for curtain, temperature, and entertainment devices.

#3. Awtomeiddia

On their website, Awtomeiddia lists 9 different smart services which it provides. Among these is a nifty feature called a home area network that gives a user full control of the media. From our point of view, Awtomeiddia’s niche area is in giving its clients an unforgettable cinematic experience. Furthermore, the website also listed home automation services but they didn’t go into details.

#4. V2D Convergence

V2D is another smart home company in Nigeria with over 50 plus smart home installations. Their smart home services include voice solutions, burglar and fire alarms, surveillance cameras, HVAC (AC only), and other in-house automation. Their simple yet effective mobile user interface gives the user full control of the house as well as real-time feedback.

Conclusion

Many smart homes in Nigeria now spot similar smart technologies as houses seen in more developed parts of the world. However, the use of smart technology in Nigeria is something reserved for the rich and wealthy. This is mostly because of the high cost of procuring and maintaining such facilities and services. However, as technology improves, new budget-friendly smart home technologies will likely become available. This will drive down cost and enable many Nigerian homeowners to adopt the use of smart technology in their homes.