From Yakosu Umana

Photo credit: Yakosu Umana

A UPEI student has created an app that he believes will serve as a “personal assistant” to islanders and tourists.

Francis Mbonu released his MyPEI app last Tuesday in the Apple App Store and Google’s Play Store.

The app is intended to serve as a local travel guide as it has features like getting a taxi, reading the news, finding restaurants, local shops, and more.

“MyPEI is a general utility app. It doesn’t have an important function, it’s just a combination of different things, ”said Mbonu.

The computer science major in the second year comes from Nigeria.

At home he went to a software development camp during his year abroad.

That’s when he started learning how to develop software, Mbonu said.

“During the camp, I got ideas about what to create and various projects to work on.”

He and his twin sister moved to PEI last year.

Both lived with a host family, where he learned that tourism is important to PEI.

Talks about PEI tourism gave him ideas on what to develop, he said.

“You (host family) used to talk about tourism in PEI. During these conversations, thoughts came to my mind. “

“If this is important to this place, what can I do to help tourists, help others, help everyone,” he thought.

Mbonu started learning how to use Google’s software development Flutter last June. He used the kit to develop his app.

He said he faced challenges creating the app and was glad that he finally made it.

“I feel a little achieved. This is my first app in the Play Store and App Store. “

However, it is only the beginning of his software development, he said.

“I have greater things to achieve. If I can do that, I can do more. “

Mbonu looks forward to seeing islanders and tourists through its app.

“Hopefully everyone can download the app. When everyone uses the app, I feel like my work wasn’t in vain, ”he said.

MyPEI can be downloaded for free from the App Store and the Google Play Store.


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