W.AFRI-TEL Expo to boost business opportunities in Nigeria’s fast growing ICT sector
15 November 2011
The growth of the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector is at an all-time high in Africa and around the world. Mobile communications markets in Nigeria, Cameroon and the Ivory Coast alone earned combined revenue of $8.6- billion in 2009, according to business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. This is estimated to reach $12.6-billion in 2016.
“There are a lot of growth opportunities in both the business and ICT sectors in Nigeria,” said Protea Hirschel, ICT industry analyst at Frost and Sullivan, in a recent statement. “Broadband growth alone stands at 23% over the next six or seven years.”
W.AFRI-TEL, the West African Telecom Exhibition, which takes place from 8 to 10 May 2012 at the Eko Hotel fair ground in Lagos, Nigeria, will facilitate business opportunities in this booming sector, enabling exhibitors to gain access to the massive Nigerian telecom market that contains over 80 million mobile subscribers. Now in its 11th year, W.AFRI-TEL is the only event of its kind in the region and the flagship event for the ICT sector.
Collins Onuegbu, CEO of IT solutions company Signal Alliance, is also optimistic about the sector’s future. “Nigeria’s economy is growing by 7% annually while other countries are struggling, and one of the growth drivers is technology. There are numerous opportunities in software, telecoms and all forms of infrastructure, and I believe the Nigerian economy must look to the ICT sector for it to develop and grow in the near future.”
Government backs growth
The Nigerian Government is also committed to the growth of the sector. Minister of Communications and Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, recently confirmed the newly established ministry will deliver on its mandate to provide robust and efficient ICT infrastructure in Nigeria. “This includes optimising communications infrastructure in the area of digital content, domestic software applications, the delivery of private and public services, e-business and e-government, and promoting the use of ICT technology in all spheres of life,” she confirmed.
“The purpose of this development is to deploy information and communication technology to drive transparency in government, improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of public service delivery and increase the contribution of the ICT industry to the GDP," continued Johnson.
John Thomson, Managing Director of Exhibition Management Services (EMS), organisers of the expo, says the potential for growing Nigeria’s ICT sector – the largest telecom market in Africa – is undisputed and largely untapped.
Staging the continents leading events since 1984, South African-based EMS is one of the longest established event organisers in the country and is still the only company on the continent experienced in delivering Pan African exhibition programmes.
“Nigeria’s mobile market possesses tremendous growth potential, considering that the penetration rate was just 57% at the end of 2010,” said Thomson. “With rapidly improving mobile infrastructure and intense competition among mobile operators, expectations are that the expected number of mobile subscribers will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 15% during 2011 to 2014, with a penetration rate exceeding 88% by the end of 2014.”
Nigeria accounts for 16% of the continent’s mobile subscriptions.
About W.AFRI-TEL
“As the only show of its kind in the region, W.AFRI-TEL has revolutionised Nigeria´s telecoms sector,” says Thomson. “The expo offers a complete business-to-business matrix attracting exhibitors and trade visitors from Africa and abroad. It’s an exciting opportunity for the entire African telecom industry to come together and showcase their products to the world.”
W.Afri-Tel Expo will serve up numerous networking opportunities for participants and act as a meeting ground for the entire industry. Showcasing the latest ICT technology and business solutions on offer makes this expo a must for traders looking for future breakthrough technology.
The 2012 W.AFRI-TEL will run alongside a newly-introduced trade expo - the West African International Trade Exhibition for Retail Products (WAITEX). Modelled on the highly successful Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) held in Johannesburg annually for the last 18 years, the show provides a platform for exhibitors from around the world to access the West African market.
W.AFRI-TEL is endorsed by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
For more information on W.AFRI-TEL, contact John Thomson of Exhibition Management Services. Tel: +27 11 783-7250, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or www.exhibitionsafrica.com
