23 Sept 2016

NigeriaCom: Knowing what works as a Nigerian tech entrepreneur


By Olufemi Omotayo - Founder and Managing Editor, EntrepreNews

Nigerian technology entrepreneurs can create and grow viable businesses if they have more access to, and utilise, local resources.

The Oriental Hotel in Lagos recently played host to the 7th annual Nigeria Com, bringing together stakeholders in the telecoms and ICT sector to create discussion on deal flow around the nation’s digital future.

For two days, experts shared market insights on creating a better environment for tech SMEs and startups to develop; case studies of public private collaborations in m-Health; focused sessions on digital entertainment and matching content with the data gap.

For starters, did you know that the instant messaging market is currently witnessing another disruption besides WhatsApp?

CEO of Jongla, Riku Salminen, wowed the audience with statistics of how are capturing market share in Africa, using Nigeria as a key entry point.

Perhaps even more stunning is his announcement that Jongla has localised its offering to the Nigerian people, making it possible to communicate in the three major languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.


NigeriaCom plenary panel: Enhancing content integration to bridge the digital revenue gap – the rise of data driven services through smart devices

The key statistics from their survey so far reveal that news and information are top needs of Nigerians, followed by social networking.

Emeka Akano, the CEO of Jara Mobile corroborated this.

When asked about the kind of contents Nigerians love; he listed music videos, comedy, football, tech reviews, fashion, and gaming. But entrepreneurs must also find how to make these user-generated as it would accelerate their growth.

For Michael Ugwu, the GM West Africa of Sony Music, the question was whether Nigerians buy music? Surprisingly, he confirmed that their experience has been great since they launch last year and the Nigerian market is the fastest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

And, what is the secret of Goal.com? Daniel Price, Mobile Distribution Director, Perform Group says the secret is to keep innovating and changing things where necessary. He also advises that adding local flavour and voice is important.

Finally, he tells Nigerian entrepreneurs: “Don’t be afraid to fail.”


This report was originally published on EntrepreNews.

About the author:

Olufemi Omotayo is a social entrepreneur and multiple award-winning journalist/blogger with expertise in technology and entrepreneurship writing. He is the founder and managing editor of EntrepreNEWS, Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneurship medium. He is a seasoned speaker, mentor, facilitator and coordinator for many youth initiatives in Nigeria.

21 Sept 2016

AfricaCom touched down in Johannesburg

By Amy Turner - Com Series Staff Writer 

AfricaCom recently landed in Joburg for the launch of the bigger, better, bolder 2016 event.

The launch in Rosebank saw some of AfricaCom’s most prominent community members come together to discuss digital connectivity across the region, including a panel discussion themed: “Connecting Africa - Economic development and social empowerment through digital connectivity”.

The panel included: Luke McKend (MD at Google SA), Riaan Graham (Director of Sub-Saharan Africa at Ruckus Wireless) and Bora Varliyagci (Head of African Digital Infrastructure at Mott MacDonald), and was facilitated by Duncan McLeod, editor of TechCentral. The panel discussed some of the challenges hindering connectivity on the continent and the opportunities and innovations that are available in connecting the last mile.

Take a look at what went on and what's in store at this year's AfricaCom, taking place between the 14-18 November, at the Cape Town ICC:




AfricaCom is is the incubator for the architects of Africa'a digital future dealing with the core issues and opportunities of broadband and digital inclusion. 

Africa's biggest tech and telco event is taking place between the 14th - 18th November at the Cape Town ICC, find out more here.



You can book your AfricaCom tickets here.

Be part of the African tech and telco conversation, here:
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