Nigeria, SA internet demands on increase

DEMAND for information and communication technology (ICT) in Nigeria and South Africa is reported to be on the increase following the emergence of new technology players, an expert told ITNewsAfrica over the weekend.

According to Ekina Owoh, an Abuja based technology expert, who is on a week-long business trip to Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos, the growing demand in the use of internet technology is attributable to emerging indigenous companies seeking space in this vastly expanding business industry.

“Over the years, the ICT sector was for the so-called big brothers, meaning the multinational and international mobile and telecommunication companies.

“Among them were parastatals which enjoyed the monopoly at the expense of local indigenous information and communication technology companies,” said Owoh.

He said following the open and liberalized market, the approach by many African governments was to allow new players in this lucrative business which used to be for a few IT companies.

“Nigeria and South Africa defied all odds when new indigenous information and communication technology experts came into play with a bang. Even the global economic recession failed to impact negatively on the emerging technology companies such as internet providing individuals and the corporate world.

“This is a clear confirmation that the information and communication technology industry is indeed viable and lucrative as opposed to other businesses that took a dive during the global economic depression,” said Owoh.

Business mogul, Mbali Anuka of Milverton, who returned last week from Cape Town, South Africa, where he attended a science and technology seminar, said the city recorded a boom in internet technology industry.

“Of course, I do not have the statistics to back my points, but from the seminar, we were encouraged that this area of business recorded positive results, so is Nigeria’s internet business.

“I met a lot of our brothers in South Africa who are doing well in the field of information and technology, mainly those that specialize in web-hosting and internet service providers,” said Anuka—ITNewsAfrica.