AfriOne Ltd, a technology-driven enterprise, presented their new assembly plant in Nigeria on Friday. The plant forms part of the company’s “Made in Nigeria” strategy where they will produce phones and other technological devices according to the Guardian Nigeria.
Mr Sahir Berry, Chief Executive Officer of AfriOne, who spoke during the opening ceremony at the plant located in the Ilupeju Industrial Scheme, Lagos, said that the plant was a technological breakthrough and precedent for the company and for Nigeria.
According to Nigeria Communications Week, Berry believes that the plant, which spans over 20,000 square feet and includes a Research and Development (R&D) and testing laboratories, will allow the company to serve as a pioneer in the manufacturing and assembly of high-end communication technology in African.
According to Berry, the facility will be able to produce 300,000 products in a month on its four production lines. Berry also announced that the company’s brands of Smartphone would soon be unveiled into the Nigerian market and that all devices made by AfriOne will utilise cutting-edge technology, reflect a modern, sleek design and integrate the latest and arguably necessary technology such as mobile health, mobile education and mobile banking.
Berry added that “AfriOne champions corporate socio-economic development, while wholly supporting the ”Made in Nigeria” mantra. “This is all with the goal of facilitating connectivity among Nigerians and the rest of the world,” Berry concluded.
On his part, Mr Hemang Kapur, co-founder of AfriOne, said that the products of the company were proudly and smartly crafted in Nigeria by Nigerians.
Kapur said that AfriOne served Africa’s largest socioeconomic power player with integrity. He said that the company was hosting cutting-edge technology, stylish design, affordable price points and particularly, an inherent commitment to financial integration.
According to him, the financial integration was possible because of the automatically installed mobile banking and financial technology, through the NowNow application.
“AfriOne aims to democratise technology by offering affordable innovations through our product offerings and removing barriers for large scale adoption of advanced technologies in Nigeria, hence our motto AfriOne – one for everyone.
“We offer a wide range of feature-rich and technologically loaded product lines from dual SIM mobile phones to educational tablet PCs and even android smart watches,” Kapur said.
The facility will also create job opportunities in the region with the Chief Operating Officer of AfriOne, Mr Sandeep Natu, revealing that the company presently employed approximately 500 staff, who worked at its state-of-the-art product and testing facilities.
Mr Roheen Berry, managing director of Contec Global, higlighted that in addition to the production of contemporary ICT devices and accessories, AfriOne was dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Berry said that the corporation facilitated education and training programmes and encouraged entrepreneurship in Nigeria and across Africa, recognising it as a means of contributing to economic growth.
“In adherence to the AfriOne and Contec Global in-house Agenda, young men and women have the opportunity to be involved in product development and strategic management training programmes.
“We are tangibly investing in Nigeria’s future through AfriOne, while providing a valuable skill set to its workforce that will facilitate continued innovation in Nigeria’s emerging, dynamic and robust market,” he said.
The assembly plant was inaugurated by Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Ambode, represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Olufemi Olubiyi, commended the company for choosing Lagos State as its starting point in Nigeria.
Ambode said that his government would do all within its power to support AfriOne.
Staff Writer
