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.
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 US$8.6- billion in 2009, according to business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. This is estimated to reach US$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."
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."
The Nigerian Government is committed to the growth of the ICT sector. Minister of Communications and Technology, 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," added Johnson.
John Thomson, managing director of Exhibition Management Services, organisers of the expo, said that the potential for growing Nigeria's ICT sector, the largest telecom market in Africa, is undisputed and largely untapped.
"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."
