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Growing Nigerian Economy Via Mobile & Telecom Sector

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Growing Nigerian Economy Via Mobile & Telecom Sector

By Adeniyi Ogunfowoke

Undoubtedly the giant of Africa, with an estimated population of 194 million people, Nigeria remains the largest mobile market in the continent and still has more potential for growth and for competing on a level-playing ground with the developed nations.

Although the economic growth of the country might not be as fast-paced as its counterparts’, it is full of hopes and promises.

The mobile trends published in the 2017 Nigerian Mobile Report, by Jumia Nigeria, Africa’s biggest e-commerce platform, provided some convictions for this belief.

In summary, the report examined how the market has democratized mobile internet use, the consumer behaviours driving increased smartphone adoption and the role of the different stakeholders within the sector.

Jumia is set to release the 2018 edition of the Mobile Report, which will focus on various mobile trends in the country and in Africa at large. And Juliet Anammah, CEO, Jumia Nigeria is as excited as everyone else about the report.

But, while we patiently wait for the report pending its release, let’s examine some facts and figures from the 2017 report.

There were about 150 million mobile subscribers equivalent to 81 percent penetration (as a percentage of the population) in 2016.

Internet penetration was at 18 percent with 216 million internet users while Nigeria’s internet penetration was much higher at 53 percent; its mobile subscription was similar to Africa’s at 81% penetration (960 million mobile subscribers).

To benchmark this data, a similar report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) put the number of subscribers, by the end of December 2016 – at 154 million. This subscriber base is a sum total of all the active subscribers for telephony services on each of the licensed service providers utilizing different technologies. The difference in the number of subscribers presented by both reports can be attributed to the lack of accurate census in the country.

Meanwhile, the percentage of internet penetration widened increasingly; number of internet subscribers peaked at 97.2 million (more than half the number of mobile subscriptions) by end of 2016, which represented a much higher penetration rate than the rest of Africa combined.

The subscriber base of internet users in the country was predicted to increase by at least 30 percent by end of 2017.

With the number of Nigerians having access to the internet, mostly through smartphones, growing in leaps and bounds, it’s a clear indication that there is a huge potential for e-commerce in the country.

For instance, Jumia recorded 394 percent growth on the sales of smartphones between 2014 and 2016, mostly driven by an increasing range of lower smartphones price points. And 71 percent of website visitors on Jumia Nigeria in 2016 used their mobile phones to shop, whereas only 53 percent of Jumia African customers did so.

Although, the contribution of the telecom & mobile sector to the country’s GDP was indeed a small fraction, according to a report by the NCC, only 9.13 percent was directly or indirectly accrued from the sector.

Yet, it is worthy of note to mention that it was a great leap from the previous year. E-commerce companies like Jumia, present in 15 African markets, are facilitating the promotion and distribution of both high-end and low-end price points mobile phones in Nigeria.

The NCC is not also relenting in exercising its power to regulate the operations of the licensed telecom operators especially in the area of voice & data tariff.

So, what is the future of the telecom and mobile sector in Nigeria? To witness an improvement over the previous years will require a collective, yet individual effort from both the private and public sectors. Primarily, the growth of the sector, among other things, depends on the availability of affordable mobile phones & data tariff.  To the former, Jumia is committed – with its partners – to facilitating and leading the charge in this regard.

The week of March 15th-25th, 2018 will be interesting and exciting for the entire country for two reasons: the 2018 edition (4th report) of the Nigerian Mobile Report will be released at a press conference; and secondly, although still related to the first event is the commencement of Jumia Mobile Week (an entire week dedicated to the sales of mobile phones at the best prices in Nigeria).

Nothing beats the excitement of getting your dream mobile phone at nearly half the price and such was the frenzy all over the Nigerian cyberspace in 2017.

From the moment you spot the juicy deals, the swift race for the fastest fingers, the sigh of relief when you have successfully placed your order and the short wait for your order to be delivered.

Last year, Jumia Mobile Week featured 3 mouth-watering flash sales every day at nearly 50 percent off; both night crawlers and day troopers had a piece of the pie.

MTN also gave out free MTN 4G SIM and 20 percent data bonus on their data plan every time you recharged for the first 3 months. There were also juicy discounts on mobile brands like: Infinix at 40 percent off; Tecno at 20 percent off; Motorola at 50 percent off, and Innjoo at 20 percent off.

So, this year, which brands will top the list of Jumia top selling mobile phones? How much discounts will be available to customers and on what mobile brands? How much money are you hoping to save during this year’s Mobile Week? Which mobile phones will have the best deals this year? How much discount will Jumia offer on purchases done on its mobile App? How do you get to participate in the Treasure Hunt so as to win a coveted prize? How do you participate in the fashion accessory giveaways on social media by your favourite fashion celebrity/icon?

Your guess is as good as mine. But, you will find answers to all of these questions during the week of March 15th through 25th, 2018! Add it to your calendar. Join the conversation on social media using the #JumiaMobileWeek2018, and follow @JumiaNigeria across all social media platforms.

Adeniyi Ogunfowoke is a PR Associate at Jumia Travel.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via dipo.olowookere@businesspost.ng

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Stakeholders Anticipate Emurgo Africa’s State of Web 3.0 in Africa Report

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Emurgo Africa

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

All is now set for unveiling the State of Web 3.0 in Africa report by a dynamic blockchain technology company, Emurgo Africa.

The study, the first on the continent, aims to fill a knowledge gap by examining the potential of these technologies to advance social and economic development in Africa.

It presents a detailed view of the current landscape and prospects of Web 3.0 technologies in the region, featuring real-world use cases, possibilities and obstacles connected with their adoption.

It was gathered that work explored various aspects of Web 3.0, such as decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain technology, digital identity, smart contracts, and data privacy.

It also looked into the regulatory environment, infrastructure, and access to technology in the target nations, identifying areas for development that will facilitate the growth and adoption of Web 3.0 technologies.

The chief executive of Emurgo Africa, Mr Ahmed M. Amer, while commenting on the reports, which would be released on June 23, 2023, at a media conference in Nairobi, Kenya, said, “The future of Web 3.0 technologies in Africa is bright, with the potential to drive unprecedented social, financial and economic development across the continent.

“This report emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration between stakeholders, policymakers, and regulators in fully realizing the transformative power of Web 3.0 technologies in Africa.”

Expected at the unveiling are industry leaders, policymakers and the press, as well as key figures from prominent blockchain investors, developers and ecosystem players, including NODO, CVVC, GreenHouse Capital, PwC and Cardano.

Web 3.0 technologies are gradually becoming popular in Africa, and this report by Emurgo Africa will highlight the rapidly-evolving landscape, providing an in-depth analysis of their impact, opportunities, and challenges and offering recommendations for fostering growth and measurable impact.

The system can potentially bring transformative change to industries such as trade and industry, financial services and lending, supply chain management and logistics and healthcare provision and accessibility.

Factors such as regulatory clarity, infrastructure development, and collaboration between stakeholders will play a significant role in these technologies’ widespread use and successful implementation.

Key findings from the report include the immense opportunities for the African continent through the adoption of Web 3.0 technologies, a staggering 1,668 per cent increase in investment in blockchain technology in Africa between 2021 and 2022, and the crucial importance of collaboration between industry stakeholders, policymakers, and regulators in fostering an environment conducive to the growth of Web 3.0 technologies.

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Nigeria, Others Break Pledge Not to Impose Internet Restrictions

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impose internet restrictions Surfshark

By Adedapo Adesanya

A new study showed that Nigeria was among those that pledged to uphold free Internet according to a 2021 United Nations resolution but yet imposed restrictions.

The UN resolution on human rights on the internet aims to protect and promote human rights online, but some supporting countries have broken their word, according to a study by Cybersecurity company Surfshark, analysing UN countries’ stances in the 2021 UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution on the promotion, protection, and enjoyment of human rights on the internet.

It was conducted by comparing countries’ stances with data from Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker, Surfshark was able to identify 5 African countries that claimed to support the resolution but “broke their word” by imposing internet restrictions.

On Nigeria’s end, it had one ongoing restriction at the time of the resolution’s adoption but has had no new restrictions since then.

Nigeria had banned Twitter a month before the adoption, and the restriction lasted until January 2022.

The federal government suspended Twitter on June 4, 2021, after it removed a post from President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional secessionists.

The FG told the nation’s telecommunication companies to block access to users in Nigeria, leading users to fall to the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). It was not until January 13, 2022, that the suspension was lifted.

Other African countries that supported the 2021 UN resolution but “broke their word” were Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Somalia.

The report noted that Sudan has “broken its word” the most in Africa, with nine internet disruptions that took place after the country supported the 2021 resolution, the first one happening amid the 2021 military coup.

Burkina Faso comes in second, with four restrictions since the resolution’s adoption in 2021. The country’s 2022 restriction on Facebook is still in place today. Mauritania and Somalia both had one internet restriction since supporting the resolution. Mauritania restricted mobile internet amid a prison riot, and Somalia had an internet blackout after the parliament voted to remove the prime minister.

Speaking on this, Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, Surfshark spokeswoman, said, “In today’s world, internet shutdowns have become a major concern. Authoritarian governments frequently employ them as a means to manipulate the public and stifle free speech. The UN resolution on human rights on the internet aims to make countries openly condemn these shutdowns and other ways of restricting online speech.”

“However, it’s concerning that even though 5 African countries publicly supported the resolution, they still imposed internet restrictions. It’s important to promote an open and accessible internet and pressure countries to uphold their commitments regarding human rights online,” she said.

Nine countries from other continents also “broke their word”: India, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Armenia, Indonesia, and Ukraine.

Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker reveals that there were a total of 58 internet disruptions in these 14 countries during or after the adoption of the resolution.

India stands out as the country that has “broken its word” the most, with 19 internet disruptions since the resolution’s adoption in 2021, adding that if it included the Jammu and Kashmir region, this number would be even higher.

The Human Rights Council convenes at least three regular sessions annually. The upcoming 53rd session is scheduled for the summer of 2023.

“While the agenda of the specific resolution is currently unknown, Surfshark will keep an eye out for any updates regarding upcoming UN resolutions on human rights on the internet,” the firm noted.

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WhatsApp to Roll Out Screen-Sharing Feature for Video Calls

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screen-sharing feature

By Adedapo Adesanya

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to share their screens during a video call.

According to WABetaInfo, a WhatsApp reporting blog, this screen-sharing feature is not available to all users yet but is already available to some beta testers who have installed the latest WhatsApp update from the Google Play store.

It could be part of a play to make the company get more acceptance for work meetings and compete with the likes of Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

Last September, the Meta-owned platform rolled out a new feature that allows users to share a direct link to a call. It also allows up to 32 users during a call session. However, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom allow for large numbers on a call. The first two can take up to 100, while up to 300 people can be on a single Zoom call.

With the soon-to-be-available feature, when users are on a video call, a new icon will be available on the bottom toolbar that will enable users to share everything on their screen with other members of the call.

WhatsApp users will be able to stop screen sharing at any time and will only be enabled with the consent of the sharer.

While the feature is currently only available to Beta testers, WABetaInfo said that it will become available to more users over the coming weeks.

However, “This feature may be unavailable on old versions of Android, screen-sharing may not work in large group calls, and the recipient may be unable to get the content of your screen in case they are using an outdated version of WhatsApp,” read the WABetaInfo post.

Screen-sharing functions have been available on online video conferencing services such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom for a while.

The blog also announced that WhatsApp is working on releasing a username function in an effort to facilitate more private communication.

These are the latest in a string of new features available on the Meta-owned messaging application.

WhatsApp recently introduced a feature that allows users to edit WhatsApp messages for up to 15 minutes after sending them.

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