Digital Africa Canvasses Government Support For Tech Start-Ups

*Hon. Minister of CommTech, Mrs. Omobola Johnson (middle), flanked by the Chairman of Digital Africa, Dr. Evans Woherem (right), and Director of Digital Africa, Dr. Amstrong Takang (left) during the visit

The Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult Limited, Dr. Evans Woherem, has canvassed a strong government support for Nigerian technology start-ups to bring them to national and global limelight during the forthcoming Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition, slated for May 20-22, 2014 in Lagos.

Dr. Woherem said this last weekend in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, to formally present to her the Country Hosting Right (CHR) recently awarded to Nigeria for the forthcoming 19^th World Electronics Forum (WEF). The 19^th WEF will be held alongside Digital Africa 2014.

During the visit Woherem explained that, “Hosting the 19^th WEF in Nigeria, the first time such an event will be held on African soil, is a clear endorsement of the global consumer electronics industry of the importance of the Nigerian market.”

According to him, Digital Africa 2014 and the 19^th WEF represent a great opportunity for Nigeria’s leading ICT companies as well as the country’s hundreds of ICT start-ups the opportunity to showcase themselves to the global technology community.

The Communication Minister, Mrs. Johnson, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the inaugural Digital Africa 2013, commended the organizers once again on their efforts at promoting the ICT sector not only in Nigeria, but throughout the African continent.

Building on its successful inaugural edition held in 2013, Digital Africa 2014 is expected to draw participants and exhibitors from Nigeria, the rest of Africa and leading economies of the world. The conference aims to help Africa to transit from being largely a

consumer to becoming an important producer of ICT products, services and innovations.

One of the new features of the 2014 edition of the conference is tagged Discovery Hall, a special exhibition section dedicated to showcasing the ideas, products, services and innovations of  technology entrepreneurs from Nigeria and other African countries.

WEF is the annual forum of CEOs and Directors of the global electronics industry associations of the leading economies of the world including USA, China, Japan, Germany, Britain, India, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Philippines, and Vietnam. The 18th edition was hosted by Vietnam in 2013, the 17th edition was held in Philippines in 2012, and the 16th edition has hosted by USA in 2011.

President of WEF Mr. Tony Smith, who was in Nigerian last month, said “We look forward to bringing the decision makers of the world ICT and consumer electronics industry to Nigeria this year, and we believe that this is a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria and the rest of Africa”.

He added, “Nigeria has demonstrated its vast investment potentials by becoming the largest telecom market in Africa and the Middle East. The major goal of the 19th World Electronics Forum is therefore to engage the African telecommunications and IT markets, using Nigeria as the window”.