Ideas Forum to stimulate local mobile application industry

MTN inaugurates Ideas Forum to stimulate local mobile application industry  

 

Leading telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria, has inaugurated a quarterly networking and ideas generating session for local mobile applications developers in Nigeria in a bid to stimulate and grow the budding but very promising industry. The inaugural edition of the forum tagged ‘MTN Ideas Forum’ was recently held at the Southern Sun Hotel in Lagos and it brought together many local mobile application developers, mobile device giant, Nokia, leading internet business player, Google, and telecoms equipment suppliers like Ericsson and Huawei Technologies.

Ideas forum, according to MTN was initiated to provide a platform for the operator to connect with mobile applications developers’ community as well as other stakeholders in the value chain like Nokia, Google, Samsung and others.

 

Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Bola Akingbade who officially launched the forum on behalf of MTN Nigeria said, the Nigerian mobile market is changing at an increasing pace. Learning , entertainment, social networking, health services, financial services are going mobile, as such applications have emerged as a fundamental driver of enabling lifestyle and productivity as consumers want to access relevant content on the go on their mobile devices.  

“The increasing popularity of mobile applications has driven a need for operators to start focusing on reducing the barriers to adoption, coupled with the proven yearning for relevant local and international mobile applications from an application store that guarantees ease of access especially by trendy members of the society who desire a modern and progressive rhythm of life,” said Akingbade.

He added that although mobile handsets are getting smarter and more accessible because of increasing availability of ultra low cost smartphones with improved user interface and data usage going up, there is very limited local mobile-content in Nigeria which presents a huge opportunity, albeit its own challenges. “MTN is keen on becoming a frontline player in the application development space, Ideas Forum will avail all stakeholders with a platform for exchange of ideas as no single entity can run alone in the Telemedia value chain. In addition MTN recognises the need for partnership because fast growing portfolios of mobile applications would be fuelled by efficient developer ecosystem”.

Apart from ideas generation and innovation MTN also intends to use the platform in assisting local developers in monetising their skills and together deliver to its teeming customers’ life enriching applications.

Outreach Programme Manager, Google Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Afigbo, who gave insights to some key learnings Google has had advocating for more local involvement on the internet in other Africa markets explained that Google’s mission in Nigeria is no different and that Google is on ground in Nigeria working to help increase Nigeria’s online presence.

Afigbo said that as parts of efforts in doing this, Google recently launched a search window specifically for Pidgin English. He encouraged the developers and urged them not to relent as the road to monetising apps in every part of the word is usually a long one.

In his remarks, the Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, advised the developers to perhaps focus on areas like entertainment, social networking, and shopping specifically developed for Nigeria, which are three areas research has shown that there is a massive youth segment out there yearning for apps.

MTN used the occasion to announce its value proposition to a very pleased gathering of developers and it included training, certification, provision of toolkits, access to 21 markets of MTN’s operations, monetary and non monetary rewards and many other benefits it plans to unfold in the nearest future for the benefit of the developers.  

Other dignitaries who were present at the forum include; Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, Mr. Babatunde Osho, General Manager, IS Business Planning Solution and Architecture, Mr. Basil Arogundade, General Manager, Products and Services Innovation, Ms. Ugonwa Nwoye, Senior Manager, Business Intelligence (Strategic Insight), Mr. Bayo Adekanmbi, all of MTN Nigeria and Lead of Ecosystem and Development Experience, Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Teemu Kijarvi.