Google unveils plans to reposition ICT in Nigeria

RENOWNED International Information Communication Technology (ICT) firm – Google – at the weekend in Lagos, gave hints of on-going initiatives which would reposition ICT in Nigeria.

RENOWNED International Information Communication Technology (ICT) firm – Google – at the weekend in Lagos, gave hints of on-going initiatives which would reposition ICT in Nigeria.

Top among such initiatives, according to a Business Analyst, Goggle Africa, Mr. Lanre Aina, is the firm’s target of doubling Internet penetration in Africa’s fastest growing economy.

Aina, who disclosed this in the course of his presentation at a one-day ICT capacity building workshop, noted that Internet penetration in Nigeria is just 12 per cent.

“Goggle wants to double this within the next three years” he disclosed. Besides, Aina also disclosed that Goggle has commenced local training with the goal of embracing Nigeria’s local content policy.

In fact, a couple of months from now, he disclosed, “You will begin to see Yoruba and Hausa languages in Goggle.”

Apparently not expecting to be reported, Aina declined an interview to elaborate on this disclosure.

The Google official also disclosed that the International ICT firm has commenced a Question and Answer platform tagged ‘Goggle Baraza’, which would proffer answers on all sorts of questions using Nigerians to provide required information –generally- on the country and her citizens.

Besides, Aina was optimistic that some initiatives which had commenced in other African countries, namely the launch of Google Trader recently in Ghana and the introduction of Google online phone in Kenya about two months ago, would also be extended to Nigeria.

Google Trader, he explained, is an initiative which puts a trader on the World Wide Web thereby enabling consumers globally to have a contact with the trader as he must have requested on his website.

The Google official, who described Africa’s emerging opportunities in ICT as exciting, listed Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda as leading countries in ICT development in the continent.

“But Nigeria is key,” he stressed.

Buttressing his point, Aina said the country’s ICT potentials and business opportunities are simply enormous. The sad news, however, he indicated was that relatively few Nigerians are benefiting from the business opportunities, which the Internet, particularly Goggle, provide.

Urging Nigerians to maximize such  opportunities, he cited the example of a small business outfit which later transformed to a multimillion naira venture within four months.

According to Aina, a Nigerian trader, simply called Mrs. Funke, sold one year inventory in a month by taking advantage of the Internet. “Indeed, her business moved from N150,000 to N15 million in four months,” he disclosed.

What Mrs. Funke did, Aina explained, was to simply use a website to seek patronage of her baby products.

He also cited the example of another Nigerian who presently make millions of naira yearly by selling Nollywood online.”

“Such is the amazing transformation that the Internet could provide” Aina stressed.

Significantly, he cautioned business organisations, especially Banks, to be more customer-friendly and ensure prompt and efficient service -delivery, because dissatisfied customers have commenced taking their complaints to the Internet.

He cited examples: “Some customers were in some banks which name I will not mention. And right there in the Banking premises, they were reporting their frustrations in those banks on the Internet through their Mobile phones. You can imagine what damage such could do. So, business outfits, especially banks, should pay attention to their customers, because they are gong online.”

On a general note, one sure path to business success, Aina also advised, is for business outfits to ensure that their local products appeal to a global audience.

“It’s a global world. Look beyond your country and let your product appeal to other countries,” he stated.

The Expert added: “Create products that are so good that consumers will become your advocates, spreading the good news of your product to others.