Managing Director of Compumetrics Solutions, Dr Evans Woherem, has said that the African continent holds the ace in the next phase of digital revolution which calls for better attention by government and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the Digital Africa corporate identity in Abuja yesterday, Dr Woherem who recently retired as the Executive Director, Technology of Unity Bank Plc, said statistics showed that the African continent experienced the highest growth rate in ICT in recent years.
As a way of contributing to the growth of the industry, he said Digital Africa was putting together a three-day conference and exhibition coming up later in November, in Abuja, which over 300 delegates drawn from Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and the rest of the world are expected to attend.
He said: “Africa is the last frontier for most global technology brands that are seeking fresh and virgin markets. North America and Europe have almost reached a market saturation point for many ICT products and services. As at today, the most exciting ICT business opportunities lie in Africa and the Middle East.”
Research by the Internet World Stats, for instance, shows that internet usage in Africa grew by 2,988% – from 4,514,400 million to 139, 875,242 million between 2000 and December 31, 2011. The Middle East recorded a growth of 2,245 percent, from 3,284,800 to 77,020,995 internet users in the same period while North America grew by 153 percent, Europe by 376 percent, Asia by 790 percent and Latin America by 1,205 percent.
Figures by the Internet World Stats also indicate that Nigeria currently tops the African list with 45 million internet users or 32 percent.
This is followed by Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and South Africa with 22 million, 16 million, 11 million and 7 million internet users respectively.
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