Leading Asian giant in technology, Huawei has launched Innovation and Experience Center in Lagos.
Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu unveiled the structure built on 500 ㎡ (meter square), built at a total cost to up $6 million (USD).
Shittu described the investment as a major step towards sustaining the achieved growth in the telecommunications industry over the years.
He said “This is an epoch making event for a number of reasons, but most importantly is the fact that the present government is easily the first government to come on stage leveraging the benefits of the digital revolution with strategic partnership with Huawei Chinese company as a leading global supplier of ICT products, solutions and services. Therefore I would like to use this opportunity to express my appreciation on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to Huawei Technologies for partnering with the Ministry in the area of Human and Institutional capacity development.”
He said that the country needs the best strategic partnership in ICT and only the best is good enough for Nigeria.
While assuring Huawei of Government’s unflinching support in Nigeria even as the innovative company partners with the Ministry, he said the structure will deepen access to technology in the country.
In his remarks, Mr. Chao Xiaoliang, Chinese consular general in Lagos, said during his speech, “I would like to commiserate with Huawei on the successful commissioning of the Innovation and Experience Centre. Chinese companies, such as Huawei, are willing to share their experience in ICT innovation in order to boost the social and economic development of Nigeria. I wish China and Nigeria a long-lasting relationship and prosperous future.”
He said that the highly complementary economies and development strategies of the two countries will ensure that the cooperation would achieve win-win results.
It is established under the concept of “Cloud”; which enables visitors to share Huawei global resources. All players in the industry are welcomed to join and enjoy its unique contents.
It is set up to be an experience center where people can witness global best practice, exchange ideas, explore business solutions through innovation and also a platform to develop win-win ICT eco-system.
The latest cutting edge ICT technologies such as 4.5G, Internet of Things and digital service innovation will be deployed on this platform.
Mr. Frank Li, managing director of Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, said “Huawei is dedicated to investment of industry innovation driven by both customer needs and new technologies. Huawei will continuously adhere to its strategic focus, investment, and the relentless pursuit of strategic breakthrough to face all challenges together with its partners. ”
Huawei said the Innovation and Experience Centre will also serve as a training platform to nurture more ICT talents thus Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited will sign a Joint Innovation MOU with Unilag for this purpose.
It would be recalled that ICT Industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Nigerian economy, with a 30% yearly increase rate. Consequently, at the second quarter of this year 2016, ICT Industry has occupied 9.8% of Nigerian GDP.
Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry.
