When thinking of tech hubs, Africa doesn’t exactly spring to mind. But the continent has had some amazing spurts of open innovation.
Africa faces some hurdles in developing information technology. Even though global Internet penetration is about 32%, it’s lower in Africa, where only around 11% of the population have access to the Internet through a computer or mobile phone. Within the continent, too, there are enormous divides. While a country like Nigeria has 28% of its population online.
One of Nigeria’s successful multi millionaire business man, Gbolahan Lawanson, has just completed and open a massive phones and computer village in lawanson, an area in surulere, lagos.
Built in lawanson, the multi-use commercial building has in the past been used as the BG sports center, a concert venue, D Yard events place and various other commercial purposes including offices.
Speaking on the reason for a new venture and why the man about town is venturing into technology, he confirmed that he has succedded in virtually all the sector of the economy and therefore can now see the reason why he should be in the technology sector to attend to the yawnings of the people, hence the idea of the lawanson phones and computer village was berthed.
“We built the Mall in a very strategic part of Mainland Lagos. Lawanson, Surulere. Our primary purpose is to have the best products available for consumers. with ease and accessibility. The environment is vibrant and orderly. Shoppers can take their time to assess whatever products or services they want and be assured of the quality and genuineness”.
He added further that, “We all know that Mainland in general is very densely populated while surulere in particular is a melting pot. There is a teeming young population that is conversant with the Nuances of Telecommunications and Technology. Asides being a location for Technology and communication gadgets and equipments.We are also providing infrastructure and support by provision and availability of Tech based hubs/communities.
We are going to strive to be the beacon for tech advancement in Lagos”, Gbolahan assured.
The village was officially opened for business on Wednesday 22 June, 2016 by the former deputy speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, Honorable Funmi Tejuosho who also commended the effort of Gbolahan for this latest development in the area, and assured of her teeming patronage.