BY Ezinne Chima
The Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN), an influential trade group of phone dealers in the country, has announced plans to showcase the best of mobile innovation at the Phone Expo Nigeria 2014 (PEN 2014).
The event is planned to gather the Nigerian mobile ecosystem next December in Lagos.
Iyke Nwosu, chairman of PAPDAN, announced this in Lagos on Friday, saying the association would leverage PEN 2014 to bring the best in mobile handsets, devices and technologies “under one roof” for the benefits of Nigerian consumers.
“PEN 2014 produced by Technology Times Events will feature exhibitions of latest mobile technologies and co-locate unique events at the annual gathering of the Nigerian mobile ecosystem.”
PEN 2014, tagged “Next Frontiers of Connected Nigeria” will take place from December 2 to 6, 2014 at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Nwosu commended the PEN 2014 initiative, saying that it would offer members of the association a platform to connect directly with consumers.
“We also believe that PEN 2014 will enable PAPDAN to promote the mission of the association to promote the interest of Nigerian mobile consumers”, Nwosu said.
Market information by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows growing telephony subscriptions reached 33,282,003 active lines and 94.42 per cent teledensity across the country by August 2014.
Within the same period, Nigeria also recorded 72,566,791 Internet subscribers, according to the telecommunications industry regulator.
Nwosu added that the association has become a critical catalyst in the growing mobile telephony ecosystem in Nigeria. He noted that insights gained from mobile phone market trends in Nigeria show that consumer needs and preferences continue to grow for latest technologies and innovative products.
“One factor that drives everybody is pricing. The market is highly price-dependent and driven but consumers still want phones with lots of functionalities. Most of the consumers are looking for cheap phones and brands within the N5000 to N15000 price range are the market leaders that we have seen”, Nwosu explained.
He observed that consumer preferences were also shifting towards Android devices and demand for bigger screens that allow them to watch videos on the devices.
“PAPDAN activities in the areas of combating counterfeiting has increased consumer confidence and that is part of the message that we are bring to the PEN 2014 Show,” he added.
PAPDAN has prevailed on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to improve on the standards of phones shipped into Nigeria and establish Service Centres to provide support to consumers.
“So far, PAPDAN has registered 46 brands that have met the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) standards for certification and packaging.”
Shina Badaru, chief executive officer of Technology Times Media Limited and producer of PEN 2014 Show, enthused that the partnership with an influential trade group like PAPDAN would help in connecting buyers and sellers under the same umbrella for five exciting days to discover and own new technologies.
“PEN 2014 would gather the mobile ecosystem across Nigeria, Africa and beyond to showcase, learn and share ideas about the next frontiers in technologies, innovation, solutions and services for today’s connected Nigeria.”
PEN 2014 Show will bring attendees in contacts with the industry ecosystem players such as mobile network operators, handset and device manufacturers, mobile device and service dealers, mobile commerce service providers among others.
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