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Africa: mobile phones fuelling Facebook’s growth

By , ITWeb
Africa , 11 Sep 2015

Africa: mobile phones fuelling Facebook’s growth

Recent statistics from Facebook have revealed that 2.2 million Kenyans and 7.1 million Nigerians use the social network Facebook every day, and the numbers swell to 4.5 million and 15 million respectively each month.

Facebook also noted that almost all of these people are logging on through mobile device. All of Nigeria's monthly users are active on mobile as opposed to 95% of Kenya's monthly users.

Nunu Ntshingila, head of Africa at Facebook, described the impressive numbers as only the beginning.

"At Facebook, we have a saying that we're only 1% done, and this couldn't be truer for Facebook in Africa. I'm only beginning this journey, and I'm already incredibly inspired by the power of connection - from the smallest moments to fostering global conversations. Everyone on Facebook has a story, and I can't wait to hear the stories from Kenya and Nigeria firsthand."

The new numbers come after Facebook's recent announcement that its active user population in Africa had grown by 20% to 120 million in June 2015, up from 100 million in September 2014. More than 80% of those people access Facebook from their mobile phones.

Facebook adds that 60% of all internet users in Africa are active on the social network. Ntshingila also heaped praise on the usefulness of mobile.

"Mobile is not a trend; it's the fastest adoption of disruptive technology in history of communication. It's also an incredibly personal device regardless of where a person lives or how they connect, and businesses need to reach people where they are, not where they were, in an authentic, personal and relevant way. I look forward to spending time with businesses across Africa to understand how we can work together."

The need to reach out to the African market is one that Ari Kesisoglu, Facebook's regional director for Middle East and Africa shares. "We continue to spend time with businesses to learn about how we can work together to create better, more flexible and less fragmented ways for businesses to reach people in Africa."

Facebook opened its first office in Africa three months ago. The company says its African team will focus initially on Kenya (East Africa), Nigeria (West Africa), and South Africa (Southern Africa) before venturing to other parts of the continent.

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