Sub-Saharan African tech distributor TD Africa, a subsidiary in the Zinox Group, is ready to unveil the Tech Experience Centre technology project. The project was initiated to make available the latest in ICT to Nigeria.

The project involves collaboration between several tech giants including Cisco, Dell EMC, HP, Microsoft, Samsung, Philips, Bosch, Schneider Electric and Zinox, among others.

The Tech Experience Centre, the first of its kind in Africa, is located within Yudala Heights on Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island and is scheduled to be officially launched on 1 October 2020 – which aptly coincides with Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami is expected to attend the launch, along with stakeholders from the technology sector.

The event will be also streamed live via various digital channels.

Those behind the Tech Experience Centre project believe it will boost Nigeria’s relevance in the global technology race and strengthen the country’s technology independence.

An excerpt from a statement released to the media reads: “For the first time, Nigeria will play host to the latest global technologies including those not normally available in Africa, offering all classes of visitors a first-hand experience of new gadgets, solutions and infrastructure that would have previously required a visit abroad, thereby saving corporate organisations, government establishments and individuals money or scarce foreign exchange expended on these trips.”

The project is considered to be a huge confidence-booster in the Nigerian economy, despite the challenges faced by the current administration.

“Already, a number of globally-renowned international tech giants, all of whom will be housed within the Tech Experience Centre, will provide real time information, support and expertise to visitors and other prospective customers, eager to be acquainted with the technologies on ground,” reads another portion of the statement.

The unveiling of the Tech Experience Centre resonates with the recent call by the Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh on the Federal Government to declare October 1st 2020 Nigeria’s technology independence day.

“October 1st 2020 is traditionally Nigeria’s Independence Day. It is a day that commemorates Nigeria’s emergence as a sovereign state. Considering the massive strides recorded so far in our journey to technological emancipation, the Federal Government should strongly consider declaring October 1st Nigeria’s technology independence day,’’ Ekeh had suggested.

Ekeh reiterated Nigeria’s pre-eminence as a key driver of technology in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

“Today, a lot of our kids are out of school as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – a development that should not be the case, especially considering our capacity as a technology-compliant nation in finding a solution to bridge the gap.

‘‘At this level of our development, Nigeria should be regarded as a global digital giant. We have the means, the talent, the human capital and the innate intelligence to make it happen. With the government taking the step of making critical investments in technology, it is only a matter of time before Nigeria starts raising tech billionaires that would rival the likes of Jeff Bezos and Jack Ma,’’ he added.

Broadband target

Nigeria, along with Botswana and the Seychelles are on track to have a basket below the Broadband Commission’s affordability threshold target of 2% of monthly Gross National Income (GNI) per capita to entry-level broadband services by 2023.

This is according to a report Measuring Digital Development: ICT Price Trends 2019 released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).