AfriOne, Lagos State Govt. Commit To Youth Empowerment Through ICT... · AfriOne unveils production factory for first made-in-Nigeria smartphones
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Over 5,000 students currently
studying in institutions of higher learning in Lagos State are to benefit from
broad-base knowledge on how to deploy Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) for personal and organisational empowerment.
This is one of the outcomes of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Lagos State Government and
AfriOne, makers of Nigeria’s first indigenous smart phone.
Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi
Ambode, who disclosed this during the official unveiling of AfriOne Assembly
plant on Friday April 21, 2017 in Oshodi, Lagos, also expressed optimism that
the coming of AfriOne into the state would spurred the emergence of the 24
economy in Lagos as a mega city.
Ambode, who was represented on the
occasion by the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hon.
Olufemi Odubiyi, also stressed that the partnership will help create direct and
indirect jobs for youths and others across various sectors.
“AfriOne’s decision to use the
students of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) for the maintenance, repair,
and servicing of mobile devices is worthy of commendation,” the governor said.
“The collaboration with Afrione will
be of immense benefits to these students and the State.”
He said this will compliment the
enterprise enhancement initiative of the Lagos State Government targeted at
empowering students of tertiary institutions across the state.
The initiative, the governor stated,
has committed to help 5,000 students at various levels of studies in Lagos
State owned higher institutions per session.
“The government is not unaware of
the challenges faced by youths.
“This has informed the decision by
the Lagos State government to float an Empowerment Trust Fund to provide
financial assistance to youths with well crafted innovative entrepreneurial
ideas and competencies.
“AfriOne’s collaboration will
compliment efforts by the Lagos State government in ensuring that these youths
are empowered,” Ambode said.
Earlier, AfriOne’s Founder and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Sahir Berry said the vision of the company is to
make smart phones available to the teeming youths and all Nigerians.
"AfriOne aims to democratize
technology, by offering affordable innovations through our product offerings
and removing barriers deterring the large scale adoption of advanced technology
in Nigeria.
The company he noted will provide a
platform for students of Lagos State Polytechnic to acquire practical
experience on phone manufacturing and other aspects of mobile technologies.
Sahir disclosed that the company has
started with assembling components and packaging locally, adding that, within
the shortest time, it would begin the manufacture of components used in making
smart phones and similar devices locally.
"Today, AfriOne is mainly
assembling phones here and packaging done locally. But you must bear in mind
that as youths get involved in the process, sooner than you imagine, they will
begin to get ideas about the components that they can manufacture
locally", Mr Berry said.
He also hinted that the phones have
been modelled on cutting edge technology to facilitate connectivity amongst
Nigerians and the rest of the world, adding that they have integrated necessary
financial technology such as mobile banking and apps to help farmers get higher
yields.
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