PEN 2014 to gather Nigeria’s largest mobile ecosystem

The maiden edition of Phone Expo Nigeria 2014 (PEN 2014) – four unique series of co-located events scheduled to hold in Lagos – promises to be the largest annual gathering of the Nigerian mobile ecosystem, according to organisers of the show, Technology Times Events. 

PEN 2014, which takes place December 2-6, 2014 under the theme ‘Next frontiers of connected Nigeria’, has been designed to become the nation’s largest marketplace of the Nigerian Mobile ecosystem, the conferences and events subsidiary of Technology Times Media Limited, said.

According to founder/group CEO of Technology Times, Mr. Shina Badaru, the PEN 2014 Show will offer an annual gathering that brings together diverse segments of the biggest market in the Nigerian economy, the vibrant mobile telephony subscribers.

The four co-located events at the PEN 2014 show will focus on four key touch points that matter to the Nigerian mobile marketplace: Business, Innovation, Thought leadership and Entertainment (BITE).

“PEN 2014 will co-locate PEN 2014 exhibitions, PEN 2014 mobile app challenge, PEN 2014 thought leadership conferences and Miss PEN 2014 pageants, to deliver maximum benefits to show visitors, partners, sponsors and advertisers,” Badaru said while formally announcing plans for the show plans in Lagos, Nigeria.

“We are pleased to be producing PEN 2014 with our partners to evolve the annual must-attend mobile telephony show in Nigeria that will become the flagship exhibitions and trade show catering exclusively for the mobile ecosystem.”

Citing the latest telecommunications market statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), he revealed that by June 2014, Nigeria’s telecommunications market base had grown to 130,780,703 active telephone subscriber lines, 67,197,505 Internet users and 93.41 per cent teledensity.

“In the course of our PEN 2014 planning, we found out that except for the freely-given gifts of nature like air, sunlight and rain, the telecommunications market today ranks top in number of customers spread across the geographically-dispersed landscape of Nigeria,” he said.

“The indices and indicators also point to a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation, job creation and overall growth within the Nigerian economy.

“More than 85 per cent of 7,500 respondents polled by Technology Times across key decision makers in industry, government, early adopters and business professionals expressed belief in the need for a major show that will cater to the mobile ecosystem in Nigeria.

“More than 90 per cent of respondents in the poll indicated interest in attending such event where new technologies will be showcased and where they could also learn about policies, market trends and other key drivers of the Nigerian mobile ecosystem ‘under one roof.'”

Badaru added that 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.

Under the plan, at least 10,000 daily attendees are expected at PEN 2014, reflecting the diversity of decision makers in industry, government, original device manufacturers, device retailers, mobile network operators, mobile payment service providers, online shopping services, e-commerce companies, among several tiers of organisations that offer services through mobile platforms.

Also commenting, programmes manager, PEN 2014, Miss Omotola Raheem, said the show had been structured into four co-located events to cater to the diversity of the Nigerian mobile ecosystem.

“PEN 2014 attendees will come to the show for several reasons: to see the latest technology, get the best education the industry has to offer and also get entertained,” she said.

“Importantly, the PEN 2014 thought leadership conferences will serve as a powerful magnet for industry professionals to share ideas about market trends, policy and other issues that shape and define the mobile diversity in Nigeria.”

PEN 2014 will hold at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

“UNILAG is already home to a population of 40,000 and has been chosen to host the maiden edition of PEN 2014 because of its central location and accessibility from all parts of Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria and influential hub of the nation’s mobile ecosystem,” Raheem added.