General News
Nigeria is Favourable, Vigorous Market- Spreadborough
John Spreadborough, general manager, Westcon Mobility in Pan Emerging Africa, heads up the Motorola based EMB products and associated solution vendors, plus the company’s Print and Scan business.
Spreadborough formerly worked as managing director of TallyGenicom’s Middle East, Africa and India businesses and has over 20 years in the printing and scanning industry.
Before joining TallyGenicom, he also ran his own Industrial Systems company called Dicoll Industrial, which specialised in measurement systems for tough environments.
Spreadborough, spoke to Miebi Senge on Westcon’s investment in the Nigerian IT market and its strategic partnership with Motorola to increase intake of enterprise solutions in the Sub-Saharan market which he heads from Lagos.
Westcon
WestCom Global is structured as a US leading organization and present in the UK and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
We have a lot of offices across Europe and North America, and about 140 subsidiary companies across the world, of which one is based in Nigeria.
So we have a management team and stock people here. We do not manage businesses necessary from London or from the United States; a lot of our decisions here are reached in consonance with the local markets demands.
To us, Nigeria is a very favourable and vigorous market recognized across the globe; therefore we are very comfortable with the management team working here.
Westcon’s Business in Nigeria
Our Nigerian business covers the entire West Africa subregion. We have several organisations in Senegal, Cameroun, and all of (Anglo) West and Central Africa.
Although, I may not give you a breakdown of the volume in individual country, at the same time, the volume of our business this year in Africa will be about $150 million.
We are optimistic about continued fulfilling businesses in Africa.
Accessing Nigeria’s Enterprise Market
Sure, the market is so fast moving. There are comments in some quarters about the Nigeria economy overtaking South Africa’s between 2015/16.
And the country is catching on and moving on steadily. But when you look at how that translates in the enterprise market space… I do not think it is that forward, stable and matured as the South African.
Truly, there is a tremendous revolution in technology adoption and inclusion in Nigeria in the recent times than as in South Africa; thus in Nigeria, a lot of people and corporations are moving forward adopting measures that would support them both now and in the future.
For instance they are embracing the cloud abandoning papers and that is a characteristic that impacts on the market.
Even if we do not have answers as regards the market size, what gladdens one’s heart is the level of enthusiasms to adopt technology and the sophistications of the adopted technologies by various companies.
The process is revealing the country’s or the market’s expertise in using technology to change the tune of events. Therefore, as the Nigerian market is getting more sophisticated it will embrace features that will push it to move fast in the nearest future.
View of Technological Migration to Data
The adoption of unified communications in various applications, for instance, is a sure way of improving on the space, especially for the enterprise.
A number of companies, like Microsoft are making it possible. Some of the things we heard from Nigerians, especially the Nigerian telecom sector are growing a unified technology ecosystem for the sector to mitigate the challenges that each unit faces.
Those things are evolving in Nigeria, for instance the adoption of wireless broadband is one of the aspects of the market is being driven forward; it is not actually easy to deploy multiple technologies to mitigate the lack of infrastructure in a country.
The World Bank published a report last year which was showing; in terms of supply there is a huge amount of data being spread all over Africa including Nigeria; which shows there is viability as data is very attractive to the people. However, the next big step is to look at the infrastructure.
Any plan with your partner – Motorola – to migrate broadband infrastructure from the shoreline to hinter land?
Well, there is migration. We have a technology that some companies are using in migrating the infrastructure to the hinterlands.
The local organizations are actually the ones that thinker on the resources to drive the next step.
Programmes to Enhance Carriers in the Enterprise Sector
Some of the carriers are moving into the enterprise themselves in terms of deploying data solutions for the consumer.
If we review what is happening in the Middle East, a lot of local and multi-nationals bringing data services up to consumer level.
Such is likely to happen here whereby the local companies deliver the data and also generate the internet for the consumer’s usage.
Through that means, the enterprise market will deepen. Meanwhile, from the enterprise perspective when the volume of data rises then, there will be specific technology we will be looking at. Similarly, a lot of companies are increasing their investment portfolio and resources in Africa.
For instance, Coca Cola has increased its investment to $1 billion. Those guys in enterprise space are putting their money where the cash is going to come from in future, which is Africa.
Playing in the Cashless Nigeria Regime
There are a couple of things that are happening in the sector that are quite interesting. The moment manufacturers come out with physical printers, so that is the text collecting machines, and other automation devices, that is part of the cashless economy.
The direction of the present policy is going to fall in line with the style adopted in East Africa. So, we have some technologies that are geared towards cashless economy.
We have been working with some banks and pay systems; we have local banking systems that will even help bring to the banks the unbanked in small villages.
When that is exploited, it will open up the cashless economy even further. So these are the steps coming up next and I expect it happens soon. In other words, mobile banking is the next step.
Mobility in the Nigeria Economy in the Next 5 Years
I see the mobility on a fast lane. Everything is moving from plan to execution. With the double digit in technology growth in West Africa happening more recently, in the last five years, Nigeria has been the leader in over a decade, and I see that trend continuing even further than most analysts expect.
Breathe Life Foundation partnered with Teach Nigeria Fellow, Ms Bunmi Rotimi, to deliver a respiratory health awareness session for over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos.
The session equipped students aged 15–19 years with practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha, while challenging the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education. By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the Foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
Breathe Life Foundation is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
Nigeria’s technology retail landscape reached another significant milestone on Monday, August 3, 2026, as global technology giant ASUS, in partnership with Konga, officially commissioned its first flagship experience store in West Africa.
Strategically located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos; the heartbeat of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, the state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in customer experience, product accessibility, and digital innovation.
The launch also reinforces Konga’s growing reputation as a preferred gateway for leading global technology brands into the Nigerian market.
The landmark event attracted Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who officially commissioned the store.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; Chief Operating Officer of Konga, Dave Omoregie; VP Omni-channel & Commercial Planning, Melvin Onochie; and Head of Marketing and Communications at Konga Group, Victor Oluwaleye.
The ASUS team was led by E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, alongside Business Development Manager, Sunnie Chen; Sales Manager, Mohammed Kazim; Gaming Product Manager, Joy Chen; Marketing Manager, Adeola Odeleye; and Sales Specialist, Williams Okenna.
The Honourable Minister described the facility as a defining achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy, noting that it is far more than the opening of a retail outlet.
He called it a strong vote of confidence by a global technology brand in Nigeria’s innovation, science, and technology ecosystem and the immense potential of its market.
He noted that his presence underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, describing such partnerships as essential to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy driven by private enterprise and enabled by government.
The Minister paid tribute to Leo Stan Ekeh, describing him as one of the foremost architects of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He announced that Ekeh had recently agreed to champion the Federal Government’s Youth and Students in Innovation initiative, a flagship programme aimed at equipping young Nigerians with entrepreneurial and technology skills.
According to him, Ekeh’s decades of visionary entrepreneurship have played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s technology ecosystem and attracting prominent technology companies into the Nigerian market.
Using the occasion to address the international business community, the Minister encouraged global investors and brands to look beyond establishing commercial operations in Nigeria and actively partner with the government in driving national development.
He assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that safeguards investments and delivers sustainable returns.
Speaking at the event, ASUS E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, expressed appreciation to partners, government representatives, and customers for their support.
He explained that the flagship store was conceived to provide consumers with direct access to authentic ASUS products, and expressed confidence that the partnership with Konga will further accelerate the brand’s growth and strengthen customer engagement in the region.
The experience centre features dedicated sections showcasing ASUS’ complete portfolio of premium laptops, gaming devices, AI-powered PCs, and cutting-edge innovations. A standout attraction is an interactive digital display that allows visitors to explore ASUS’ latest technologies virtually before making purchase decisions, creating a more engaging and informed customer journey. Plus, every ASUS device purchased through the flagship store or online on Konga comes with a special one-year replacement warranty at no extra cost.
In his remark, Chief Operating Officer of Konga Group, Dave Omoregie, said the flagship store reflects Konga’s deliberate strategy to give Nigerian consumers a seamless blend of online and offline retail.
He noted that Konga’s logistics network, payment infrastructure, and nationwide retail footprint uniquely position the company to support global brands like ASUS at scale, while ensuring customers enjoy authentic products backed by reliable after-sales service.
According to him, the partnership demonstrates what becomes possible when world-class technology brands trust Nigerian platforms to deliver exceptional experiences, adding that Konga remains committed to setting the operational standard for authentic technology retail across the country.
The launch further reinforces the enduring partnership between ASUS and Konga, built on shared values of innovation, authenticity, and customer satisfaction.
It also highlights Konga’s continued evolution beyond traditional e-commerce into a comprehensive omnichannel technology ecosystem that combines online convenience with physical retail experiences.
For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the new ASUS Flagship Experience Store represents more than a retail outlet; it is a symbol of confidence in Nigeria’s technology market. It highlights Konga’s commitment to bridging the gap between global technology brands and Nigerian consumers. With its robust logistics infrastructure, digital payment solutions, and nationwide physical retail presence, Konga continues to set the standard for authentic, accessible, and reliable technology retail across Africa.
The flagship store opening featured guided product demonstrations, immersive technology experiences, exclusive launch-day offers and customer engagement activities celebrating this historic milestone.
Customers can begin shopping immediately at the ASUS Flagship Experience Store, located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos. Visitors can explore authentic ASUS products, experience live product demonstrations, receive expert guidance, and access dedicated Starlink customer-support services.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice; Olatunji Rilwan Disu, inspector-general of Police, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that more than ₦6.79 billion in public funds were missing, diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The allegations are contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, the organisation urged the government to ensure that anyone implicated in the report is prosecuted and that all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition are recovered.
“Anyone suspected to be responsible—including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the report—should be promptly prosecuted, while all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be fully recovered, secured and properly accounted for.”
SERAP described the Auditor-General’s findings as a serious breach of public trust.
“The Auditor-General’s findings suggest a grave betrayal of the public trust and raise serious concerns about corruption and the management of public funds, police exhibits, firearms and ammunition.”
The organisation also expressed concern over allegations involving missing firearms, unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, and poor storage of weapons.
“The report also raises serious concerns over missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, creating significant risks to public safety and national security.”
According to SERAP, the alleged diversion of funds meant for policing and the reported irregularities have weakened the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The diversion of funds meant for policing, abandoned security projects, missing firearms and ammunition, and the misuse of police exhibits undermine the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, weaken public confidence and may contribute to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.”
The organisation said the Auditor-General’s report documented several alleged financial irregularities, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, irregular procurement, unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims and payments for services allegedly not rendered.
“The report documented numerous alleged financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, and irregular procurement.”
“The report also documented unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims, payments for services allegedly not rendered, and other suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion.”SERAP further cited allegations of missing firearms and ammunition, failures to properly account for recovered weapons and exhibits, and insecure storage of firearms.
“The allegations also include missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.”
The organisation gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its demands, warning that it would pursue legal action if no response is received.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
SERAP also argued that the allegations, if left unaddressed, would violate constitutional provisions requiring the government to combat corruption and safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians.
Among the specific findings cited from the Auditor-General’s report were allegations of payments for abandoned and unexecuted police projects worth hundreds of millions of naira, inflated contract values, unretired cash advances, irregular procurement processes, unsettled insurance claims exceeding ₦681 million, over ₦1 billion in uncleared insurance policy liabilities, missing firearms and ammunition, unauthorised release of police exhibits, and contracts allegedly awarded without due diligence by the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
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