General News
AnabelMobile is Simply a Smartphone-Okoye
Nicholas Okoye, managing director/chief executive officer, AnabelMobile is a consummate professional. He has experience in the finance and international capital markets and has worked with Merryl Lynch, United States of America. Okoye was also head of Strategy at the Nigerian Stock Exchange and group executive director at Transcorp and acting chief executive at Nitel for a brief period
Why AnabelMobile
There were two major issues that informed this bold step – if you look at the telecoms industry in Nigeria and of course, Africa, you will find out that there are no local players in the devices and handsets space. It is dominated by international brands and I thought there was a need for a Nigerian appeal in that particular niche of the market space. Particular of interest was once I tried to set the date and time of one of my international brand phones but could not find Nigeria on their menu but every country in the world was there. That was very annoying to me that Nigeria was not recognized by any of these brands meanwhile, they dominate in our market place and make a lot of money from Nigeria. So, I felt that the only reason that is happening is because we are not doing it ourselves and rather than going out to preach to our people on the need to design our own phones and manufacture something that is designed for us with our own embedded technologies, music, aspects that refer to us; I decided we could do it ourselves and put everything together, went out and did it! In addition to that, we decided that within the phone space, it has to be Smartphones. Smartphones are otherwise known as pocket PCs. These are phones that are able to act like computers, so they run on computer operating systems – ours run on Windows Mobile. They have central processing units (CPUs) and chips just like any other computer, and you can actually do your work on the move as if it were your office. Our phones have power point – you can programme your presentations and deliver them from the phone. They also have Excel, Word, Notes, as well as e-mail – all the office software products that you need on the PC or a laptop; you have them on your Anabel Smartphone. So, this tells us that is the future of the telecoms industry – Smartphones – and that was what we felt Africans needed to embrace because you find out that there is a lot of talk about bridging the digital divide in Africa, getting African people to understand and use information technology, but it is much more difficult to train somebody in the village who is barely literate, on how to use a computer. It is quite easy to train them on how to use a computerized phone because most of them are already using phones; they understand phones; they make both local and international calls; grandmas make and receive calls in every village right now. If I were to give grandma a Smartphone, it would be easier for me to train her on how to use it as opposed to training her to use a computer. So, I believe that the future is Smartphones and that is why we went into this business.
Windows Operating System as for AnabelMobile
Windows was chosen after a healthy debate and deep scrutiny of all the operating systems that are available to tier-one manufacturers and new manufacturers like us. We chose Windows because it is the best. That is one reason. Another is that it is the most compatible with PCs. So if you actually want your phone and your PC to be synchronized, Windows Mobile gives the best opportunity to do that because 95 percent of PCs in the world run on Windows operating system. If you want to give people an opportunity to synchronize seamlessly with their handheld devices such as Smartphones, Windows would be an ideal product to do that. Having said that, it is the best operating system; it has very interesting and unique applications which customers enjoy – the Outlook connects your e-mails seamlessly with your office, as well as connects your regular e-mails like Yahoomail and Gmail. It also allows you to do active Live Messenger from your phone. It is a very unique operating system which I think we made a good choice on, and it has Microsoft’s support. For us as new manufacturers, to use untested software system might be more of a challenge. So, that informed our choice of Windows operating system.
Cost of the Devices
There is a price range for the four models of AnabelMobile phones. We have an entry model and the more sophisticated model. The entry model would come out at a price point of about N39, 000; and a price point of about N59,000 for the more sophisticated model. Note that these are not written in stone, they might be adjusted in due course. But, we would try as much as possible to push these phones in an affordable way; we are coming at a very competitive price point. For low income earners, there is the Microfinance Bank. You spread the cost of that phone over 12 months and it comes out to less than N3,500 per month. Now most of the folks in the village who are doing business would need a computerized phone to enhance their operations because the phone is not just about making calls. It can do much more. So if somebody in the village needs to have a sophisticated work tool like this for N39,000, then the Microfinance Bank has an opportunity here and we are going to be meeting with them so that they can support these people in the village to have these kinds of tools.
Capturing Nigerian and African Market
In terms of market share, our focus mainly is the customer. We are going to be a disciplined company; we are going to listen to our customers; we are going to ask them what they want and we will endeavour to deliver on their request. Now, we are setting up a special network site called myanabel.com where citizens of the Anabel community – those who have bought our products and those who feel an affiliation with Anabel brand – can join that community and communicate to us what they think, how we can improve, what we can improve on because nobody has monopoly of ideas. Whatever the customers come up with, once it is consistent and spread across the globe, we will implement those ideas and give customers what they want. We believe that when you focus on the customers, the market share is yours for the taking. So, rather than focusing on the market share, we will focus on the customers, and what they would do is vote with their cash; they will vote with their demand and the rest becomes history. Our prospects depend solely on the customer, if the customer is unhappy with our products, then of course, we will move in a different direction. If otherwise, then our prospects are bright. It is all about what the customer wants; the prospects are tied clearly to that customer approach. We are not going to run our company like some others have done – they come up with ideas and force them down the customers’ throat. We want the customers to tell us what they want and then, we would implement them if they are worth it.
AnabelMobile Factories
We intend to actually have a factory in Nigeria in the next 3 – 4years but that would depend to a large extent on the power situation in the country. We are dealing with an international brand and we cannot be manufacturing at a loss when other international brands are doing that cost effectively. In that case, we need to make sure that the conditions for manufacturing these kinds of products are good and the power situation has been taken care of. I expect it should be taken care of in the next 3 – 4years, so we are planning in that direction.
Introducing Affordability Models
We do intend to service different segments of the market. The market segment that we are focused on now is the businesspersons, the professionals and the sophisticated students. Those aspects of the market that require phones that are little more affordable (if you will) – we would be providing phones for them. They may not necessarily be Smartphones but they would be good feature phones, and we would create features that everyone would be excited about. We have people in our research and development unit in the U.S working on such solutions as we speak, and when those solutions are ready, we will be very happy to announce to Nigerians that we have been able to crack coming up with a feature phone, with the best features in the world at the most affordable price. So, we are working on that but I cannot give you the details of that, but I can tell you that it is something that will make the Nigerian populace and customers very excited.
Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called for stronger collaboration among government regulators to accelerate the establishment of Nigeria’s National Regulatory Sandbox, describing inter-agency cooperation as the cornerstone for building an innovation-friendly regulatory ecosystem.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Mrs. Victoria Fabunmi, delivering his remarks at the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshop held in Abuja.
Speaking through the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Ms. Victoria Fabunmi, at the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshop in Abuja, Inuwa said the success of the initiative depends on regulators working collectively to develop a framework that promotes technological innovation while preserving regulatory integrity and public trust.
He noted that the workshop marks a significant transition from the design phase of the project to its implementation stage, where regulators are expected to jointly refine and validate the proposed governance structure before its rollout.
According to him, ONDI has spent several months laying the foundation for the initiative through extensive stakeholder consultations, ecosystem mapping, regulatory assessments and the preparation of a draft governance and implementation framework.
“The work completed so far provides a solid foundation, but the National Regulatory Sandbox can only achieve its objectives through collective ownership by all relevant regulatory institutions,” he said.
The NITDA Director General explained that the Technical Working Group was deliberately established as a collaborative platform to harness the expertise, experience and statutory mandates of participating agencies in shaping a regulatory model tailored to Nigeria’s innovation landscape.
He said the workshop was designed to critically review the proposed governance framework, test its assumptions and incorporate practical recommendations from stakeholders to ensure that the final model is inclusive, effective and adaptable to the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Inuwa observed that while government institutions have different regulatory responsibilities, those differences should be viewed as strengths that can support the development of a coordinated and flexible implementation framework capable of responding to emerging technologies.
He further stated that the engagement would also establish clear implementation pathways, strengthen institutional partnerships and identify priority actions required to operationalise the National Regulatory Sandbox.
Expressing optimism about the outcome of the deliberations, the NITDA boss said the workshop would help build a shared national vision for the initiative while creating an enabling environment where innovators can safely develop, test and scale new technologies under appropriate regulatory supervision.
He commended participants for their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem and encouraged them to make meaningful contributions that would shape a practical, innovation-driven regulatory framework capable of supporting sustainable economic growth and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.
Speaking on the National Regulatory Sandbox journey and current worksream, Ms Ojonoka Yusufu, Implementing Partner Druve, said the initiative would provide a coordinated framework through which innovators and regulators can work together to test emerging technologies while ensuring compliance with existing laws and regulations.
She explained that the workshop was convened to build a shared understanding among participating regulators and stakeholders, develop consensus on the Sandbox’s operating model, identify implementation gaps before rollout and agree on the next steps for its successful implementation.
“We do not have anything set in stone yet. The idea is to work together to build a common understanding and ensure that all participating regulators and stakeholders are aligned on the objectives and implementation of the National Regulatory Sandbox,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Yusufu noted that Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector remains one of the country’s highest contributors to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while the nation’s startup ecosystem continues to attract significant global investment.
She observed that Nigerian startups are creating jobs, attracting foreign investment and positioning the country as a leading innovation destination in Africa. According to her, the rapid expansion of startups beyond traditional sectors such as financial technology into healthcare, mobility, agriculture and other industries has made closer regulatory coordination increasingly necessary.
Yusufu added that the National Regulatory Sandbox is backed by the Nigeria Startup Act, providing the legal foundation required to drive responsible innovation and improve the country’s regulatory environment.
She described the Sandbox as a collaborative, multi-agency innovation governance mechanism that complements, rather than replaces, existing regulatory institutions.
Techeconomy, a leading technology and digital economy publication, will celebrate its ninth anniversary with a one-day conference and awards ceremony aimed at promoting conversations on Nigeria’s digital economy and recognising excellence in innovation and technology leadership.
Techeconomy
The anniversary event, scheduled for Sept. 24 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, will feature GrowthX by Techeconomy, a conference expected to bring together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, investors and innovators to examine the future of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The event will also host the Technology Innovation and Leadership Awards (TiLAwards), which will honour organisations and individuals for outstanding contributions to innovation, leadership and digital transformation across various sectors.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Peter Oluka, Editor of Techeconomy and organiser of the event, said, the anniversary celebration is intended to reflect on Nigeria’s technology journey over the past nine years while fostering dialogue on emerging opportunities and challenges shaping the country’s digital future.
Oluka said the event would provide a platform for stakeholders from the public and private sectors to exchange ideas on technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital policy and economic growth.
He added that the conference would feature keynote presentations, panel discussions and networking sessions involving industry experts, government officials, business executives and technology entrepreneurs.
According to him, the TiLAwards will recognise outstanding organisations and individuals whose innovations and leadership have significantly contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s technology and business ecosystem.
As part of activities marking the anniversary, Techeconomy has invited media organisations to partner with the event through news coverage, publicity and participation.
The publication also expressed appreciation to members of the media and industry stakeholders for their support over the past nine years, describing their collaboration as instrumental to its growth and continued coverage of Nigeria’s technology, business and digital economy.
The organisers said details of the conference programme, speakers and partnership opportunities would be unveiled ahead of the event.
International Trade Union Confederation, (ITUC-Africa), representing trade unions from countries in Africa, has called on Nigeria and other African governments to ensure that industrialisation translates into improved living standards for workers and ordinary citizens.
According to ITUC-Africa, economic growth must lift Nigerians and other Africans out of poverty rather than deepen inequality, frowning at Nigeria’s government plans to remove subsidy on electricity.
Delivering his opening remarks at the New Energy for Africa 11 Convening: African Workers’ Contributions to Energy Sovereignty, Green Industrialization, and a Common African for COP31, Akhator Joel Odigie, general secretary of ITUC-Africa, said, industrialisation remains central to Nigeria and Africa’s liberation and development agenda but warned that it would be meaningless if it failed to improve the welfare of the continent’s people.
He faulted the plans by the Nigerian government to remove so-called subsidy on electricity in 2027, arguing that it is aimed at satisfying the Bretton Woods institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank.
According to him, such removal would worsen the poverty rate in Nigeria and regress any marginal progress towards industrialisation. Subsidy removal will make electricity inaccessible to workers and the majority of the citizens.
He said, “As we speak now, Nigeria is talking of subsidy removal on electricity. The plan is not to satisfy or help Nigerians, but IMF, World Bank and other donor countries. The talk that subsidy is bad economics is a lie. All developed economies depended on public sector-driven electricity and not private sector.
“For us as Africans, industrialisation is central to our liberation and development. It is part of our aspiration to define our own identity and achieve shared prosperity through an industrialised Africa. Unfortunately, that vision has yet to be realised.
“We have also come to understand that lamenting our circumstances is not enough. Identifying the barriers to Africa’s development or pointing fingers at those who may be responsible does not move us forward. The more important question is: What next? What solutions can we pursue together?
“It is from that perspective that we confront the reality that more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, while privatisation continues to deny many people affordable access to energy. This compels us to ask: What can we do differently?”
According to him, organised labour believes industrialisation can be achieved without worsening the climate crisis if governments, workers and development partners commit to energy justice.
Odigie noted that “When we speak about sustainable industrialisation, we are asking how Africa can industrialise without increasing environmental degradation or worsening the climate challenges our people already experience every day.
“We know this is possible. But it will require negotiation, compromise and genuine partnerships. It demands serious discussions on technology transfer, skills development and financing.”
He stressed that developing technical skills and mobilising investment for energy infrastructure are essential if Africa is to industrialise sustainably, saying “These are not impossible skills to acquire. With the right investment and commitment, Africa can build them. Equally important is access to finance and the resources needed to develop the infrastructure that will support sustainable industrialisation.
“An industrialised Africa has little meaning if it does not improve the lives of our people. Our vision is an Africa where prosperity is shared.
“We must reverse the growing phenomenon of the working poor. We must end the situation where women, children and older persons bear the greatest burden whenever governments attempt to balance national budgets.
“What does prosperity mean if ordinary people cannot enjoy a decent quality of life? A worker who returns home after a long day’s work should be able to switch on a fan during hot weather, watch television, listen to the news and spend meaningful time with family because electricity is available, reliable and affordable.
“If our people cannot enjoy these basic necessities, then what kind of prosperity are we really talking about?
“Energy justice means energy that is accessible, affordable and capable of improving people’s lives.”
Odigie also renewed ITUC-Africa’s campaign for stronger public participation in Africa’s energy sector, citing Finland as an example of how governments can ensure affordable electricity while working with private investors.
“Recently, we visited Finland, where we observed a successful model that combines public and private participation, with strong public leadership. Energy there is affordable. In fact, electricity costs less in Finland than it does here in Nairobi.
“Our hosts explained that this is possible because the state retains an important role in the energy sector, including the ability to influence pricing to ensure affordability for everyone.”
Ahead of the COP31 climate negotiations, he called for closer collaboration between organised labour and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), saying trade unions are partners in governance rather than adversaries.
“Trade unions are not antagonistic to governments, even though we are sometimes misunderstood.
“Our responsibility is to strengthen accountability and help governments perform better because, from time to time, leaders can become too comfortable.”
Using a metaphor that drew applause from participants, Odigie likened the role of trade unions to keeping leaders “close to the fire.”
“Our responsibility is to keep the feet of our leaders close to the fire so that their heads do not become too cold. We want them to continue thinking clearly, making sound decisions and remaining connected to the realities faced by ordinary people.
“That is why we are not in opposition. We are not enemies.”
He said organised labour’s partnership with the AGN is intended to ensure African governments enter international climate negotiations with the full backing of workers across the continent.
Speaking, Dr Nana Amoah, chair of the African Group of Negotiators, AGN, said Africa’s energy transition presents both an urgent challenge and a historic opportunity, lamenting that “More than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, even though our continent possesses exceptional solar, wind, hydro and geothermal resources. Yet Africa continues to receive only a very small share of global clean-energy investment.”
Represented by Dr George Manful, AGN Senior Advisor, Amoah, said: “This imbalance must be corrected if the transition is to support Africa’s development rather than reproduce existing patterns of dependence, extraction and inequality.
“For the African Group of Negotiators, a just transition cannot be measured solely by installed megawatts, emissions reductions or new electricity connections. It must also be measured by the quality of jobs created, affordability of energy, protection of workers, participation of women and young people, development of local industries, and the capacity of African countries to retain value from their natural resources.
“Initiatives such as Mission 300 must therefore go beyond expanding access. They must strengthen public institutions, mobilise affordable and debt-sensitive finance, support local manufacturing and skills development, and guarantee that no worker, community or vulnerable group is left behind.
“Africa’s critical minerals must similarly become a foundation for green industrialisation—not another chapter of raw-material extraction. Our policies must promote local processing, technology transfer, decent work, environmental integrity and equitable participation in global value chains.”
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