With the news of Facebook’s recent plan to open a second office in Nigeria, PIUS IMA-ABASI analyses how this major move could help improve the level of digital innovation in Nigeria
It comes as no surprise to many that Facebook’s recent announcement of its plan to open an office in Lagos, Nigeria, has stirred mixed feelings amongst Nigerians, as a large percentage of the population are having a hard time figuring out how this major development would help to empower the millions of youths roaming the streets in search of jobs, or in any way, ease the financial hardship currently being experienced in the country.
However, while this appears to be the million-dollar question on the minds of the majority of Nigerians, there seem to be some who see this development as a major move that could significantly improve the level of digital innovation in the country.
From the look of things, Facebook appears to be gradually shifting focus towards expanding its reach in Africa, as the past few years have seen the social media giant make series of investments worth billions of dollars across the continent, most of which have been geared towards supporting the African tech ecosystem.
Since the opening of their first office in South Africa in 2015, Facebook has gone on to fund a series of projects to support students, digital creatives, female entrepreneurs, start-ups, and developers across Africa.
Facebook seems to be building some of the largest Internet infrastructures in Africa, as just recently, it partnered several of the world’s top telecom companies to launch 2Africa, the world’s largest subsea cable project which is intended to help improve internet capacity across Africa.
Upon the completion of this major project, over 16 African countries are expected to be provided with improved Internet access. This clearly shows that its decision to open an office in Lagos which will house a team of engineers and several other teams from other departments like sales, partnerships, policy and communication, is no coincidence.
Commenting on the company’s recent plan to open the office by the second half of 2021, Facebook’s Head of New Product Experimentation, Ime Archibong, explained how the successful execution of the project, would help to improve the level of digital innovation in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.
“The opening of our new office in Lagos, Nigeria presents new and exciting opportunities in digital innovations to be developed from the continent and taken to the rest of the world. All across Africa, we’re seeing immense talent in the tech ecosystem, and I’m proud that with the upcoming opening of our new office, we’ll be building products for the future of Africa, and the rest of the world, with Africans at the helm. We look forward to contributing further to the African tech ecosystem,” he explained.
Also commenting was the Regional Director, Facebook Africa, Nunu Ntshingila, who said, “We’re delighted to be announcing our new office in Nigeria. Five years on from opening our first office on the continent in Johannesburg, South Africa, we’re continuing to invest in and support local talent, as well as the various communities that use our platforms. The office in Lagos will also be key in helping to expand how we service our clients across the continent.”
As it stands currently, every indication seems to be pointing at the fact that the move made by Facebook could prove to be beneficial to a large number of Nigerians, especially the tech-savvy.
Over the years, Facebook has worked towards investing in Africa, and with a large part of this investment going into empowering young Africans to help develop their tech and business skills. Interestingly, Nigerians have been the major beneficiaries of these investments, as most of the facilities set up by Facebook to achieve these goals are currently situated in Nigeria.
A good example is their first community hub space in Africa, NG Hub, situated in Lagos, launched in collaboration with Co-creation Hub to attract young talent and drive innovation in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
Ever since Facebook ventured into the African market, the social media giant has not just helped to provide affordable social services but has also helped to improve digital innovation across the continent. Since the launch of its first office in Africa in 2015, Facebook has worked towards building a wide range of top-notch digital infrastructures that could benefit young Nigerians, but it appears that the majority of youths are oblivious to these opportunities.
With the world constantly evolving, there is a growing need for Nigerians to sustain their interest in digital technologies, as they could be integral to the nation’s development.
