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Archos Eyes about 40% Nigeria’s Smart Devices Market -Olukotun

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Ademola Olukotun is the country manager, Archos in Nigeria
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Ademola Olukotun is the country manager, Archos in Nigeria. He is a seasoned product manager with a vast experience in start-up businesses to a world class standard.
Ademola was a foundation staff of Visafone Communication Limited (CDMA Network in Nigeria). He later joined Etisalat Nigeria as one of the foundation staff and also commenced the Devices department of company.
He also worked with Airtel Network Limited as Manager Devices & Partnership and also was a key player in starting up SOLO Phone Nigeria Limited before joining Archos S.A in 2015 to manage the Nigeria business for the company.
In this interview with peter ugwu, he explains Archos’ uniqueness and business opportunities in Nigeria.

User perception of Archos products
Before speaking on that, I want to make it clear how phone distribution in Nigeria is structured. We have the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Archos, the distributors made up of companies that buy the products and resell to the retailers.
Retailers are closer to the consumers. Why I used that analogy as prelude to answering how the perception has been, is that these partners have their ways of reviewing a product. For instance, the retailers the likes of Slot, Micro Station, etc., most customers have one time or the other patronised either of these retailers.
They have actually accepted us well. The reason being that, most their MDs or CEOs who are widely traveled, have come in contact with Archos before we launched in Nigeria. So, it was not a ‘new product’ to them when we came in.
 It gave us an edge and made our marketing very easy. We have been in business since 1988 and about 80% of them have come in contact with us. On the customers’ perspective, we have cutting-edge SkYous (models) of smart devices.
We launched into the market six smartphones and two tablets. That was very interesting and huge for a new entrant. We deliberately did that; to give customers verities to choose from.
They might same operating system, but different in terms of pricing, resolutions, screen size, etc. Archos pedigree created attention and the verities created exceptions.
As the Company to produce the first android tablet and have partnership with Google, will tell you that we have the intention to replicate that in this market too.

Unique Selling Proportion
Some people are already comparing the devices with others in the market and are beginning to see the differences.
For instance, certain brands would promise our entertainment freak youths the opportunity to download music; video and play on the go, but looking at the capacity of the device you will tell the experiences have not been as promised.
In Archos, the unique selling point in the area of entertainment is that you can squeeze or zip-up contents, creating room for more and enjoy them at your convenient.
Talking about our slogan ‘Entertainment You Way’ is basically that part of human life today is ‘tied’ to devices.
I can’t imagine myself doing away with my phone or laptop or tablet. What we have done is to make the gadget to be part of us; we have the best of them in terms of video, music, and getting additional accessories.

Archos Connected Objects and Accessories
Apart from the smartphones, tablets, we have connected objects that give users different experiences.
For instance the virtual reality glasses can be used to watch 3HD videos; which is first of its kind. The headsets come in various SkYous.
We have one for the bourgeois; serving like a head-warmer. With it, you can receive your calls, play music. It has multi-functional dimension. They are still part of the things that set us apart in the market.

Why Introducing Six smartphones In Same Market, Same Day?
Yes, the smartphones are predominately using Android operating system. In other words, there are basic features that every Andorid phone must have, like emails, social media-Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WasApp, BBM, among others.
If anyone is launching an Android phone and tells you these are unique features, it is not the brand rather the operating system. Why we introduced such number of phones, for emphasis, was aimed at creating opportunity for every class of people in the society to have the purchasing power.
All of them have the social media features, however, what differentiates them are the specs such as screen size, memory size, ROM, etc. we are giving everybody opportunity to have a feel of Archos.

Distribution Strategies
From the onset, we have been to the right phone retails hotspots like Slot, Micro Stations, and other the biggest distributor in the market, called ‘Let Me Distribute’ and they are growing.
Slot, for instance has over 100 locations across the country, but there are still volatile areas that need to be monitored before pushing to those areas.
We expect that with the new government, things will get settled and businesses will thrive in those areas too.
And as the country manager, I have the vision of making Archos products the choice and preferred brand of smart devices for all classes in Nigeria within a record time. What do I mean by this? Archos plans flooding Nigeria with quality and affordable products.
And Archos intends to create a close up and personal relationship with Nigeria and Nigerians, so whatever will impact positively and move Nigeria forward, we are ready to do anything to make that work. Not for myself but also for the future of the new generation.
Archos is poise to garner between 30%- 40% Market share of the Nigeria smart devices market (Smartphones, tablets and accessories). In Nigeria today, 80% of the network users uses feature phones (purely low end phones without data capabilities). In numbers, this means we have approximately 80 million phone users using feature phones. These feature phone users can gradually step up to use Smartphones.
This shows that there is a lot of opportunity to tap into the market. With the affordable Smartphones from Archos, quality will never be compromised and also customer services will also be key to us.
How do we achieve this herculean task, we intend to provide affordable Smartphones and tablets for Nigerian with world class quality.  Secondly back up all our sales with warranty and after sales service.
We are willing to invest heavily into the economy so we are not ready to quite in a hurry. So our spread will be strategic and steady. 

Partnerships
In the era of bring Your Own Device (BYOD), it makes sense to partner organizations, especially in the area of smartphone adoption. What we are doing presently is bundle educational contents in some of our tablets, exclusively for schools.
It is in interesting at this time most schools are phasing out ‘hard’ libraries and focus on digital or e-libraries. So, as the world is evolving we are following the trends too. It is a work in progress; hopefully, the schools will start using Archos devices in no distant time.  

ARCHOS Products and NCC Type Approved, SON Certification
Yes. All Archos devices have gone through both certifications. I will like to state categorically that Archos is not just a green horn in the telephone industry.
Archos has been existing, since 1988 with so many milestones for instance Archos is the first brand to launch the first Android tablet in the world.
Over time, we have strategically made an in route into so many Countries like France, Poland, Senegal, Russia, United States of America, Spain, England etc. Archos is one of the leading EU brands. So whatever we do, we adhere strictly to the ethics of the sector and Nigeria is no exception.
We respect the rules guiding every market where we operate. So, our products: smart phones – Archos 40C Titanium, Archos 50B Archos Platinum, Archos 50b Oxygen,  Archos 50b Neon (All Smartphones) and for tablets, we have Archos 101b XS2 tablets(WIFI only), Archos 101 Xenon, Archos 80b Xenon; these are type approved.
 
After Sales Support
We understand the important of after sells services. That is why we are partnering Cellular Service Logistics (CSL), to ensure our phone; tablets users get the best services. We have categories of services too.
The first is based on cases of warranty; if it happens to be manufacturer’s default, we do outright replacement instantly. Other aspect entails minor damages or slipping in water, they (CSL) have the pact.
They have been in the business for donkey years. Their spreads covers major areas in the country and can be easily reached.


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New Tax Law Empowers NRS to Fine Offenders up to N10m

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The newly enacted Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, has empowered the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), renamed Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), to impose fines for individuals and companies for failing to register, file returns, use tax technology, or disclose basic information like a change of business address.

New Tax Law Empowers NRS to Fine Offenders up to N10m

The Act is among the tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu on June 26.

The tax administration law is expected to take effect from January 1, 2026, under a renamed agency — the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), currently known as the FIRS.

The Act, which is an updated version of previous fragmented tax enforcement provisions, outlines a comprehensive list of offences and corresponding penalties, with fines ranging from N10,000 to N10 million, as well as prison terms of up to 10 years for serious breaches.

Under the general offences and penalties section of the law, a taxable person who fails to register with the relevant tax authority is liable to a N50,000 fine in the first month and N25,000 for each subsequent month of default.

The Act stressed that companies that award contracts to unregistered vendors will face a N5 million penalty.

The law also imposes a N100,000 fine for failure to file tax returns, plus N50,000 monthly for as long as the failure continues.

“A taxable person who fails or refuses to file returns or knowingly files incomplete or inaccurate returns to the relevant tax authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act, shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty of (a) 100,000 in the first month in which the failure occurs; and (b) N50,000 for each subsequent month in which the failure continues,” the Act reads.

“A taxable person who Failure to books (a) fails to keep accounts, books and records of business transactions and income, to allow for the correct ascertainment of tax and filing of returns to the relevant tax authority; or (b) upon request by the relevant tax authority, fails to provide any record or book prescribed in this Act shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty of- (i) in the case of a person other than a company, N10,000, and (ii) in the case of a company, N50,000.”

Also, the law states that failure to notify the tax authority of a change of address within 30 days of such change, giving a wrong address, or failing to comply with the requirement for notification of permanent cessation of trade or business under the relevant tax laws shall be liable to an administrative penalty.

“A taxable person who fails to notify the relevant tax authority – Failure to notify change of address (a) N100,000 for the first month in which the failure occurs; and (b) 45,000 for each subsequent month failure persists,” the law reads.

In a bid to modernise tax compliance, the Act makes it compulsory for businesses to allow the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to deploy fiscalisation technology or face a N1 million fine for the first day of refusal and N10,000 for each day after.

Any business that fails to process sales through the fiscalisation system will also be fined N200,000, pay 100 percent of the tax due, and accrue interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) monetary policy rate.

The Act is especially punitive toward those who fail to deduct or remit taxes.

“A person that deducts, collects, or withholds any tax under this Act, and fails to remit the amount deducted, collected, or withheld by the 21st day of the month immediately succeeding the month in which the amount was deducted, collected, or withheld, is liable to pay,” it added.

“Failure to remit tax deducted source or self-account (a) the amount deducted, collected or withheld but not remitted; (b) an administrative penalty of 10% per annum of the tax deducted, collected or withheld but not remitted; and (c) interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria monetary policy rate. “A person convicted of any of the offences under this section shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years, or a fine of not less than the principal amount due plus a penalty of not more than 50% of the sum, or both.

“A person who (a) fails to comply with the requirements of a notice served under this Act or any other tax law; (b) fails to attend or provide answers to a notice, summons or process served under this Act or any other tax law; or (c) having attended, fails to answer any question lawfully put to him, is liable to an administrative penalty of N100,000 in the first day of default and N10,000 for every subsequent day where the default.”


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Taskforce Arrests Six for over Fake Lottery Scam

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Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) has apprehended six suspects allegedly involved in a fraudulent lottery scheme that targeted unsuspecting residents at Iyana-Ipaja.

Taskforce Arrests Six for over Fake Lottery Scam

Those arrested include Amaike Nelson, Kenneth Opuana, Oguntade Olusegun, Ogologo Obi, Goodluck Abel, and Oluwafunmilayo Adebimpe. The syndicate was tracked down following intelligence reports about their activities.

According to the taskforce, the suspects lured a 19-year-old student, identified as Rukayat Kamilu, into a manipulated street game. During the encounter, the group reportedly coerced her into surrendering her mobile phone and personal belongings.

The victim said one of the suspects, later identified as Oguntade Olusegun, posed as a confused passer-by seeking help to pick a “winning number.” After she got involved, her phone was seized, and she was allegedly pressured to pay N100,000 to retrieve it.

Acting on a tip-off, operatives led by CSP Adetayo Akerele, chairman, stormed the area and arrested the suspects. Several empty Android phone boxes, allegedly used as props in the scam, were recovered during the operation.

Condemning the criminal act, Akerele assured residents that the agency is intensifying its crackdown on street scams across the state.

“Our responsibility is to safeguard the lives and property of Lagosians. We will leave no room for such fraudulent activities to thrive,” he stated.

The suspects were subsequently arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court on charges bordering on gambling, extortion, theft, and conspiracy.

They all pleaded guilty. The court ordered that they remain in custody pending further hearing, scheduled for August 7, 2025.


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FG Plans N50m STEEM Grant to Support Student Innovation in August

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In a giant stride to support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic transformation, the Federal Government is set to unveil a N50 million grant for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEEM) students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

The project, which is referred to as the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), is a pioneering initiative designed to empower the students towards building the next generation of scalable, job-creating ventures.

According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo, Friday, the initiative will be formally unveiled in August by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Boriowo stated that the minister made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ engagement session held in Abuja in the presence of vice-chancellors, provosts, rectors, student leaders, academic staff, and development partners, and will chart a collective course for nurturing student-led innovation.

The statement noted that the grant targets full-time undergraduate students in STEMM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences), specifically those in 300 level and above.

“Each selected student-led project will be eligible to receive startup funding of up to N50 million, along with access to mentorship, incubation services and business development support.

“The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to ensure financial transparency, impact measurement and effective project execution.

“S-VCG is not just a grant. It’s a launchpad for bold, young innovators to lead Nigeria’s industrial and technological transformation,” said Alausa.

Speaking at the session, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the grant as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

“We’re building a stronger, more competitive future by supporting innovation from the ground up,” she said, adding that the programme’s design was informed by months of consultation with students, faculty and institutional leaders.

Participants at the event welcomed the STEMM-Up Grant as a timely, strategic and high-impact initiative that will drive youth innovation, tackle graduate unemployment, and position Nigeria as a hub for student-led entrepreneurship in Africa.

 


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