The Computerise Nigeria Project (CNP) has said it will within six months open 13 robust computer shops to be known as CNP Arena, across the country where computers and peripherals will be sold at rock bottom prices to members of the public. The objective of the CNP is to encourage IT penetration across in the country. The 13 arenas to be launched this time will be spread - two each, to the six geo-political zones of the country and one in Abuja. The CNP Arena is an all inclusive shop that evokes a confrontation between the consumer and a wide range of Zinox Computers and other international brands such as HP, Toshiba and Acer. This will mark the next achievement level for the Computerize Nigeria Project.
This new strategy was disclosed recently by Prof.Oye Ibidapo-Obe, chairman, Computerize Nigeria Project(CNP) while speaking to journalists on the new CNP strategies to push further the frontiers of IT penetration in Nigeria
Ibidapo-Obe described the CNP Arena as an entirely new concept by which a wide range of IT products is brought within the reach of a greater number of Nigerians in an effort at promoting digital knowledge democracy. "The CNP Arena would return the power of choice to the Nigerian IT consumer through a display of world-class IT products from the most credible original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the world", he said.
He added that only world class computer products such as Zinox, HP, Toshiba and ACER would be on display at these Arena/Shops even as he hinted that desktops, laptops, UPS, software and computer accessories would form the main focus of these shops.
He observed that before now the CNP was marketing only the Zinox brand of computers but has had to accommodate more brands on the CNP stable because of the need to give the consumer greater choice and stabilise the prices. Also, he said that in spite of the new strategy and present disposition, only internationally certified brands would find a place on the shelves at the CNP Arena and confirmed that the Computerise Nigeria Project has entered into strong partnership with these manufacturers in order to deliver value at a highly reduced total cost of ownership to the Nigerian consumers.
Ibidapo-Obe however pointed out that CNP will only sell products to individuals, co-operatives, educational institutions and other organized associations where prices could be an issue and has no mandate to participate in commercial bids or supply corporate organizations. "This is a strong condition to our partnership with these reputable OEMs and that is why the prices you will get in these shops shall be the lowest anywhere in West Africa".
Ibidapo-Obe expressed the view that the CNP Arena would be a huge investment that could only be justified by the value that the concept would add to the Nigerian economy. "It would create more employment for Nigerians. It will also bring the potentials of IT nearer to the grassroots and generate alternative sources of livelihood - more people would be self employed".
He added that the spiral effect of the CNP Arena in the six geo-political zones would be felt positively in all spheres of life - agriculture, education, health, commerce and industry as our mandate is to drastically reduce the total cost of ownership of computers in Nigeria so that our people can afford it.
He explained that the country had reached a point where: "the use of ICT had become a necessity in order to move the country to the next level of development if we must be part of the global community in the next ten years in assuring our focus on the attainment of our National Vision 2020".
