Nigeria’s Best mobile minds converge at mobiFEST 2010.

Nigeria’s first and largest mobile application event will be in Lagos less than five weeks and a key focus for this inaugural event is not surprising.
It is mobile applications and it is in a leading market in Africa where mobile subscription level has surpassed the 50 per cent mark and still counting.
The event is targeted at the M-generation which is upwardly mobile and are ready to go.
According to a recent study in Nigeria by Pyramid Research,it finds that mobile services have positively influenced every aspect of Nigerian mobile end users’ lives. Mobile services are: helping people access information, creating business opportunities, lowering transaction costs and enhancing social interaction. “The study concludes that mobile services have ample reach in Nigeria, with mobile subscriptions in the country reaching almost 73 million by the end of 2009, resulting in a mobile penetration rate of roughly 50 percent of the population,” said Badii Kechiche, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research.
During an intensive survey among the youth community, we have found out that they own multi media devices and mobile phones that are capable of accessing new and digital media but most contents available are not suitable or domesticated for this significant demographics in the Nigerian Mobile VAS ecosystem.
With common opinions pointing at a decreasing voice ARPU in upcoming years, and stressing the strategic need of developing successful VAS products to ensure a resilient and sustainable revenue generation. We assumed the task of sizing up that challenge and identifying which business opportunities are being created or underused, and how the players could or should explore these alternatives.
As an outcome of a deep analysis, we are glad to announce the realization of the mobiFEST 2010, which will be the exclusive event focused on MobileMoneyAfrica experiences to bring together the key players of the mobile industry.
This event will be addressing the critical issues to developing contents with strong compelling use, increase revenue for mobile operators, Device makers and the whole value chain, winning strategies to develop and roll out new products targeted at the Youth segment, business opportunities and comprehensive networking driven agenda. We are absolutely confident that this event will be the official meeting point for the industry’s community.
Some of the subject matter experts in the field of mobile financial services, social networking, mobile applications / contents, devices and mobile marketing will speak at this inaugural event which will be hosted at the Afe Babalola Hall at the University of Lagos.
Some of the Speakers that will share their experiences with the Youth audiences are Samuel Segun Legunsen, Digital  media Head at  Sony electronics UK, Femi Adeagbo, Telecoms consultant and MD SaveMyContacts – UK/Nigeria, Dayo Adefila,Insight communications Nigeria,Kofi Oroh,  Mobitronics – Nigeria. Other are Nicholas Okoye, CEO  at Anabel mobile – Nigeria ,  Abasiama Idaresit,CEO at  wild fusions (Facebook Nigeria partner),Jide Akidele, CEO at MMIT, Akin Naptal – Former Blackberry Manager,Vodafone UK, Publisher, MobileWorld Magazine and Paulette Erijo  a leading social media consultant and Managing Director at  LETCHE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED.
The exhibition will also host Device, Innovation, developers and mobile payment hub with a SIM card registration centre deployed for the students at the two day event.
For full events details, visit www.mobilemoneyafrica.com/mobifest2010.