Tecno Nigeria and Co-Creation Hub, a Lagos based technology development centre have joined hands in creating locally relevant software applications suited for its Nigerian phone market.
Chidi Okonkwo, Tecno deputy general manager, said that the contest, is to “give Nigerian developers the opportunity to create interesting software applications for its growing local customers.”
Speaking during the Developer Parapo, an event organised by the Co-Creation Hub that brings a top technology player in contact with the Hub’s growing community of over 1,500 individuals and organisations, Okonkwo said: “Nigeria does about 50 per cent of Tecno’s African market.”
According to him, as at the end of year 2012, Tecno Nigeria sold about 12 million units of their phones in Nigeria, noting this is a great leap from 335,000 units sold in 2008 when Tecno first ventured into the African market.”
Citing GFK January 2012 Mobile Sales Data on Nigeria, he added: “Tecno has 20.4 per cent market share, coming second after Nokia which holds about 42.7 per cent share at number one.”
The mobile application challenge, according to Okonkwo, “is open to Nigerian, Kenyan and Ethiopian citizens. It is expected to run through the year, and the winners announced in the last quarter of 2013.”
Describing the contest, Tunji Elesho, pre-Incubation and research lead of the Co-Creation Hub, said: “This application challenge, channeled towards people interested in building software applications, is like none other.”
Tecno Telecom Limited, established July 2006 in Hong Kong, came into the African mobile market in 2008, and currently has its presence in 17 African markets.