It is quite unusual in Nigeria to have two network operators sponsor the same event and it is even more surprising when the rival companies in question speak on the same day to the same audience.
But this was the case yesterday at the ongoing Mobile Web West Africa 2013 (MWWA2013) conference, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Deepak Srivastava, chief operating officer and executive director at Airtel Nigeria, set the ball rolling with his presentation in which he spoke extensively on how his company is doing a lot in the telecoms sector without making a song and dance about it like other operators.
He was most likely referring to Etisalat, the other operator covering the event.
Srivastava spoke extensively on Airtel’s numerous laudable achievements in spite of its late entrance into Nigeria’s mobile sector that had already matured.
He also mentioned the company’s 3.75G nationwide coverage and efforts at connecting people at the grassroots.
Etisalat sent a delegation of young ladies and gentlemen led by Bankole Alao, Manager of data services, from its Nigerian base.
Alao spoke at length on the network’s successes with special emphasis on their efforts in support of app developers. He mentioned the company’s geek force and eazywallet innovation, which helps users access their mobile money accounts.
He also accused its rivals of copying Etisalat’s innovation. “When we introduce one thing, they do the same. Before you know it, replica of our ideas are everywhere,” he said.
Similar the Airtel boss, the Etisalat representative also attempted to lobby the techies at the conference.
He mentioned the company’s recent partnerships with 2go, Eskimi and soon-to-be officially cloud-based biNu app.
At yesterday’s session, the absence of the regulatory agencies monitoring the telecommunications sector in Nigeria was also felt.
With the two networks attempting to outsell each other to the international collections of delegates, the presence of the regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), would have given participants a sense of trust and room for fact checking.
Furthermore, the Communications Technology Ministry was absent at the event.
When speaking to HumanIPO at Social Media Week Lagos earlier this year, the ministry said it was supporting many innovations and local app developers in helping them create a market for their products.
But when HumanIPO contacted the minister’s special media assistant for a reason why they were not participating in MWWA2013, we received three words – “Ask the organisers”.
The organisers told HumanIPO they attempted to invite the government representatives, but blamed logistics and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
