Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Saturday launched an Innovation and Experience (I&E) center in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub with an investment of six million U.S. dollars.
The center, being the first in West Africa, is set up to be an experience center where people can witness global best practice, exchange ideas, explore business solutions through innovation and also a platform to develop win-win information and communications technology (ICT) eco-system.
"Huawei will continuously adhere to its strategic focus, investment, and the relentless pursuit of strategic breakthrough to face all challenges together with its partners," Frank Li, the Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Ltd., said at the ceremony.
The company, which has cover 16 years of experience in the Nigerian market, said it is dedicated to investment of industry innovation driven by both customer needs and new technologies.
Huawei officials told Xinhua that the center will also serve as a training platform to nurture more ICT talents thus Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited will sign a Joint Innovation MOU with the University of Lagos for this purpose.
On his part, Nigeria's Minister for Communications, Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, said the government is leveraging the benefits of the digital revolution with strategic partnership with Huawei as a leading global supplier of ICT products, solutions and services.
He lauded the company's contribution in empowering Nigerian youths in ICT and the plans to establish a world class ICT center in the country.
The Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Chao Xiaoliang, said that the Chinese government has always encouraged Chinese companies to engage in corporate social responsibility wherever they invest.
Huawei Innovation and Experience Center was built on 500 square meters and established under the concept of "Cloud", which enables visitors to share Huawei global resources.
The ICT industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Nigerian economy, with a 30 percent yearly increase rate.
