In the quest to create a homegrown Phone Manufacturing Firm, Business mogul, Obinna Iyiegbu popularly known as Obi Cubana has set out in search of indigenous techies that will create a smartphone brand for the African market.
The popular philanthropist threw up an open invitation during an Instagram live video session where he stated: “I’m calling on the tech-sarvy guys. I want somebody that can come up with an innovation and say, “Obi, I have all the features plus more.”
Recall that Obi Cubana is also a Co-founder of New Age Mobile Concepts Ltd, a maker of New Age Power Bank, phone chargers, and other phone accessories, which was re-launched in Lagos recently.
During the Instagram Live session monitored and reported by Techeconomy, Cubana said: “I’ve been wondering, all these guys that are Tech-savvy, youngsters. I know you guys are out there millions, thousands, tens of you. But I’ve been wondering why you’ve not been able to develop a telephone, a brand of phone. Just like what we have Apple, Samsung…doing.
He continued: “So I have this great idea, I need an African to create a smartphone for Africans, and we make it the biggest thing of the decade…..yes we can!!!!”
He further queried: “Why have we not been able… a black man, African, a Nigerian, develop a product, affordable but has all the features like what I’m using to make this live video right now and say, ‘”This is made by one of us, for all of us.
“If I see a guy that says he has the concept and wherewithal to develop a telephone, a mobile phone. A guy that says, “This has been made for us by one of us”. And then we look at it. I will sponsor the guy and bring everything that is needed.”
“And then we come up with a rugged, fanciful, beautiful and affordable phone for our people. We will support this person, market the idea, sell the phone and even use part of the proceed to do charity to save people and to send people back to school,” he said in parts.
It will be recalled that in June 2021, the Model Skills Training Centre of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), an agency under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment launched one of 12 phones it said was fabricated using locally sourced materials. The phone has however not made any impact in the market.
In 2017, AfriOne Limited, a technology-driven enterprise inaugurated its manufacturing and assembly plant for made in Nigeria phones and other tech devices, and subsequently in April same year unveilrd the AfriOne Gravity Z1 phone as the first made-in-Nigeria smartphone. This also has not made any impact in the Nigeria phone market.
