Respite appears to be on the way for millions of Nigerians bedeviled by the overwhelming abundance of inferior smartphones and other technology devices in the market-place, as a renowned Japanese smart phone company is reportedly set to make a grand entry into the Nigerian and West African market.
Feelers emanating from Japan, headquarters of the ambitious smartphone brand, indicate that the company is putting finishing touches to a bold roll-out plan that will see it expand to over 20 countries.
Interestingly, Nigeria has been identified as the hub of its expansion into Africa.
This is a development that is bound to serve as thrilling news for many Nigerians disillusioned by the increasing prevalence of grey and poor quality products, for which many have pointed the finger at the growing economic influence of China which has resulted in a flood of made-in-China products in the market and the unscrupulous actions of product counterfeiters, among others.
Culturally conservative with an uncompromising eye for quality and a time-honoured tradition of reliability, Japanese brands are renowned the world over for their sheer ability to deliver great value for money. Mega brands such as Toyota, Datsun, Casio, Ajinomoto, Canon Inc., Bridgestone, ASICS, Fujifilm, Konami, General Airconditioners, Hitachi and Kenwood Corporation, among others, are quite familiar and popular among Nigerians, having not only expanded their spheres of operations to the country but constantly delivering great products and services over the years. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that Made by Japan, has come to be seen as a by-word for world-class, genuine quality products.
Instructively, reports emanating from Japan have it that the impending entry of the smartphone brand into Nigeria is also down to renewed investor confidence in the Nigerian economy as the nation’s economic prospects improve.
With a slightly more flexible foreign exchange policy, a predominantly youthful population, stability in oil export, increased government earnings as well as the record spending expected in the recently passed 7.298tn budget for 2017, Nigeria is seen as a major investment destination for eager investors, many of whom are optimistic of the future growth potential in the country.
