W.Afritel’09 holds in June

THE 2009 edition of the West African International Telecommunications and Information Communications Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel), is set to hold in June this year, according to the organizers.

Assistant Manager, Marketing at the sole local partner of the organizers, Exhibition Management Services (EMS), IT & Telecom Digest, Mr. Afor Kechi, said that the curtains have opened for exhibitors’ registration for the ninth edition of the regional event.

He also said that this year’s event would bring to the sub-region new and cutting edge technologies as well as products and services that are just about now hitting the developed economies.

He equally said that returning and potential new exhibitors have begun to jostle to be a part of the 2009 W.Afri.Tel edition, “which has earned for itself the title of West Africa’s leading platform for showcasing the latest and the best technologies from across the world.”

Kechi quoted the Managing Director, EMS, Mr. John Thompson, in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel as saying he is delighted to see the phenomenal growth and changes that the telecom revolution in Nigeria, which began in 2001, two months after the first W.Afri.Tel was held, has continued to open new windows of opportunities for Nigerians and West Africans alike.

“When we initiated W.Afri.Tel in 2001, we did so desirously to bring to the Nigerian people the benefits and opportunities that technologies offer; I am delighted that nine years down the line, we have been proven right in our foresight that Nigeria is a country with limitless opportunities, and therefore deserves an international
exhibition hence we introduced W.Afri.Tel,” he said.

Stressing that W.Afri.Tel 2009, scheduled to hold between June 2 and 4 at the New Expo Centre, Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos, has been designed to focus principally on bringing to Nigeria new technologies, products and services that are just making inroads into the market place.

“There are new technologies, products and services that are coming up now across the world. The good thing is that Nigeria has leapfrogged in various areas technologically, because she did not have to suffer under any legacy old technologies. Therefore, it becomes a lot easier as well to introduce new technologies, products and services to Nigeria at this time that the world is advancing in leaps and bounds,” Thompson said.

Nigeria’s sole agent for W.Afri.Tel, IT & Telecom Digest, assured that this year’s event will surpass the previous years, according to the Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Mkpe Abang.

“We’re making every effort to accommodate all our loyal and new exhibitors, because space is limited. However, we‘ve no choice but allocate the available space on a first-come-first-served basis,” he declared.

Abang pointed out that over the years, W.Afri.Tel has built a reputation to become the sub-region’s biggest and most professional exhibition.

Affirming this position, the Exhibition Manager at EMS, Ms. Gillian Pope, said that despite rush for allocation it must follow due process of first come, first serve.

“So, it is understandable that companies that want to get the most exposure never want to miss this event. Unfortunately we are only able to provide space for those that confirm their booking early as space allocation is on a first-confirmed first-allocated basis,” she said.

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