‘Integrating Agriculture, Manufacturing With Tech Will Improve Productivity’

The chief executive officer of 9mobile, Obafemi Banigbe, has said integrating the agricultural and manufacturing sectors with technology will help unlock new markets and improve productivity. He emphasised the critical role of technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and creative sectors in driving Nigeria’s non-oil export growth while speaking at the 2024 BNI National Business Conference held recently in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In what he described as Nigeria’s creative and innovative economy, Banigbe explained that “Nigeria is home to one of the world’s most vibrant technology ecosystems, and its tech industry is growing at an incredible pace, making it the fastest-growing sector in the country. With a dynamic young population and an increasing demand for digital solutions, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem has immense potential to drive non-oil growth and become the nation’s biggest export. The country’s tech ecosystem is characterised by a large consumer market of over 200 million people, with more than 500 active and viable startups, and a rapidly growing tech industry. Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Kano, and Aba are key startup cities, with Lagos being the most valuable startup ecosystem in Africa, valued at $2 billion”.
He said, “We at 9mobile are committed to exploring these opportunities, positioning ourselves as a catalyst for Nigeria’s creative and innovative economy.”
He further stated that agriculture has the potential to drive growth and provide livelihoods for millions of Nigerians. The sector accounts for up to 35 percent of total employment in Nigeria and contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. With suitable investment and support, agriculture can become a crucial driver of Nigeria’s economic diversification.
Other non-oil opportunities which can be explored include the Fintech companies which have changed the payment system in Nigeria and globally, electronic commerce which has so far created more SMEs than we have seen in the last decade and Education technology which became more popular with the advent of COVID-19. “9mobile is seeking to explore some of these opportunities to position itself as the enabler of the creative and innovative economy,” Banigbe added.