Mobile devices push up Nigerians’ Facebook communication by 100 percent

Digital mobile communication among Nigerians has surged on the back of increased use of handheld gadgets to link up with one another and exchange information on the Internet.

According to data released by Facebook on Friday February 5, 16 million people in Nigeria visit Facebook each month, with 100% of them doing so through mobile devices.

“Each day, 7.2 million people in Nigeria visit Facebook, 7 million of them on mobile,” the Facebook data further elaborated.

During the past five years, the global Facebook community has more than doubled in size, and its community in Nigeria continues to grow.

A team from Facebook was in Lagos Nigeria in a visit that coincided with Friends Day (4 February), marking Facebook’s 12th anniversary.

“For us, Friends Day in Nigeria was about hearing the stories of our community using Facebook our platform to grow and connect with others. We have made amazing progress over the past year.  We’re only 1% done in Nigeria and inspired to do even more in this fast-moving, mobile first country,” said Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president, at Facebook.

According to Nunu Ntshingila, head of Africa for Facebook, “This is the year we deepen our partnerships with Nigerian businesses. We’re committed to Nigeria, and during this visit we shared insights with our business and agency partners on how to deliver personalized marketing, at scale, where people are – on their mobile phone. We want to make sure Nigeria – its people, its agencies and its businesses – realize the opportunity that technology and mobile bring.”

Ntshingila said that the mobile platform people use the most in Nigeria is Facebook, and that up to 77 percent of Nigerians on Facebook use their mobile device to discover new products and services.

He noted also that “Nigerians are sophisticated mobile users and this sophistication is increasing fast, further stressing that people are ahead of businesses, and we’re here to help businesses create mobile-first solutions to grow their businesses.”

Facebook also hosted a dinner for women leaders in Nigeria, where Mendelsohn and Ntshingila spoke about how entrepreneurship and technology can drive economies and create jobs.

YANGE IKYAA