Life in Computer Village, Nigeria’s ICT Hub Call it Nigeria’s Sillicon Valley; you may not be wrong, save for the fact that it is not as organized and highly sophisticated as the real Sillicon Valley in the US. But Nigerians surely have no other place they can bet on getting the latest technological gadgets or having a thorny technological faults repaired than the popular Computer Village situated at the heart of Lagos State’s Capital in Ikeja. Reputed as the largest technology hub in Africa, a visitor to the market needs not be told to cautiously hold his or her precious belongings while wading through the streams of real shoppers, window shoppers, urchins, traders, repairers as well as pick pockets that flood the streets of Anibiyi Community where the market is located. It is an all-comers market and that is what makes Computer Village ticks. To appreciate the vibrancy of the market and its connectivity to the technology world, it is believed that any new technological products that is not found at the Computer Village, has definitely not been released to the African continent. It is a market where you get it all as far as technology is concerned. If the availability of every product is a trait that makes the market popular, it has also carved a niche for itself as the solution center to all technology problems. Talk of phone repair, laptop repair or the repair of any gadget at all that is technologically powered, the computer village is believed to be the final solution point. Whenever any technician finds it difficult to repair a gadget, the Computer Village becomes the next point of call. Thousands of technicians dot the market, handling various forms of repairs. On the flip side of the market, however, is the issue of counterfeiting. While major dealers of leading phone makers, computer manufacturers as well as other OEMs abound in the market selling the original products, it is a common knowledge that sellers of counterfeit products abound. In fact, many believe that it takes more than cautiousness for the not too technology savvy to spot the difference between the originals and the counterfeited products in the market. Be that as it may, the market remains source of livelihood to thousands of people, who on daily basis throng the arena to transact business either genuine or fake. And inside this market goes on transactions worth millions of naira, most of which are undocumented, yet contributing immensely to the nation’s economy. Indeed many may not believe the worth of the market. Following the fact that its size is conspicuously small, its arrangement is tattered without any architectural spices and its lack of future possible expansion within the same area, no first timer will give it even the weakest nod for the conventional unique attributes accorded it. With no embellishment but plain words,, the market is the small ‘David’ that rules the Goliath in the world of technology in Africa and measuring height with other ICT markets in developed countries. In spite the over-crowding in its general ecosystem, Computer Village still bears segments in order to fashion out its shape, like the main market-a mother and an eye of the market, where all the phones, lap/ desktops and accessories are sold. This is the region of the market that has the thickest population of people who flood the place daily. And in this unit, there are multiple entrances and exits like the anthills but only few have accessible tracks for motors. There is one gigantic entrance, flanked by two buildings like two elephants locking trunks; that is where WELCOME TO ANIBIYI NEIGHBOURHOOD is boldly written. Next to the main market, is the computer mega-city. This unit of the Computer Village depicts some form of outward beauty unlike the main market. It is the service centre, where imported fairly used and non-tested ICT wares undergo thorough refurbishment before reaching the main market. The Secretariat is the third and smallest unit of the Computer Village. It is the Computer and Allied Products Dealers of Nigeria, CAPDAN/’s office. An independent finding proves that the computer Village has strata of individuals who are the integral part of the people found there. From the top, is the class of the main shoppers; they in wholesale to other dealers across Nigeria and window shoppers. Window shoppers finally retail the computer and accessories to the public. In the area of repairs are the technicians; who do the maintenance of the malfunctioning computers, desk/laptops and accessories. Down to the lower cadre is a set of able bodied boys who canvass for customers as well as cajoling them to patronize the main shoppers and the window shoppers; their services is to make end meet and put body and soul together. Another set of hustlers, is the Hausas who sojourned down Lagos from far northern part of the country. Their original occupation is to supply water, trim fingers and polish shoes for people within the nooks and crannies of Ikeja. Homelessness forced them into a secondary occupation which is security operative. They trade their services for bed space in Computer Village. On black side of the strata are the urchins and pick pockets, as well as fake agents. They militate against social engineering within the Computer Village. All these constitute the webbing of Computer Village.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:30:07 +0000
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