The launch of MMA West Africa reflects the increasing demand for a localised focus to grow a sustainable market within the region and protect consumers. The local council has been given the full support major regulatory and industry players in the region, including Nigerian Communications Commission, The National Lottery Regulatory Commission, and the Consumer Protection Council. In addition, Etisalat Nigeria, one of the region’s primary operators, has committed fully to the establishment of mobile as a professional marketing medium, and has been confirmed as the primary sponsor of the Mobile Marketing Summit.
Held at the Civic Centre, Lagos the two events will be the first of their kind in the region and will feature a range of local and international marketing experts who will deliver insight into global mobile marketing trends and demonstrate engagement marketing best practices. Speakers from Etisalat, Google and InMobi have already been confirmed for the Mobile Marketing Summit.
“West Africa is one of the world’s strongest growth economies. In fact, Nigeria has recently overtaken South Africa to become the Africa’s largest mobile market with more than 90 million subscribers and further growth is anticipated in 2012,” said Steven Evans, Chief Executive Officer at Etisalat Nigeria. “At Etisalat we appreciate that mobile has the potential to be the most critical marketing channel in the region, allowing everyone in the mobile ecosystem to reach a broader audience of consumers than other marketing channel have previously permitted. We’re excited to be participating in and sponsoring the Mobile Marketing Summit in March, as we feel it will deliver great value and education to our local industry by successfully using mobile to connect, engage and sell to consumers in a way that will ensure consumer trust.”
The CEO, CMO and DG Summit, is an invitation only event which will focus on senior management from operators, agencies and regulatory bodies. This event will feature insight from international experts on the marketing and business reasons to support the establishment of a professional mobile marketing medium, with the objective of converging opinion on the critical next steps and implementation processes needed.
“The mobile market in West Africa is one of the fastest developing markets in the world and mobile as a marketing channel is opening up huge opportunities for brands and marketers in the region to engage with their consumers like never before,” said Elo Umeh, joint lead of the local MMA Contact Group and managing director at Terragon. “We hope the launch of the new MMA council will act as a catalyst to enable the industry to work together in driving mobile marketing in the region forward by using the techniques and best practices which are employed by the MMA on a global basis, and to facilitate greater collaboration and ease the path to market for marketers.”
“The launch of MMA West Africa comes at a pivotal time in the evolution of mobile marketing in the region. The Mobile Marketing and CMO, CEO and Director General Summits will kick start this advancement by providing all attendees with a unique insight and education into new mobile marketing ideas, strategies and best practices,” said Dayo Elegbe, fellow lead of the local Contact Group and managing director, Sponge Nigeria. “In addition, the support and endorsement the new council is receiving from the three leading government bodies in Nigeria and Etisalat Nigeria has already proved to be invaluable as we work to create the mobile ecosystem the region needs and we look forward to working closely with them all moving forward.”
Source: MMA
