With the liberalisation of the telecoms sector over a decade ago came the influx of fake/substandard phones into the market. When mention is made about these phones and other products, what comes into mind is China. In this interview with LUCAS AJANAKU, the Senior Marketing Manager, Consumer Business Group, Huawei Technologies Nig. Ltd, Olaonipekun Okunowo, says it is a wrong perception. He says Huawei is a global company with footprints across all the continents. The firm, he adds, believes strongly in indigenous manpower development and has been doing just that in Nigeria. He expresses concern over improper management of e-wastes, saying Huawei will deploy its technology and finances in tackling the menace in partnership with the relevant agencies of government.

Huawei is a Chinese firm and there is a perception that Chinese firms are associated with the manufacturing of substandard products, especially mobile devices. What is your reaction to this?

I would have been surprised if you did not ask this question. My answer to this is that it is completely a wrong perception. Over the years, globally, Huawei has evolved from just being that Chinese company to a global brand with lots of innovative products. Today, Huawei is among top 100 brands in the world and the first Chinese company to be in that cadre. It is number 225 on top global Fortune 500 brands rating. Today, Huawei is also the number one brand when it comes to ICT in the world. In terms of global smartphone sales, Huawei is number three in the world.

Huawei moved to Nigeria in 2000. That itself showed that it is committed to being Nigerian brand. The company came to Nigeria at the inception of the technology evolution after the likes of Nokia and Siemens and when it came, it had the opportunity to work with former state-run telco, Nigeria Telecommunication Limited (NITEL). Today, Huawei is the market leader and it has its footprints in everything technology in Nigeria from banking, defence, aviation, telecommunication and even educa­tion.

Most OEMs have shown interest only in rolling out products without putting in place a scheme that will help take care of managing e-wastes in a sustainable manner. What plans do you have in this direction?

Huawei as a responsible corporate citizen is not unaware of the hazards improperly handled e-wastes pose to human health, safety and environment. Be that as it may, we are relatively new in Nigeria and the volume of our smartphones in the market can certainly not be compared with the likes of the known market leaders in smartphones in the country. That notwitstandaing, as a Nigerian company that has come to this market, not to make money and go away, we are committed to partnering with the relevant agencies of government, both at the federal, states and local government levels to evolve a sustainable way of managing e-waste. We are particularly aware of the frontline role being played by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in this respect and we are prepared to key into its policy directions.

Huawei is associated with telecoms equipment vending. Can you speak more about your foray into mobile phones?

Yes, you are correct. That makes us even masters of the technology. Our innovative equipment conforms with that of the all the operators globally. In 2014, Huawei led the platform of patent technolo­gies filing globally. It is number one patent; you know, you develop software yourself and you file it. It is recognised globally and we have been doing it for years. I will say for every Huawei phone, over 90 per cent soft­ware on the phone is manufactured by Huawei itself, which is also used by other phones. We are in a business of innovation; we are masters of the craft. We are ICT platform provider. All over the world, 45 of top global Telco companies are on Huawei platform and equipment.

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