By Ejiofor Toochi
What began as a small market with just a few shops in Otigba, Ikeja, in the late 90s has grown into Africa’s largest ICT gadgets hub. Today, Computer Village is home to over 5,000 traders and attracts up to 2,000 daily visitors and buyers. It has become the go-to destination for all gadget needs, repair services, and has significantly impacted the businesses around it.
The market has expanded to accommodate a diverse range of businesses both within and outside its vicinity, from eateries to boutiques, salons, cosmetic stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and more. While many may complain about the market’s expansion leading to traffic congestion, the growth of Computer Village, which draws a myriad of visitors daily, has without doubts benefited the surrounding businesses.
Okoli Ikechukwu, Managing Director of La Core Cosmetics, attested to the positive impact of Computer Village on customer influx. He explained, “every business is centered around the people, so the more you have people, the more you have businesses around where people are.”
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Julie, a cloth seller who has been in business for about eight years, agreed. She noted that the presence of the gadget hub not only helps people locate Ikeja but also draws attention to their businesses. “It makes people locate our business, even strangers who’ve never bought from us before.”
The effects of Computer Village stretches across neighboring streets like Obafemi Awolowo way, Kodesoh, and others. Ngosi Obidiagha, who owns a framing business shared that most of the customers who patronize her are those who come from Computer Village. “Even if they didn’t patronize me that very day, they’ll collect my contact and say they are going to come back, and many of them do come back.” She added, “If Computer village is longer there tomorrow, it’s going to affect us because many people will no longer pass this way,” she added. For about 8 years, the Lagos State Government has harbored plans to relocate the market to ICT Park in Katangowa, Agbado/Oke-Odo local council development area.
Although Joy, the manager at Perfect Wears, a boutique along Obafemi Awolowo Way, acknowledged the positive impact on business, she also highlighted the challenges brought by the population influx, such as the rise of ‘area boys’ and thieves.
“There are times you come to work in the morning, you notice that they’ve broken into your shop.” She revealed that earlier this year, on two separate occasions, the shop was robbed, requiring her to be extra cautious in terms of security, and prompting her to tighten security by hiring a night guard.
In all, the primary objective of every business is to generate profit and this can only be achieved where there are customers, and Computer Village has provided this environment to businesses. If Computer Village moves to the ICT Park in Katangowa, businesses around it will likely see a big drop in customer traffic.
