The Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos, generates about two billion dollars (N300 billion) to the economy annually, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister of Information and Communications Technology, has said.
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Johnson disclosed this at the Monthly Breakfast Meeting of the Nigerian-South Africa Chamber of Commerce on Thursday in Lagos.
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According to the minister, the revenues come mostly from the cloning of phones and the exploration all sorts of software applications.
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"I think I am the first ICT minister that has taken time to visit the place and we have seen that the operators have great skills.
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"The place consists of wonderful sets of youths who are generating employment for themselves, while inventing new ICT skills.
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"We have encouraged the operators to come out with local brands to support the growth of the economy," the minister said.
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Johnson said that the ministry was working closely with the executives of the market association to ensure that the operators' skills were harnessed to generate more revenues.
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She said that the ministry had plans to ensure that 60 per cent of rural dwellers had access to personal computers and the Internet by 2015.
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"We plan to empower the youths at the Computer Village to fulfill these targets and to create more jobs," the minister said.