94% of Africans Access FaceBook Via Mobile Device

THE numbers of Africans on the social media platform, Facebook has grown with about 170 million users monthly while 94 percent access it through mobile device.

Facebook recently expanded its operation in Africa creating a new home for the company to work with its partners to boost innovation and provide an African home for the Facebook culture. 

With an office now in South Africa, it is expected to continue to provide support to Facebook advertisers, application developers and other key partners across the continent.

FaceBook said that since 2015 the number of people connected to Facebook across Africa has grown to 42 percent to over 170 million monthly active users adding that of these, 94 percent come back on mobile. 

The Facebook team in Africa has grown alongside the number of people and businesses who use it and its ecosystem of developers, entrepreneurs and business partners, a statement from the company revealed.

“Since we first established a direct presence in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, Facebook has grown from strength to strength,” said Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director, Africa, Facebook. 

“We have enjoyed working closely with entrepreneurs, partners, developers and small businesses as they have used Facebook as a platform for growth. It’s inspiring for us to learn from the continent and to play a role in helping people and organisations connect with the world.”

Facebook executives Carolyn Everson, VP Global Marketing Solutions and Nicola Mendelsohn, VP EMEA, attended the launch of the new office together with Ntshingila.

“Facebook is deeply committed to Africa, a mobile-first continent where seven in 10 of all connected people use the platform,” said Carolyn Everson.

She added:“Many people in Africa are coming online for the first time, unleashing new possibilities for people and businesses alike. We're also seeing growth of small and medium-sized businesses that are driving economic development, companies that Facebook wants to help grow locally and regionally across the continent. Our new offices are part of our ongoing commitment to invest in the African market and work with innovators across our key target countries.”