by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
Africa Editor
JOHANNESBURG- ZIMBABWEAN-BASED pan-African technology company, Twenty Third Century Systems (TTCS) has expanded to Nigeria and Ghana as companies from southern Africa scramble for business opportunities in West Africa's biggest economies.

The firm has opened offices in Lagos and Accra respectively.

The solution and application provider has had an immediate impact in the Nigerian oil sector where it is involved in large implementation of Systems Applications Products (SAP) solutions at the state key oil producer, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt and Delta State in Asaba.

The TTCS solutions have boosted Nigeria's oil production capacity through implementation of modern technology required in the oil drilling and pumping sites.

In Nigeria, TTCS operates as 23rd Century Systems Nexus Alliance.

"Previously we used to operate offshore whereby we would send resources from Zimbabwe as and when required for project work but now we have staff on the ground," Ellman Chanakira, TTCS Chief Executive Officer said in an exclusive interview with CAJ News.

The company has six staff members from Nigeria going through training at TTCS Head Office in Harare, Zimbabwe. The Nigerian technology experts have been in Zimbabwe now for six months.

In addition, TTCS has pre-sales staff in Nigeria to boost their marketing.

Chanakira said the Nigerian market was responding positively to the company.

"Our services are very well received in West Africa. TTCS is very strong brand in Nigeria and across Africa in general. We are also very active in Ghana and will move into French speaking Africa later this year," Chanakira said.

Following the positive response, TTCS aims to launch its cloud based solution, Cumulus, in the two West African countries.

The service was first launched in Zimbabwe last year and later imported to Rwanda and Uganda.