Telecom
Mart Networks Rallies Stakeholders to Deepen Commitment in Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem
Mart Networks Group, a global value-added IT distributor, on Thursday convoked an international stakeholders conference for its partners and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) geared towards empowering local partners with the necessary skills and support that would ensure the successful implementation of its solutions in the Nigerian market.
L-R: Alex Nderitu, System Engineer, Roijie Networks; Peryan Aydas, Channel Manager, Mitel; Moiz Malooo Managing Director, Mart Networks Group; and Motunrayo Adigun, Sophos Product Manager, Mart Networks at the Stakeholders Conference tagged “Delivering Tomorrow’s Technology, Today” organised by Mart Networks Group in Lagos on Thursday.
Moiz Maloo, Managing Director of Mart Networks, speaking at the conference themed: “Delivering Tomorrow’s Technology, Today” reiterated the company’s focus on local talent development, technology transfer, and empowering Nigerian businesses with a comprehensive range of infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions.
The event held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos highlighted the company’s dedication in knowledge transfer as well as showcasing its comprehensive solutions tailored to the Nigerian market.
Maloo emphasized the global nature of the business, with team members traveling from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa to engage with local partners and discuss the latest in technology offerings.
Operating in 10 countries, Mart Networks established its Nigerian base in 2013, focusing on the distribution of a wide array of technological infrastructure.
Maloo explained, “We sell various technologies, including data centre infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and cloud solution training,” adding that the company also offers cutting-edge services such as compute, storage, hyper-converged infrastructure, video collaboration, and unified communication.
The event, aimed at strengthening relationships with local partners, saw product managers and technical engineers from across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa sharing their expertise, with these professionals providing insights into Mart Networks’ diverse product portfolio and its application in the Nigerian market.
“Our goal with this event is to showcase the full range of solutions we provide,” Maloo noted. “By sharing knowledge with local system integrators, we empower them to deliver even greater value to their customers in Nigeria.”
With a strong presence in Nigeria for over a decade, Mart Networks is reinforcing its role as a key enabler of digital transformation, offering essential tools and training to help Nigerian businesses thrive in the technology-driven future.
Maloo who reiterated the company’s commitment to technology transfer and local talent development as it continues to expand in Nigeria, highlighted the company’s investment in knowledge transfer and training, emphasizing the importance of understanding the products they sell and the local markets they operate in.
“We believe strongly in knowledge transfer. If you don’t know what you’re selling or how to use it, it’s very hard to implement, especially on our continent. That’s why we invest heavily in training and building a strong technical team to support our local partners,” Maloo said.
He stated that Mart Networks takes pride in being a Pan-African distributor, unlike many competitors that bring in talent from outside the region.
“We understand the culture and business here. Our entire team in Nigeria is Nigerian, just like in Kenya, Tanzania, and wherever we operate. We focus on nurturing local talent and adding value to the market.”
Despite the volatility of the Nigerian naira, which has been a challenge for many businesses, Mart Networks has adapted through strategic planning and partnerships.
As an importer of technology—mainly hardware not manufactured locally—the company has worked closely with banking partners to hedge against currency fluctuations. “We plan better, speak to our banking partners, and hedge funds to ensure we have access to dollars,” Maloo explained.
Reflecting on Mart Networks’ 11-year presence in Nigeria, Maloo noted the company’s steady growth since its entry into the market in 2013. “We’ve grown year on year, despite challenges, including the pandemic.
“Over the last 18 to 24 months, we have restructured, invested in more resources, and have faith in the Nigerian market,” he said, adding that comparing the first nine months of 2023 with the same period in 2022, the company has already seen growth, and Maloo is optimistic about the future.
“Nigeria is a very promising market with great potential. If the naira stabilizes further, the economy could be even stronger. We’re committed to being a part of that growth and continue investing in the market and its talent,” he said.
With a focus on empowering local partners, Mart Networks is poised for further expansion, helping to shape the future of IT infrastructure in Nigeria and beyond.
Meanwhile, IT Horizons, a leading IT systems integration company, has commended Mart Networks Group for its consistent support and long-standing partnership over the years.
Speaking at Mart Networks’ conference in Lagos, Stephen Asishana, Head of Sales and Business Development at IT Horizons, highlighted the crucial role Mart Networks has played in the company’s success since its inception 12 years ago.
“When we started on this journey, Mart Networks was one of the distributors that supported us, ensuring products were available at the right time, helping us fulfill our customers’ needs quickly,” said Asishana. “Our relationship has grown over the years as Mart Networks has expanded its portfolio, adding more brands, OEMs, and solutions. It’s truly a win-win relationship.”
Asishana who lauded the company’s commitment to engaging with its partners, not just through large-scale events like this, but with continuous interaction throughout the year, described the event as a key feature of Mart Networks’ annual calendar, which brings together local partners to showcase the distributor’s latest offerings.
“Mart Networks does this annually, but the great thing is that it’s not just a one-off. They stay in touch with partners throughout the year, constantly engaging us and providing insights into their products and services,” he added. “This event helps us as partners learn about the solutions they distribute, so we can pass that knowledge on to our customers.”
Asishana emphasized the significance of attending such events, noting that IT Horizons stands to benefit greatly by staying updated on the latest technological innovations. “Technology is always evolving, and events like this keep us informed about the latest trends. For us at IT Horizons, it opens our eyes to new possibilities, helping us identify solutions that can address the challenges faced by our customers.”
As the event progresses, IT Horizons expects to continue gaining valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies that can enhance their service offerings. “We know our customers’ pain points, and this event helps us discover solutions that can effectively address them,” Asishana concluded.
With a solid partnership and continued collaboration, IT Horizons and Mart Networks are poised to drive further innovation and deliver greater value to businesses across Nigeria.
In a related development, Sophos, a global leader in cybersecurity, has commended its long-standing partnership with Mart Networks Group during the distributor’s annual event, “Mart Day,” which brings together key partners, OEMs, and end users from across West Africa.
Sandra Nnadozie, Channel Account Manager for West Africa at Sophos, highlighted the importance of the event as an opportunity to strengthen relationships and showcase cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions.
“Mart Networks is our distributor in West Africa, covering Nigeria, Ghana, and other regions,” Nnadozie said. “Today’s event is a chance for us to meet with our partners and end customers, celebrate with Mart Networks, and continue building on the solid foundation we’ve developed over many years.”
Sophos’ relationship with Mart Networks spans well over a decade, not just in West Africa, but also in regions like East Africa and the UK. “We’ve had a very cordial relationship, working together for more than 15 to 20 years. It’s like family. The partnership continues to grow stronger year after year,” she added.
Nnadozie emphasized that the primary goal for Sophos at the event was to further solidify its relationship with Mart Networks while also promoting the importance of cybersecurity. “We’re here to spread the ‘gospel of cybersecurity.’ The future of cybersecurity lies in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), which helps organizations manage their cybersecurity infrastructure, especially in the absence of a dedicated security team,” she explained.
As organizations face increasing cyber threats, Sophos is focused on educating businesses about advanced cybersecurity solutions like MDR to prevent data breaches and security lapses.
Sophos’ presence at the event underscores its commitment to helping businesses in West Africa safeguard their operations against evolving cyber threats while reinforcing its partnership with Mart Networks. “We are here to show that we stand strongly beside them,” Nnadozie concluded.
With cybersecurity becoming an increasingly critical concern across industries, Sophos and Mart Networks continue to work together to provide comprehensive solutions, ensuring that businesses in West Africa are better equipped to defend against the threats of tomorrow.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Iran-Israel conflict, and the controversy involving social media activist VeryDarkMan and businessman Blord dominated Google searches by Nigerians between January and July.
This is contained in a review of anonymised Google Trends data released on Friday, which ranked the major stories that generated the highest search interest in Nigeria during the period.
The World Cup recorded the highest search volume, with Nigerians following the Super Eagles’ campaign, major matches, entertainment performances and developments throughout the tournament.
The data showed that searches around the tournament far exceeded those recorded for other major events during the seven-month period.
The Super Eagles’ AFCON semi-final defeat to Morocco also generated significant search interest, with “Nigeria vs Morocco” among the leading individual searches.
Senegal eventually won the AFCON title after defeating Morocco in the final on Jan. 18.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, also attracted substantial interest from Nigerians in February, including searches around ice hockey and other events.
Google Trends data further showed increased searches around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Searches including “Iran news,” “Israel Iran war” and “Strait of Hormuz meaning” featured prominently as Nigerians sought information on the conflict and its possible impact on global oil prices.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global oil transit route, carrying about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
The controversy involving cryptocurrency entrepreneur Blord and social media activist VeryDarkMan also maintained strong search interest for several months.
The saga peaked around Blord’s arrest and subsequent remand in Kuje prison in April, followed by his release on bail 16 days later.
Searches for “Who is Blord” also featured prominently, indicating growing interest among Nigerians seeking background information on the businessman.
The death of celebrities also generated significant search activity during the period.
Afro-fuji singer Destiny Boy, who died in January at the age of 22, remained in the news amid investigations into his death and an autopsy.
The death of American actor Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, also generated substantial searches in February.
Similarly, the reported death of Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo in May, at the age of 40, generated renewed search interest in June during his burial ceremonies.
Political and legal developments were also among the major subjects searched by Nigerians.
Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who was sentenced to 75 years in prison over an alleged N33 billion fraud, generated significant interest following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kaduna in May.
The political crisis involving Mudashiru Obasa and his return as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly also featured prominently.
Globally, Nigerians showed strong interest in the release of millions of pages of documents relating to the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Meanwhile, internet culture accounted for some of the lighter moments in the search rankings.
The Gen Z meme “67” became one of the most searched terms in January, generating curiosity among older Nigerians over its meaning.
The trend originated from a U.S. rap song and became popular among young people, with the phrase often used without a specific meaning.
In April, the case involving Opeyemi Awodoyin, an OPay customer who reportedly received N100,000 in error and declined to return the money, also attracted widespread online interest and public debate.
The reported hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship further prompted Nigerians to search for information about the disease in May.
Celebrity-related stories also featured prominently in the rankings.
Veteran broadcaster Frank Edoho’s confirmation of his divorce and subsequent allegations involving his former wife generated considerable search interest in May.
In July, music promoter Sam Larry survived a road crash on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road which reportedly claimed the life of his bodyguard, leading to renewed online discussions around the late singer Mohbad.
In the entertainment sector, Wizkid and Asake’s “Jogodo” dominated searches around January, while Asake’s album generated renewed interest in May.
The 2026 Grammy Awards also attracted substantial search traffic, with Nigerians searching for winners and other developments from the ceremony.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance also generated significant interest, while films including Mortal Kombat 2 and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey featured among popular entertainment searches.
Footballer Zadok Yohanna’s reported €28 million transfer to Brighton also attracted attention, particularly among Nigerian football followers.
Commenting on the findings, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, West Africa, Google, said search data provided an insight into issues commanding Nigerians’ attention.
“Search data is the most honest record of national attention we have, because nobody performs for a search bar,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians did not only consume major stories but actively searched for explanations and context surrounding them.
The rankings were based on peak monthly search interest in Nigeria between January and July 2026, with related queries grouped together.
The top 25 trending searches during the period included the FIFA World Cup 2026, 2026 Winter Olympics, AFCON Nigeria vs Morocco, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, Blord, Alexx Ekubo, “67”, Destiny Boy, Erling Haaland and France’s World Cup campaign.
Others were the Grammy Awards 2026, Epstein files, hantavirus, Saleh Mamman, Obasa impeachment saga, Sam Larry, Shakira and Burna Boy’s World Cup performance, Zadok Yohanna, Eric Dane, Opeyemi Awodoyin, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, Frank Edoho, Mortal Kombat 2, The Odyssey and “Jogodo” by Wizkid featuring Asake.
Google Trends provides access to an anonymised sample of search requests made to Google and categorises the information to show collective search interest across regions and over time.
Airtel Nigeria is approaching the 18,000-cell-site mark as the telecommunications operator accelerates network deployment across the country, adding more than 1,000 new sites annually and extending high-speed mobile connectivity deeper into rural communities.
The expansion places Airtel as an operator making one of the largest sustained infrastructure commitments to Nigeria’s digital economy, with the company’s network now spanning all 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
More than 99 percent of Airtel Nigeria’s sites are 4G-enabled, with the company continuing to add new capacity and upgrade existing infrastructure as demand for mobile connectivity rises. Airtel Africa’s latest annual report said the Nigerian operation added more than 1,050 new sites during its 2025-26 financial year.
The pace represents a significant increase from the approximately 15,000 sites Airtel operated two years ago. By early 2026, the operator had crossed 17,000 sites, after adding about 2,000 sites in two years.
The current expansion has also taken the network further into locations that have historically been underserved by telecommunications infrastructure. These communities include Kukawa, Borno State; Okomu-Udo, Edo State; Chimbi, Niger State; Orile Ijaiye, Oyo State; Kopii, Benue State; and Aran-Orin, Kwara; among others.
Airtel has previously said a significant portion of its network investments is targeted at deep rural communities, small towns and the fringes of major cities. At a media roundtable in February, Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, said the company intended to maintain the large scale of network expansion during 2026.
“Everyone has the right to digital connectivity, including people in deep rural markets and small communities,” Balsingh said.
The impact of the growth extends beyond the ability to make calls or browse the internet. Wider network availability gives families more reliable access to one another, enables businesses to communicate with customers and suppliers, and supports access to digital banking, education, healthcare and government services.
For farmers in remote areas, mobile connectivity can provide access to current crop prices, weather information, market information and agricultural advisory services. For small businesses, reliable mobile data supports payments, customer acquisition, logistics and digital commerce. For communities, connectivity can improve access to health and social services and help residents participate more fully in the digital economy.
Airtel’s network strategy is also increasingly focused on improving the experience delivered through the infrastructure already in place. In 2025, the company upgraded capacity on about a quarter of its existing sites, deploying higher-capacity radios and moving portions of its backhaul from microwave to fibre.
The operator has also reported a continued addition of spectrum to strengthen its spectrum position. Since November 2025, it has added 20MHz spectrum, which is on track for full integration on all sites this quarter.
Balsingh said the company’s investment programme was designed to improve coverage, capacity and resilience, with the benefits ultimately reflected in the quality of service experienced by customers.
“We have invested with discipline and clarity to strengthen our network nationwide. Those investments are now translating into measurable improvements in performance, customer experience and reach, including in underserved communities,” he said.
Third-party measurements have also continued to provide evidence of changing network performance in Nigeria. Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, for example, reported a median mobile download speed of 97.74 Mbps for Nigeria in June 2026.
For Airtel, the network expansion not only extends the geographical footprint; but also increases the speed, capacity and stability available to existing customers.
Director of Marketing, Ismail Adeshina, said the company’s network investments were ultimately aimed at making connectivity more useful in the everyday lives of Nigerians, as increasing numbers of consumers, families and businesses depend on mobile services for communication, commerce and access to essential services.
Airtel’s infrastructure programme is also contributing to the wider development of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“With mobile connectivity increasingly serving as the platform for financial services, commerce, education, healthcare, agriculture and enterprise, expanding the physical network effectively increases the number of Nigerians able to participate in those activities,” Adeshina said.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is calling for a unified, cross-sector push to translate the framework of the Nigerian Startup Act (NSA) into practical benefits for local entrepreneurs and investors.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the National Coordinator, Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Ms Victoria Fabunmi, in a group photograph with participants from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the Nigerian Startup Act (NSA) Incentives Activation Co-Creation Workshop in Abuja.
Speaking at the NSA Incentives Activation Co-Creation Session in Abuja, organised by NITDA’s subsidiary, the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), the NITDA boss stressed that while enacting the legislation was a historic milestone, its ultimate success will be measured by its tangible impact on everyday tech ventures.
Delivering remarks on behalf of NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa, ONDI National Coordinator Victoria Fabunmi emphasised that Nigeria must now transition from policy design to operational delivery.
Inuwa noted that while early structural achievements such as setting up the Startup Consultative Forum and launching the digital startup portal have established vital channels for dialogue, the true test of the law lies in whether founders can easily access the relief and resources promised to them.
He said the establishment of the Startup Consultative Forum and its governance structures had created an important platform for sustained engagement among stakeholders, but stressed that the real test of the legislation would be its impact on businesses operating within the innovation ecosystem.
According to him, government agencies, private-sector actors and other ecosystem stakeholders must work collectively to remove institutional bottlenecks and ensure that startups can access the opportunities created by the Act.
Inuwa said the participating institutions possessed different mandates, resources and policy instruments that, if properly coordinated, could significantly improve the operating environment for Nigerian startups.
“We want to go to the next level. We want to be able to say that the actors in our ecosystem have been able to benefit significantly from the legislation that has been passed, and it wouldn’t happen without everyone sitting in this room,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to shift attention from the mere existence of the legislation to its practical implementation, particularly the activation of incentives designed to promote investment, innovation and enterprise growth.
The DG noted that the implementation of the NSA involved institutions across several sectors, including trade, finance, communications, innovation, digital economy, science and technology.
He said bringing these institutions together was necessary to identify gaps, clarify responsibilities and develop workable mechanisms for delivering the incentives to intended beneficiaries.
Inuwa also urged stakeholders to embrace continuous engagement and feedback, noting that the success of the Act would depend largely on the ability of implementing institutions to work together and respond to the evolving needs of the startup ecosystem.
He said recommendations from the session would contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen the implementation framework and create an environment where Nigerian startups could scale, attract investment and compete effectively in global markets.
In a context-setting presentation, “Operationalising the Incentive Provisions of the Nigerian Startup Act,” Ms Elma Andah, Acting Lead, Strategy, Research and Analytics at ONDI, said the Act provides more than 31 incentives distributed across six major categories.
She identified the categories as tax and fiscal incentives, regulatory support, funding access, exports and trade, ecosystem enablers, and training and capacity building.
Andah explained that implementing the incentives required the participation of more than 15 government institutions, making inter-agency coordination central to the success of the legislation.
She said the Nigerian Startup Act, signed into law on October 19, 2022, was designed to promote innovation, improve access to funding, strengthen collaboration and position Nigeria as a leading technology and innovation-driven economy in Africa.
According to her, Nigeria’s startup ecosystem has continued to demonstrate significant potential, with more than 3,000 startups and several globally recognised technology companies.
She added that Nigerian startups attracted about $410 million in funding in 2024, despite the challenging economic environment.
Andah highlighted several areas of progress under the Act, including engagements with states on adoption, the operational startup support engagement portal, improved startup labelling timelines, the Startup Consultative governance framework, the Startup Investment Seed Fund framework and ongoing efforts to operationalise the regulatory sandbox framework.
She, however, stressed that the interconnected nature of the incentives meant that no single institution could deliver them independently.
“No single institution can deliver all these incentives alone. Implementation requires coordination across more than 15 MDAs,” she said.
Using practical examples, Andah explained that a startup seeking funding could simultaneously require tax incentives, while an enterprise seeking to export its products might need regulatory approvals. Investors seeking tax credits could also depend on access to the startup labelling system.
She consequently challenged participating institutions to clearly establish ownership of the incentives assigned to them, strengthen coordination, simplify access procedures and introduce effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
The session therefore provided stakeholders with an opportunity to identify implementation gaps and develop practical approaches for ensuring that the incentives contained in the Startup Act are accessible to startups, investors, innovation hubs and other beneficiaries.
The outcome, stakeholders noted, is expected to support a more coordinated implementation of the NSA and strengthen its contribution to Nigeria’s innovation, investment and economic development objectives.
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