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.
Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has decried persistent challenges such as vandalism, high operating costs, and regulatory bottlenecks threatening service delivery despite recent improvements in investment inflows.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, warned that the continuous attack are putting strains on Nigeria’s telecom sector which serve as the backbone of the country’s economic and digital systems,
Adebayo, speaking in an interview on ARISE News, described telecommunications as the critical foundation supporting all sectors of the economy.
“Telecom operators are the infrastructure of infrastructures that supports all other sectors,” he said, stressing that the industry remains central to power, transport, security, and financial services.
Adebayo noted that the recent 50% tariff adjustment has helped restore investor confidence in the sector after years of underinvestment.
“It has restored confidence in the sector… we are seeing investment, we are seeing now the impact of that investment,” he said, adding that the sector is now beginning to recover gradually.
But, he warned that improvements in service quality remain constrained by multiple external challenges, including vandalism, insecurity, and regulatory bottlenecks.
“Things can be better… but there are also other external factors… vandalism, behavior of public actors, behavior of non-state actors,” he explained.
Adebayo highlighted the scale of infrastructure damage, particularly on fibre networks, noting a major disparity between international and domestic connectivity routes.
“The fiber optic in the Atlantic… has witnessed probably one outage in two years… the one running from Lagos to Kano, we record an average of about 40 cuts a day,” he said.
He explained that such disruptions significantly increase operating costs and affect service quality across the country.
Beyond vandalism, he pointed to theft of telecom equipment such as batteries and generators, as well as security challenges that prevent timely restoration of services in some regions.
“Issue of security… people are stealing batteries, they’re stealing generators,” he said, noting that some areas remain inaccessible during outages until security conditions improve.
Adebayo also called for urgent reforms in right-of-way charges and taxation policies, arguing that telecom infrastructure should be treated as essential national infrastructure.
“Right of way should become free of charge across the country… issue of multiple taxation… it has to be a thing of the past,” he stated.
On rising energy costs, he said operators are gradually adopting hybrid and renewable energy solutions, although the transition is slow and still exposed to vandalism risks.
“We are doing a lot on renewable energy and providing hybrid solution… but that takes time,” he said.
Adebayo concluded that while policy support and investment inflows are improving the outlook of the sector, sustainable progress will depend on stronger protection of telecom infrastructure and coordinated action among government, regulators, and communities to address vandalism, insecurity, and regulatory inefficiencies.
Ride-hailing company Uber has introduced a new feature that allows users to book hotel rooms directly through its app, as part of its strategy to evolve into a broader lifestyle and services platform.
Uber announced that the hotel booking service is being launched in partnership with Expedia Group, giving users access to more than 700,000 hotel properties worldwide.
The company said the collaboration is also expected to expand in future to include short-term rental listings from Vrbo.
According to Uber, the hotel booking tool offers features similar to traditional online travel platforms, including destination search, maps, and filters based on pricing, amenities and guest ratings.
Users can also complete bookings using payment information already saved on the app.
Speaking during a presentation in New York City, Uber Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the company was broadening its offerings beyond transportation and food delivery.
“We’re no longer just an app for rides, or even a family of apps for rides and eats. Uber is now an app for everything,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Expedia, Ariane Gorin, said the partnership was aimed at simplifying travel planning for users.
“Together, we can reduce the number of steps, save people time and money,” she said.
Uber’s latest move builds on its expansion strategy which began with the launch of Uber Eats in 2014.
Initially focused on food delivery, Uber Eats has since expanded into retail services, allowing customers to order products such as cosmetics, groceries and electronics.
Industry analysts say the development reflects the growing global trend toward “super apps” — digital platforms that combine multiple everyday services within one ecosystem.
This model is already widely adopted in markets such as China, where platforms like WeChat and Alipay integrate messaging, payments, travel bookings and e-commerce services.
Competitors are also broadening their offerings.
For instance, Airbnb has expanded beyond accommodation to include bookable local experiences, wellness services and mobility options.
Uber also disclosed plans to integrate more artificial intelligence-powered tools into its platform.
The company said upcoming features would enable users to plan meals, generate shopping lists and arrange deliveries through conversational prompts, while a voice assistant is also in development to support hands-free navigation within the app.
National Economic Council (NEC) of Nigeria has officially approved 112 as the unified, toll-free national emergency number to streamline responses to security, medical, fire, and natural disasters.
It is part of measures to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency lifeline and build a unified and coordinated national response to emergencies.
NEC also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee and programme coordination led by the Office of the Vice President and the National Communications Commission (NCC).
The approval was part of decisions taken at the 157th meeting of the NEC held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima said the 112 emergency lifeline had become necessary to prevent delay caused by bureaucratic bottlenecks, noting that what the citizens seek urgently when confronted by a natural disaster or insecurity is an urgent response and not bureaucracy.
“This is not only a technical reform. It is a test of the state’s humanity. In moments of fire, accident, robbery, medical emergency, flood, violence, or panic, citizens do not need bureaucracy.
“They need a response. They need to know one number to call, one system to trust, and one coordinated chain of action that moves quickly enough to save lives,” he stated.
He explained that while Nigeria is not beginning from zero, as the emergency number had been in existence, what is required at the moment “is coordination, adoption, standard operating procedures, public awareness, institutional ownership, and trust”.
The vice president described NEC as the nation’s economic engine room, where the federal government and the states must convert the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu into practical outcomes.
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