Telecom
Open Access Data Centres Recognize Sustainability as Key in its Operations – Aduloju
Mr Olatunji Aduloju is Operations Manager at Open Access Data Centres (OADC) on Sustainability in Data Centre Operations.
He has an enviable career in operations of data centre, and has worked with CWG plc where he managed the company’s data centre for over 5 years before joining OADC few years ago.
In this interview, he explained the driving force behind WIOCC and OADC sustainability efforts. WIOCC Group is the parent company of WIOCC- Africa’s digital backbone and OADC.
What does sustainability mean to WIOCC and Open Access Data Centres and how driven is the company on sustainability and the environment?
Sustainability encompasses a variety of obligations that are inherent in conducting business responsibly. For WIOCC and OADC, this includes:
- Leadership within the ICT industry, and regional bodies, and active engagement in industry organisations and events. For example, the CEO of OADC serves as Chairman of the Africa Data Centres Association and is a member of the Science and Technology Committee of the Lagos Chamber of Business and Industry. OADC also participates in the Infrastructure Masons Climate Accord which demonstrates our commitment to global initiatives focused on carbon accounting and reduction.
- Corporate social responsibility initiatives through which we make a positive impact on the communities amongst whom we operate. For example, OADC has served as a strategic partner for the STEAM UP programme in Lagos for three consecutive years. This mentorship program aims to inspire, motivate, and guide young girls in pursuing studies and careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, by connecting aspiring female scientists in secondary schools with professional women working in STEM fields.
- A comprehensive sustainability strategy across the entire WIOCC Group, and robust systems and processes to effectively manage environmental and social risks across our operations. In practice, this includes initiatives such as using acoustic panels in our power farm to stop reverberations and high levels of noise.
How concerned is WIOCC & Open Access Data Centres about sustainability especially when it involves the environment more especially when it comes to Data Centres operations?
WIOCC and OADC recognize that sustainability is a paramount consideration in the development and operation of data centres. With increasing energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with digital infrastructure, we are committed to operating sustainably.
We apply competitive sustainability standards during the design, building and operation of our data centres. This ensures that our facilities are both hyperscale-ready for clients, and meet global investor requirements for managing environmental and social risks.
How sustainable should Data Centres be when it comes to usage of power?
Energy efficiency is an area of focus for OADC. We have set performance targets that require us to improve our Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) which is the industry standard for measuring energy efficiency.
In addition, green building design has been incorporated as a requirement of our core data centres. This requires energy and water efficiency to be included in the design of our data centres.
A key metric in building design is the ‘embodied carbon’ of materials – this refers to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with various stages in the life cycle of building materials, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and disposal. Current international building certifications, like IFC EDGE and LEED, require us to achieve ambitious targets relating to the embodied carbon in the materials we use for data centre construction.
How can technology help data centres to maximise sustainability process especially with energy efficiency and what lessons can be learned on the energy efficiency of OADC operations?
At OADC operations, we focus on improving our energy efficiency through technology and optimal occupation of our data centres. This includes:
- Implementing advanced and more efficient cooling systems and managing airflow efficiently
- Integrating renewable energy sources
- Investing in energy-efficient hardware
- Implementing smart energy monitoring and reporting systems to identify improvements and eliminate waste.
- Using smart technologies like artificial intelligence to forecast workload and optimise resource allocation.
Waste management is always an environmental issue especially in a developing country, how can industrial waste be managed taking Open Access Data Centre as a case study?
At OADC, we apply the waste hierarchy which requires us to reduce and minimise waste as the first option. Where waste generation cannot be avoided or reduced, we recover and reuse waste in a manner that is safe for human health and the environment.
Where waste cannot be recovered or reused, we will treat, destroy, or dispose of it in an environmentally sound manner that includes the appropriate control of emissions and residues resulting from the handling and processing of the waste material. Our policy also requires us to use licensed disposal sites that are being operated to acceptable standards.
We have a Waste Management Plan that emphasizes a “Cradle to Grave” approach. This means we take responsibility for waste from its creation (“cradle”) to its final disposal (“grave”). We ensure waste separation by providing clearly labeled bins for different materials and have partnered with a government-approved waste collection service provider to ensure proper disposal.
Carbon footprints and circularity are issues in the operations of data centres, how do you recycle and manage your waste? is the community involved in your recycling process and in your waste management?
For circularity to be effective and sustainable, we start considering materials usage from the design phase. We also leverage innovative technologies and sustainable materials to minimise energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation throughout a facility’s lifecycle:
- In our Lagos data centre, we have partnered with RESWAYE (Recycling Scheme for Women and Youth Empowerment), which collects our plastic waste for recycling purposes.
- As part of our environmental initiatives, we dispose of electronic waste responsibly. Whenever possible, we ensure that equipment or its components are recycled or reused.
- Our water treatment plants are environmentally beneficial. The implementation of Reverse Osmosis and Sequence Batch Reactor technology in our plants not only provides clean and safe processed water but also helps save water and reduce waste released into the environment. Its impact is far-reaching, contributing significantly to the protection of public health and the environment.
- Additionally, we utilize environmentally friendly, clean agent fire suppression systems in our facilities. These agents have extremely low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential, containing no carbon dioxide or other harmful gases.
Nigeria is not focussed yet on using renewables when it comes to powering data centres, is OADC looking to do this?
Yes, certainly. OADC has recently completed a feasibility study regarding using renewable energy in our data centres. We have already launched a pilot project using solar power at one of our South African data centres, and we plan to roll out further solar installations wherever we operate in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
We are also investigating other forms of renewable energy for future projects, including wind and wave energy.
Dimension Data Nigeria has raised ₦20 billion (approximately $13.7 million) through a bond programme under Dimension Data SPV Funding Plc, following approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria.
This initiative aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure by addressing gaps in fibre coverage, limited enterprise connectivity, and increasing demand for cloud, fintech, digital services, and Artificial Intelligence.
The integrated IT solutions provider stated that the capital will be used to fund long-term investments in expanding network capacity, enhancing resilience, and supporting carrier-grade and enterprise services as data consumption continues to accelerate nationwide.
Speaking at a documentation and regulatory clearances event in Lagos, managing director, Gbenga Olabiyi, said sustained infrastructure investment is critical to maintaining competitiveness and enabling future growth.
He noted that strategic upgrades would help future-proof operations, reduce service disruptions, and allow the company to scale efficiently as business and consumer demand for cloud, fintech, and other digital services intensifies.
The bond programme is backed by private equity firm Mbavaa Partners Limited, whose managing partner, Shatse Kakwagh, described the transaction as a milestone that unlocks long-term capital for expansion.
He highlighted that strong ratings and an oversubscribed first issuance show investor confidence in Dimension Data’s execution and growth potential.
The fundraising comes as Nigeria confronts persistent infrastructure gaps, including limited metro and last-mile fibre coverage and rising enterprise connectivity needs.
Government intends to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre nationwide under Project Bridge aim to expand internet penetration and lower access costs.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has recorded a landmark turnaround in 2025, posting a pre‑tax profit of N1.70 trillion, reversing a loss of N550.3 billion in 2024 as the company emerged from a rough patch driven largely by foreign exchange volatility.
MTN Nigeria
The telecom giant said the performance reflects a “significant turning point” in its corporate and financial trajectory, underpinned by improved macroeconomic conditions, strong service‑revenue growth, and tightening operational efficiency.
Profitability, Revenue, and Dividend
For the full year 2025, MTN Nigeria reported profit after tax of N1.11 trillion, compared with a loss after tax of N400.4 billion in 2024, while earnings per share rose to N53.07 from a negative N19.05 a year earlier.
Total revenue grew 54.9% year‑on‑year to N5.20 trillion, with service revenue up 55.1% to N5.17 trillion, driven mainly by data, voice, and fintech services.
The company’s board proposed a final cash dividend of N15 per share, bringing the total dividend for the 2025 financial year to N20 per share. Dividends will be paid electronically to shareholders on the register as of April 8, 2026, subject to completed e‑dividend mandates.
This payout is one of the largest single‑year dividends in Nigerian corporate history, signalling strong cash‑flow generation and management confidence in the company’s earnings quality.
Fourth‑Quarter Momentum and Customer Base
MTN Nigeria’s fourth‑quarter performance was particularly robust, with pre‑tax profit surging 248.8% year‑on‑year to N569.6 billion, compared with N163.3 billion in Q4 2024.
The company’s mobile subscriber base reached 87.3 million at year‑end, up 7.9% from the previous year, reinforcing its position as Nigeria’s largest telecom operator by subscribers.
Active data users grew by 11.6% to 53.2 million, and smartphone penetration rose to 66.1%, reflecting the deepening shift toward data‑driven services and digital lifestyles among Nigerians.
Data, Fintech, and Voice Growth
Data was the biggest growth driver, with data revenue up 74.5% to N2.78 trillion and data traffic increasing 34.0%, amid rising demand for mobile broadband and video streaming.
Voice revenue also climbed strongly, rising 42.1% to N1.85 trillion as tariffs and usage patterns adjusted to more stable exchange‑rate conditions.
Fintech revenue surged 79.7% to N191.3 billion, underscoring the rapid expansion of MTN Nigeria’s mobile money ecosystem and the growing role of digital financial inclusion in the country’s economy.
Cost Management and EBITDA Leap
Operating leverage improved markedly, with cost of sales rising 30.3% and operating expenses up 16.7%, both growth rates below the 55% revenue expansion.
EBITDA jumped 108.9% to N2.74 trillion, lifting the company’s EBITDA margin into the mid‑to‑high 50% range, ahead of its prior guidance.
Management attributed the improvement to a more stable foreign‑exchange market, moderated inflation, and sustained demand for data and digital services, as well as disciplined cost control.
FX Recovery and Capital Expenditure
Foreign exchange performance was a major swing factor: MTN Nigeria recorded a net FX gain of N90.3 billion in 2025, compared with a N925.4 billion FX loss in 2024.
The turnaround followed settlement of outstanding letters of credit and a deliberate reduction in dollar‑denominated exposure, which helped insulate earnings from earlier currency shocks.
Capital expenditure excluding leases rose 126.2% to N1.00 trillion, as the company invested heavily in network capacity, coverage, and digital infrastructure, including fibre rollout and 4G/LTE upgrades.
Despite the higher capex, free cash flow soared 215.5% to N1.2 trillion, indicating that the expansion is being funded internally without straining the balance sheet.
Balance Sheet and Shareholder Value
The company’s balance sheet strengthened materially, with total assets up 28.7% to N5.40 trillion and shareholders’ equity turning positive after several years in deficit.
Shareholders’ funds rose 219.8% to N548.7 billion, while retained earnings closed at N400.4 billion, compared with negative N607.5 billion in December 2024.
In the stock market, MTN Nigeria’s shares recently traded around N760, making it the most capitalised company on the Nigerian Exchange with a market valuation of about N16 trillion.
The stock has gained 33% in February 2026 alone, taking year‑to‑date returns to 49%, following a 155.5% rally in 2025, which investors see as a vote of confidence in the company’s turnaround story.
Outlook and Strategic Guidance
Management maintains a medium‑term service‑revenue growth guidance of at least low‑20% annually, underpinned by ongoing data and fintech expansion as well as gradual price adjustments.
The group has also revised its EBITDA margin guidance upward to the mid‑to‑high 50% range, signalling sustained profitability even as the company continues to invest in network and digital infrastructure.
Analysts note that MTN Nigeria’s 2025 performance not only restores investor confidence but also sets a benchmark for other Nigerian corporates navigating FX‑linked risks and regulatory uncertainty.
In a bold move to future-proof Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, MTN Nigeria embarked on a massive N1.0 trillion Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) drive, backed by its record-breaking 2025 financial performance.
MTN
The company’s audited results revealed a historic 108.9% increase in EBITDA to N2.7 trillion and a 215.5% rise in free cash flow to N1.2 trillion, providing the exact financial muscle necessary for this aggressive network expansion.
According to the firm’s strategic blueprint, without the ability to generate strong returns, the N1.0 trillion CAPEX required to maintain the network and deploy advanced technologies would simply not exist.
This accelerated network investment is already yielding significant dividends in consumer usage and reliability. The 2025 results showed a massive 74.5% surge in data revenue alongside a 42.1% increase in voice revenue. Furthermore, active data subscribers grew by 11.6% to hit 53.2 million, underscoring the robust commercial momentum and the continuous public demand for high-quality internet services powered by fresh CAPEX.
Speaking on the company’s trajectory, CEO Karl Olutokun Toriola confirmed that the restoration of positive retained earnings and a highly resilient balance sheet directly supported this accelerated network investment.
He said: “2025 marked a significant turning point in our business performance, with a return to profitability, stronger free cash flow, and the restoration of positive retained earnings and shareholders’ funds, enabling the resumption of dividend payments.
“Our balance sheet resilience – underpinned by robust operating performance, disciplined capital allocation, and reduced foreign currency exposure – supported accelerated network investment to enhance quality of service and user experience, positioning us to sustain growth and deliver attractive long term shareholder returns.”
The company continues to position this N1.0 trillion infrastructure spending as a cornerstone of its economic patriotism. As the largest corporate taxpayer, MTN noted that its heavy investments directly support government digital infrastructure ambitions and social welfare whilst stimulating the local tech ecosystem.
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