Telecom
Standardization, the Watchword in Data Centre Operations as Customers Become More Savvy- Egboye
It is a great thing that the government requesting that data should be hosted in the country, and that is what is done globally. For us, it has been a blessing, because it has increased our footprint and has increased the enquiries we get and our customer base.
The key value proposition that Rack Center places at the fore front as a business resonates with clients who are looking for reliability. However, since the inception of Rack Center in October 2013, we have not had a single down time. This tells the clients that we are as reliable as where they are coming from globally.
We are also able to aggregate multiple carrier requests and do a deal with the ISP or the carrier provider and then share the bulk deals amongst our clients and that is a key thing for all the banks, as it reduces about 30 to 35 percent of their back haul costs.
These views were expressed by Ezekiel Egboye, hee director of Operations, Rack Centre in a recent interview with newsmen.
He has 20 years in the UK and Canada as a technology infrastructure expert, successfully implementing and managing numerous multi-million dollar technology projects for major fortune 500 companies (IBM, Toronto Dominion Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, SunLife Financial, and Rogers Telecommunications).
Sound operations background and was General Manager Operations at Dimension Data West Africa.
As part of the Rack Center leadership team, he is responsible for ensuring that the short term and long term strategy of the business is carried out along the way it has been agreed by the board and ensuring that we deliver those strategies in time.
In this interview with select ICT Journalist, Egboye speaks on the challenges and opportunities in data hosting in Nigeria while encouraging more local businesses to bring their data ‘home’. Peter oluka captures his views for Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.
The Nigerian Government Clamours for Hosting of Data in the Country: What is the Response Rate Like?
Do You Think the Country Has Enough Capacity to Host All Data Locally?
I believe that we do because data centers are able to expand. Rack Center for instance, is a very agile business in the sense that we always adapt and look for ways to innovate. As a modular system, we are able to scale based on demand. We have doubled our capacity since inception and that is based on growth, and we have got a very great trajectory that clearly shows that at full build, we will be providing three thousand racks in this location. We have a land space of 20,000 square meters, which is able to build three thousand racks and over eight megawatts of IT power. In terms of scalability, we are able to support that growth in the country, and I believe that the others should be able to expand as well, even though their builds are normally the traditional build which gives them some limitation of expanding quickly based on demand.
How Rack Center Been Able to Maintain 100% Uptime Inspite Power Shortages in Nigeria
Rack center is built primarily on international best practice. So, from the start, we ensured that our facility is operated in line with international best practice, from the construction of the facility, to the operational delivery. We believe very strongly in four core principles in operations. They are; the people, processes, control and the technology. Without any of these four processes, the probability of having a downtime is very high. 70 percent of downtime globally is caused by human error, so if you don’t have the right processes in place, you’re bound to have human error.
The Advantage of Rack Centre’s Tier III Certification
Uptime is a very important institution when we look at the data center large scale, so it is very important for us to acknowledge the Tier III certification. Currently, there is no collocation data center in Africa that has achieved a Tier III constructed facility. Rack Centre is the first and only collocation data center to have achieved this. However, there are other data centers in Africa that have gone through the design certification which is great and is the first step in the process of the Tier III certification. The design certification is only valid for a two-year period and requires renewal. The core of the certification is around the TCCF as a constructed facility which does not require renewal. I would urge other data centers in the country to go through that process of actually becoming constructed certified because it gives Nigeria a better place in the global industry. Rack Centre has been able to put Nigeria on the map when you look at data center landscape, and the more constructed facilities that we have in the country enhances the Nigerian profile in the data center world. The key thing that this certification has done for us is that it has brought credibility to what we do. It also brings investor confidence from the global businesses that are looking to invest in Africa. Because we have been certified to that level, we are comparable with any of the facilities globally, so foreign businesses that are talking to us, feel very comfortable and confident to host their infrastructure with us.
Issues Around Building Data Centres in Africa
My background has been really around infrastructure, implementation, delivery and also running an operations department. I have worked in multiple companies in Europe and North America and obviously, over the years, I’ve been able to build a very strong understanding of how to manage people, technology and also create value for the customers. So when I look at my experience over the years, compare to what we are doing over here, I have realised that every continent is different and every country is unique. Definitely, Nigeria is unique and from a Nigerian perspective, we have got key issues that we normally experience. However, Rack Center is well positioned to deal with these issues as they come.
The Unique Issues Specific to the Nigerian Market
When I look at the challenges in Nigeria compare to the global market, they are not really unique to Nigeria so to say, however, they are more pronounced. Power for example, is always a problem and it is the key problem, not just in Nigeria but in Africa as a whole. But is it also important for us to highlight that power is not only unique as a challenge in Nigeria but is unique as well in other parts of the world. Recently, the Atlanta Airport in the United States of America which is one of the busiest airports, experienced a blackout, even British Airways experienced a power failure which brought down their data center for over 24 hours-remove because of libel.
. What I am trying to say is that, although Nigeria’s power issues are on a larger scale and more constant, these issues are not particularly unique to this country. Another major issue in Nigeria is that we tend to have fiber cuts, but the good thing is that in Rack Centre, we have positioned ourselves very strongly to be able to deal with normal issues that we face in Nigeria. Our power architecture is very robust and detailed, also, from a connectivity standpoint, we currently host almost all local and even some international carriers. This gives our clients the luxury to be able to have multiple connectivity providers, and should they have any issue, they can easily switch over to another provider.
The Future of Data Centre Ecosystem in Nigeria
Yes, there is definitely room for more players and we do encourage other players to come in and provide the service. From an operational standpoint, I think the Nigerian customers are becoming very savvy so there is going to be a lot of pressure for operations to ensure that they meet those international best standards, which is really a good thing. I am believing that it will actually up the game and make the data centers in the country today, focus a lot around ensuring operational efficiency and ensuring that they have the right team.
The Interconnection (Relationship) Between Rack Center and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN)
The internet exchange point of Nigeria is pretty much the connectivity service where members within that service come together and provide connectivity which reduces latency. Rack Centre is the first collocation data center to have the internet exchange point resided here, and also recently, we have been given a mandate in conjunction with the IXPN to become the regional exchange. From Rack Centre, you are able to interconnect and change packets seamlessly with other regional exchanges. Another key thing is the carrier neutrality of Rack Centre which makes us unique because it is not owned by a telco. If you look at global collocation services, you will will find out that they do not have any affiliation to, or are not owned by, or have stake in any of the telco providers.
This is important because as a true carrier neutral data center, you are able to attract almost all the telecoms operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to come down to your facility and provide connectivity for your clients. Today, in Rack Centre we have over 25 ISPs and carriers in Nigeria and also other Pan African carriers. Our neutrality also gives the service providers the comfort to know that we are not chasing the same business with them and we are able to provide connectivity through all the five undersea cables landed in Nigeria which gives our clients the ability to have redundancy through cross connection if there is an issue with any of the submarine cables.
How Nigeria Can Attract and Retain Personnel to Control Processes; and How Rack Center Been Able to Attract the Right Skill Set
Data center process is really a new service in Nigeria. 10 years ago, you probably would not find any collocation data center or any Tier III designed data center. With the fact that it is quite new in Nigeria, we tend to find issues around having the right skill set. But we have done in Rack Center since inception is that we have been able to build credible and highly talented resources by providing them with the right platform, the right business organization and also the right leadership. With that, we have been able to ensure that there is continuous training and innovation.
We have also ensured that the business provides these people with the right tools to be able to successfully carry out their duties and also continuously motivate them to be able to do more. We focus on local talents and train them both locally and abroad when needed. We also ensure that the trainings provided to them are very relevant technical trainings which are specific to the industry and to our technology, because the technology we have in Rack Center is very unique and not the standard technology that you find in most data centers, so we can’t train them with generic technology.
Telecommunications and digital services provider, Globacom, has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Huawei Nigerian Enterprises, to provide digital access to 7,000 remote communities in Nigeria with the commissioning of the pilot project in Isuanin Kura in Ibwa 2, Gwagwalada, on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Wednesday.
The project, which is championed by the Ministry, will deliver 2G/3G/4G services, free public Wi-Fi access, digital healthcare and remote learning capabilities to the over 12,000 residents of the community.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, was full of commendation to Globacom and Huawei for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the connectivity crisis affecting more than 20 million Nigerians who currently lack basic telecommunication access in the country.
Said he: “If you bring out your phone in many communities, there is no network at all. This is costing the country significantly because people cannot access financial services, medical care, or education”, adding that this also poses governance challenges as disconnected areas are difficult to administer.
“Where you live should not determine your access to opportunity. We are using innovation to ensure every Nigerian, regardless of location, can thrive in the digital age”, the Minister added.
Globacom’s Group Chief Technical Director, Mr. Sanjib Roy, who spoke on the project said the company worked with the Ministry and Huawei to bring up the site by providing the Microwave backhaul link and access to Globacom’s full core network resources and also manage the operation of the site to ensure uninterrupted voice and data services for the community.
“The Smart Education facility allows for young students within the community to receive education remotely, with the teachers being in Abuja or any other part of the world, while Healthcare delivery has been revolutionised through connected medical equipment that enables remote consultations between patients in Ibwa and doctors and specialists in urban-locations”, Mr Roy explained. The site and all the equipment are powered by solar thereby ensuring clean environment and uninterrupted power supply.
During the inauguration, the system’s effectiveness was demonstrated with the leader of Isuanin Kura, Ibwa 2 Community, Chief Abubakar Bamaiyi, having a live consultation with a medical doctor in Abuja, while the Minister and other guests watched as the students in the local school were being taught via online video by a teacher in Lagos, using equipment provided by Huawei.
Mr Kazeem Kaka, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, who also spoke at event, said, “For Globacom, this is a continuation of our long-standing mission to democratize access to communication. Since 2003, we have remained at the forefront of efforts to lower the barriers to connectivity—making telephony, internet, and data services more accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.
“Today’s launch reinforces that commitment. We are particularly excited about the impact this initiative will have on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment of Ibwa people”.
In his remarks, Mr Terrens Wu, Managing Director, Huawei Nigerian Enterprises, said his company was proud to be part of the initiative to provide connectivity, and promote learning and healthcare in rural communities through digital technology. His company later gave out 120 affordable smartphones to the community to help them have access to telephony.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to register at least 95% of Nigerians into the National Identity Database before the end of 2025, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on digital governance and inclusive development.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote outlined the agency’s strategy, which includes expanded registration centers, improved infrastructure, and intensified public sensitization campaigns.
“As part of our efforts, we are launching the Ward Enrollment Exercise to ensure that at least 95% of Nigerians are captured by December,” she stated.
NIMC reported that over 120 million Nigerians have already been enrolled, with the target set to register an additional 100 million before year-end. Coker-Odusote emphasized that the exercise would provide the government with accurate population data, enabling better planning and resource allocation.
Addressing concerns about data security and public trust, the NIMC boss assured Nigerians that robust measures have been put in place to safeguard personal information.
She highlighted initiatives such as the NIN Authentication system, which allows individuals to control access to their data through user consent management.
Additionally, NIMC is collaborating with security agencies to track and shut down fraudulent NIN websites while working alongside the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to ensure that enrollment officers receive proper certification in data handling.
“To foster trust, we are ensuring that all personnel handling data are certified experts through NDPC training programs,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Coker-Odusote revealed that NIMC is actively working to integrate all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to eliminate fragmented operations.
She also disclosed plans to launch a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) initiative, which will enhance trust in government transactions and digital interactions.
“In the near future, MDAs will be able to implement digital signing across platforms, seamlessly exchanging documents within and between various establishments, thereby advancing e-government and the digital economy,” she added.
The mass enrollment drive, coupled with the strengthening of cybersecurity frameworks, positions Nigeria for an inclusive and efficient national identity system that will serve as a foundation for digital transformation.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the global digital landscape, two prominent technology leaders have issued urgent warnings and strategic calls for Nigeria and Africa to adopt a unified, governance-driven approach to AI development, emphasizing that trust, regulation, and cybersecurity are more important than ever.
L-r: Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa, Africa Data Centres, Adewale Obadare, chief visionary officer, Digital Encode, Amrish Singhal, chief operations officer, Spectranet, Engr. Ike Nnamani, Managing Director, Digital Realty Nigeria and Rudman Muhammed, Managing Director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, at the 16th Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership awards held in Lagos recently.
At the 2025 Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit & Leadership Award (ABoICT 2025), held over the weekend in Lagos, Professor Adewale Peter Obadare, Chief Visionary Officer of Digital Encode, and Amrich Singhal, Chief Operating Officer of Spectranet, independently but powerfully echoed the same sentiment: AI without governance is a ticking time bomb.
Delivering his keynote on “AI Governance, Standardization and Cybersecurity in the AI Era,” Prof. Obadare warned against the rising trend of “AI washing”—where companies label basic software or services as “AI” to capitalize on hype, often without the underlying technological integrity or oversight.
“People are calling everything AI today, from photography apps to basic automation, but no one is talking about AI governance,” he said.
Drawing comparisons to the early days of the internet, Obadare cautioned that failing to integrate security and governance into AI architecture could lead to far-reaching consequences. “We are repeating the same mistake we made with TCP/IP, which was not built with cybersecurity in mind. We cannot afford to make that error again.”
He emphasized that governance should not be seen as a hindrance but as an enabler of safe innovation. “Governance is not a brake to stop movement; it is a brake to make movement safe,” he said.
Citing international standards like ISO/IEC 42001 and ISO/IEC 38507, Obadare called for responsible innovation grounded in clear ethical guidelines, stressing the importance of securing the core components of AI: data, models, and infrastructure.
Echoing similar concerns, Amrich Singhal, chief operating officer, Spectranet in his presentation themed “Responsible AI and Nigeria: Balancing Innovation, Regulation, and Cybersecurity,” stressed that “the countries that will benefit most from AI are not necessarily those with the most powerful models, but those with the most trusted systems.”
Singhal painted AI as a double-edged sword, capable of boosting national productivity while also enabling new forms of cyber manipulation—from deepfakes to identity theft and disinformation. “AI can clone voices, create fake personas, and even undermine democracy. It’s no longer a question of readiness, it’s a question of urgency,” he declared.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s potential due to its youthful, tech-savvy population and its expanding use of AI across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, and oil exploration.
However, he criticized existing regulatory structures such as the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and NITDA’s 2023 draft AI framework as being “underdeveloped, underfunded, and poorly enforced.”
Both experts called for a multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance. Prof. Obadare warned of real-world failures, such as Microsoft’s racist chatbot Tay, Amazon’s gender-biased recruitment AI, and Uber’s fatal autonomous vehicle incident, not as tech failures, but as governance failures.
He also cited cybersecurity breaches, including the 2023 hacking of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the leak of DeepSeek’s API keys and user data on launch day, to stress that “the danger is not just in the algorithms, but in how we design and deploy them.”
Singhal proposed a three-tiered strategy to build Nigeria’s AI resilience: government must champion AI education, create safe innovation sandboxes, and enforce data laws; private companies must adopt ethical and secure design practices; and civil society must raise awareness of digital rights and AI risks—especially for vulnerable populations.
In a firm conclusion, Prof. Obadare urged that “governance must be embedded by design,” warning that irresponsible innovation has already proven costly and called on both developers and policymakers to act before Nigeria’s AI future becomes a liability rather than a strength.
Meanwhile, Singhal closed with a stark challenge: “AI is already here. The question is not whether to use it, but how. Nigeria must choose whether AI will be a great equalizer or its greatest vulnerability.”
As the nation moves deeper into the AI era, the message is clear: building trust, enforcing cybersecurity, and embedding responsible governance must be at the core of Nigeria’s AI journey, before it’s too late.
Uche Uzoebo, SANEF CEO Makes Case for More Financial Inclusion Strategies Targeting Women
Survey Reveals Marketing Leaders See Strong Potential in gTLDS Despite Knowledge Gap
UK Minister for Africa Visits Nigeria to Deepen Strategic Partnership
Hydrogen, Lagos State Touch Thousands of Business Owners with “Healthy Heart, Healthy Business” Outreach
ACAMB Champions Bankers Wellness with Aerobics Fitness Session
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Invests ₦900Bn in 2025 to Boost Network Quality in Lagos & Abuja
E-Business2 days agoFirm Reports a 48% Increase in Malicious Packages Threatening Software Supply Chains
News2 days agoEFCC Witness Admits Writing Off Arik Air’s $2.3M Debt Amid N76Bn Fraud Trial
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Wins Award for Best Use of Data @MarkHack 4.0 Awards Night
E-Financial2 days agoSenate Passes Harmonised Report on Tax Reform Bills
News2 days agoSERAP Urges National Assembly to Reject Tinubu’s $24Bn Loan Request Over Debt Concerns
Broadcasting2 days agoThe Rave Revolution: How Gen Z and EDM Are Rewriting Nigeria’s Nightlife
News2 days agoAnambra Shines in 2025 E-Governance Rankings, Setting National Standards