For decades, Nigeria’s progress in connectivity and access to electricity have run on parallel tracks, each struggling to reach the country’s underserved populations.
But today, the announcement of a strategic partnership between Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), marks a historic convergence of digital infrastructure and clean energy delivery, designed to reach every corner of the nation.
The Vision: Connecting People, Powering Dreams
With Nigeria’s digital economy contributing over 18.5% of GDP as of Q1 2025, and over 92 million Nigerians still lacking access to reliable electricity, the collaboration between REA and GBB is not just timely, it’s essential.
“This is a landmark moment in Nigeria’s journey toward a digitally empowered, sustainably powered, and inclusively connected nation,” said Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone. “We are no longer talking about transformation in silos. This is about convergence, of energy and innovation, cables and classrooms, power grids and possibilities.”
Galaxy Backbone, tasked with providing secure ICT infrastructure for federal institutions, understands that connectivity without power is potential without execution. In many communities, fiber optic cables have been laid but remain dormant—waiting for reliable electricity to bring them to life.
The Plan: Where Fiber Meets Solar
Outlined in the MoU are several impactful initiatives:
- 🔌 Solar Electrification of GBB’s Metro Fibre Sites: Beginning in Abuja, REA will deploy solar solutions to power GBB network sites, improving uptime and reducing reliance on diesel generators.
- 🏫 Fibre-to-Hostel Project: Through a collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), students in public tertiary institutions will soon enjoy reliable Wi-Fi, powered by sustainable energy, starting with hostels in six institutions.
- 🏛️ 774 Local Government Digitization Initiative: The project will launch in six pilot LGAs, combining energy and connectivity to support smarter governance at the grassroots level.
- 💻 Cloud Infrastructure & Temporary Connectivity: GBB will provide cloud hosting, LANs, and co-location services to boost REA’s operational efficiency and digitization across project sites.
REA’s Take: Powering More Than Lights
For Mr. Abba Aliyu, managing director of REA, this partnership is a dream long in the making.
“This isn’t just about installing solar panels or routers. This is about empowering students in hostels to access online learning, about rural clinics being able to access cloud-based patient data, about young entrepreneurs uploading their business ideas from off-grid communities,” he explained.
With over 1,000 solar mini-grids deployed under REA’s flagship programs, and tens of thousands of households electrified, the agency has the reach—and now, through GBB, the digital horsepower—to catalyze inclusive growth across sectors.
National Agenda, Local Impact
The partnership directly supports the Renewed Hope Digital Economy Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which aims to create a tech-enabled, youth-driven, and inclusive economy by 2030.
This MoU is more than a symbolic agreement, it’s a tactical move to merge clean energy with smart governance and digital access, especially in Nigeria’s underserved communities.
Already, stakeholders from education, healthcare, and local governance are watching with anticipation.
- In rural Kogi, school administrators envision powered classrooms with stable internet.
- In Benue, healthcare workers hope for online health records in clinics long without power.
- In Kano, young coders dream of hackathons from hostels once crippled by blackouts.
Looking Ahead: The Spark of Inter-Agency Innovation
The ceremony, attended by senior executives and the media, concluded not with fanfare, but with firm resolve.
“Nigeria doesn’t just need more infrastructure, it needs integrated, intelligent infrastructure,” said Professor Adeyanju. “And that is what today represents: a shift from isolated interventions to strategic synergy.”
With the MoU signed and initial projects already in motion, Galaxy Backbone and REA are turning intention into impact, one solar panel, one fiber node, one empowered Nigerian at a time.
In a world chasing smart cities and AI revolutions, Nigeria may just find its edge in the simplicity of this idea: when power and connection meet, innovation flows freely.
