Members of the Joint Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity recently conducted a high-level oversight visit to the National Shared Services Centre (NSSC), the nerve center of Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Limited.

The visit, led by Stanley Olajide Adedeji, chairman, House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, signaled a growing consensus within the 10th Assembly: Galaxy Backbone is a strategic national asset that requires a significant capital infusion to keep pace with Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The IDTS 2024–2028: A Blueprint for Sovereign Transformation

At the heart of the engagement was the presentation of GBB’s Integrated Digital Transformation Strategy (IDTS) 2024–2028.

This five-year roadmap is designed to move the Nigerian government beyond fragmented IT silos toward a unified, secure, and scalable cloud-first architecture.

Sovereign Data: GBB is doubling down on “data sovereignty,” urging MDAs to migrate their workloads to its world-class Tier III data centers.

National Reach: The strategy focuses on expanding high-speed fiber infrastructure to underserved regions, ensuring that government-to-citizen (G2C) services are not limited to urban hubs.

Cyber-Resilience: With the rise in global state-sponsored cyber threats, the IDTS prioritizes “cybersecurity resilience” as a core pillar of national security.

The Funding Gap: Investing in Economic Resilience

Despite being the infrastructure engine for government digital services, GBB faces the challenge of maintaining cutting-edge hardware in a volatile economic environment.

Adedeji emphasized that legislative support must translate into tangible funding to ensure global competitiveness.

“Organisations such as Galaxy Backbone are pivotal to building the digital infrastructure required to support governance, economic resilience, and Nigeria’s future competitiveness,” Adedeji noted. He stressed that greater investment is no longer optional if Nigeria aims to achieve its digital transformation targets.

A Call for Inter-Agency Migration

Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, the managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, used the visit to issue a clarion call to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

By leveraging GBB’s shared services, the government aims to:

Reduce Redundancy: Eliminate the cost of MDAs building independent, small-scale data centers.

Enhance Security: Consolidate government data within a secure, Tier III environment protected by national cybersecurity protocols.

Promote Efficiency: Enable seamless Government-to-Government (G2G) data sharing.

The Realpolitik of Digital Infrastructure

For Galaxy Backbone, the challenge remains two-fold: Technology and Trust. While the NSSC boasts world-class facilities, GBB must convince skeptical MDAs that its “Shared Services” model can provide the uptime and speed required for modern governance.

The endorsement from the National Assembly provides the political cover needed to enforce a “GBB-First” policy for government data, potentially saving the federation billions in duplicative ICT spending.

“GBB remains steadfast in its mission to power Nigeria’s digital future by delivering world-class ICT infrastructure and enterprise solutions that support efficient governance,” Prof. Adeyanju concluded.

The launch marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward building a digitally-driven, efficient, and knowledge-based public service.

The Go-Live ceremony, held at the Head of Service Conference Hall, Abuja, brought together senior government officials, including Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Special Duties, the management of Galaxy Backbone Limited, partners, and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s public sector digital ecosystem.

Delivering her address, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, the head of the Civil Service of the Federation, described the launch as a defining moment in the transformation of Nigeria’s civil service.

She noted that the deployment of the GBB 1Gov ECM represents the fulfilment of a major commitment under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) aimed at driving efficiency, transparency, and data-driven decision-making across the service.

Mrs. Walson-Jack highlighted the progress made over the past year and seven months, including the creation of 59,344 official email accounts, comprehensive data cleansing and harmonization processes, and the successful migration from the previous Laserfiche ECMS to Galaxy Backbone’s sovereign 1Gov Cloud ECM platform.

She emphasized that no Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) will need to restart the process, as the OHCSF has fully transitioned to the locally hosted platform.

In outlining the rationale behind the migration, she identified four key pillars underpinning the initiative:

National Sovereignty of Digital Infrastructure: Strengthening Nigeria’s ownership and control over its data and digital systems through a government-owned platform managed by GBB.

National Interoperability: Eliminating silos by enabling seamless collaboration and information sharing across MDAs through a unified platform.

Scale Advantage: Promoting uniform record management and operational standards across government institutions.

Faster and Inclusive Adoption: Enabling swift onboarding, electronic workflows, and e-signature adoption to accelerate the government’s transition to digital processes.

During a live demonstration of the 1Gov ECM platform, Mr. Ayodeji Bakare, 1Gov ECM Project Lead, reaffirmed GBB’s commitment to powering the Federal Government’s digital transformation goals.

He revealed that over 893 staff members have already been enrolled and are actively using key features such as GovMail, document management, and workflow automation tools that enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Representing Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, the managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Mr. Sani Ibrahim, the executive director, Finance and Corporate Services, commended the OHCSF for its visionary leadership and collaboration.

He stated that the deployment of the 1Gov ECM brings Nigeria significantly closer to achieving a fully paperless government by December 31, 2025, emphasizing that the Galaxy Backbone 1Government Cloud remains central to the nation’s digital transformation agenda.

He further highlighted that GBB has already deployed its 1Government Cloud solution across several ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, among others.

This, he noted, reflects GBB’s unwavering commitment to supporting all MDAs in their digitalisation journey, ensuring that Nigeria achieves its national digital transformation and sustainability goals.

The event concluded with renewed commitments from government leaders, partners, and MDAs to continue working collaboratively with Galaxy Backbone in advancing the modernization of Nigeria’s public service through the deployment of secure, innovative, and sustainable digital systems.

The event, organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), brought together stakeholders across government, enterprise, and tech ecosystems.

In his welcome address, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, president and chairman of Council, LCCI, commended stakeholders for their resilience amid Nigeria’s economic challenges. He described the 2025 theme, “Leveraging Technology for Innovation and Development in Africa,” as timely and essential for fostering sustainable economic growth across the continent.

Galaxy Backbone Takes Centre Stage at ICTEL Expo 2025

A major highlight of the event was the strong presence of Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria’s leading provider of digital infrastructure and shared services.

The GBB delegation was led by Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO, who delivered the keynote address, reinforcing the critical role of digital infrastructure in enabling innovation, digital governance, and national development.

“Galaxy Backbone is not just a service provider; we are a nation builder,” said Professor Adeyanju.

He emphasized GBB’s strategic role in Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and spotlighted its globally certified Tier III and Tier IV Data Centres, Africa’s largest publicly owned facility of its kind.

These certifications, from the prestigious Uptime Institute, confirm GBB’s infrastructure meets global standards for resilience, sustainability, and service reliability.

Powering Nigeria’s Digital Economy Through Infrastructure

Professor Adeyanju also detailed GBB’s 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC) and Security Operations Centre (SOC), which deliver comprehensive cybersecurity services including:

• Threat intelligence

• Endpoint protection

• Brand integrity monitoring

These capabilities, he noted, are enabling secure digital operations for both government institutions and private-sector players across the country.

On the transformative National Information Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) project, Professor Adeyanju described it as “one of the most ambitious digital connectivity investments in Nigeria’s history.”

“To date, we have deployed over 5,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable across 28 states, connecting state capitals, federal institutions, and MDAs. But we’re not just laying cables, we’re laying the foundation for digital governance and a truly connected economy,” he stated.

GBB Exhibition Highlights: Innovation Meets Impact

At the Galaxy Backbone exhibition stand, visitors explored GBB’s full suite of services tailored to enterprise innovation, efficient public service delivery, and nationwide digital transformation. The company demonstrated how its platforms are enabling:

• Seamless e-Government applications

• Enterprise-grade connectivity solutions

• Secure and scalable cloud infrastructure

GBB’s participation at ICTEL Expo 2025 underscores its enduring commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy, advancing public-private sector collaboration, and ensuring technology inclusion across all regions of the country.

The event, which held in Abuja, celebrated groundbreaking ideas from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that are reimagining public service delivery through innovation.

The ceremony, which attracted notable dignitaries including the Chief Host herself, The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

Others include, former Heads of Service, Dame Amal Pepple and Mr. Danladi Kifasi, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Service, Hon. Sani Bala, showcased the vibrancy and ingenuity of Nigeria’s Civil Servants.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the MD/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Sani Ibrahim, Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services, underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration, digital literacy, and innovative thinking as pillars for national development.

He emphasized that GBB remains deeply committed to supporting initiatives like the Innovation Competition, which foster a culture of creativity, problem-solving, and transformation across the public sector.

“Innovation is no longer a luxury — it is essential to building a responsive, efficient, and digitally enabled government. At Galaxy Backbone, we are proud to align with this vision through our Integrated Digital Transformation Strategy (IDTS), which drives digital infrastructure, innovation, data security, and capacity building across MDAs,” he stated.

The 2025 edition of the competition saw an outstanding 155 entries, with 132 individuals pitching innovative ideas and 66 thematic teams presenting implementable solutions designed to enhance service delivery and governance.

Themed around streamlining bureaucratic processes, succession planning, employee welfare, and change management, this year’s event reaffirmed the role of innovation in shaping a future-ready public service.

Galaxy Backbone recognizes the critical role of digital transformation in empowering civil servants to create lasting impact.

By supporting platforms such as the Public Service Innovation Competition, GBB reinforces its commitment to equipping the public sector with the tools, skills, and digital infrastructure necessary for Nigeria’s progress.

According to a statement signed by Mr. Chidi Okpala, head, Corporate Communications at GBB, as part of this commitment, GBB will also be providing mentorship for all the winners of the innovation challenge, helping them refine their ideas, scale implementation, and drive sustainable transformation across the public service.

As the country advances on its journey toward e-governance and efficient service delivery, GBB continues to stand as a strategic partner in building a connected, innovative, and digitally skilled public service.

This strategy is designed to enhance digital service delivery, strengthen connectivity, and support Nigeria’s vision of a fully integrated digital economy.

Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, the managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, led the team to develop the plan in collaboration with key stakeholders, the the strategy focuses on five core pillars that will drive efficiency, innovation, and sustainability in Nigeria’s digital landscape.

A statement signed by Mr. Chidi Okpala, head, Corporate Communications, shows the first focuses on building a Resilient Digital Infrastructure; ensuring that government and businesses have access to secure, high-speed, and scalable digital platforms. By building and maintaining a robust digital backbone, GBB aims to support the nation’s growing demand for seamless connectivity and data security.

The second pillar, Integrated Digital Ecosystems; fosters collaboration between government, businesses, and local communities, creating a more connected Nigeria. Through this initiative, GBB seeks to break silos and establish a unified digital experience that enhances communication, innovation, and service delivery.

To meet the evolving demands of governance and business, the strategy prioritizes Innovative Service Delivery; ensuring that digital solutions are tailored to address economic, social, and administrative needs.

By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, GBB is committed to driving efficiency, economic growth, and improved public service delivery.

Now, recognizing the critical role of trust in the digital era, the fourth pillar of the strategy places a strong emphasis on Digital Leadership & Trust. GBB is dedicated to fostering a culture of cybersecurity, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is not only efficient but also secure and reliable.

To sustain long-term impact, the fifth pillar, Financial Sustainability; remains a key priority. By investing in innovative technologies and expanding its digital services, GBB aims to drive revenue growth while ensuring affordability and accessibility for all users.

At its core, this strategic roadmap is designed to enhance government efficiency, boost economic development, and improve the overall digital experience for Nigerians.

So, as part of its commitment to achieving these goals, GBB is actively engaging with government agencies, private sector players, and international and local partners to foster collaboration and accelerate implementation. Through strategic partnerships, the organization is poised to lead Nigeria into a new era of digital excellence, ensuring that businesses and government institutions alike are equipped for the future.

Galaxy Backbone, through its IDTS plan, remains steadfast in its mission to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation through world-class infrastructure, secure connectivity, and innovative solutions that power progress.

Govmail is the secure official email platform for Nigeria’s public sector. The training, which will be conducted in batches throughout the month of March 2025, aims to ensure maximum impact and effective knowledge transfer.

This initiative is in alignment with the Federal Government’s digitalisation agenda, which prioritizes secure, efficient, and technology-driven governance.

By equipping civil servants with the necessary expertise to optimize Govmail, the government is ensuring seamless communication across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) while strengthening data security and operational efficiency.

Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, the managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation through innovative and secure technology solutions.

“As the nation’s leading provider of digital infrastructure, GBB is playing a pivotal role in ensuring that government communications are secured, professional, and aligned with global best practices. This training will enhance civil servants’ ability to effectively utilize Govmail in carrying out their official responsibilities,” he stated.

The training is being conducted in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), who has sent out a Circular to all MDAs informing them of this specialized training aimed at providing hands on experience with GOVMAIl features and ensure uniform adoption of and compliance with government approved digital communications standards.

This further reinforces the government’s commitment to a digitally-driven public service.

It would be recalled that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation recently described Govmail as a ‘game changer’ for government communication.

This underscores the significance of the platform in enhancing inter-agency collaboration, data sovereignty, and information security across all MDAs.

Through this capacity-building initiative, GBB is reinforcing its role as a key enabler of Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, ensuring that public sector professionals are well-equipped to harness the full potential of digital tools in their daily operations.

GBB is dedicated to enabling seamless connectivity, secure cloud services, and cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions for government institutions and businesses.

With a world-class Tier III & IV Data Centres, Security Operations Centre (SOC), and Network Operations Centre (NOC), GBB under the leadership of Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, the managing director and chief executive officer, provides mission-critical support for digital transformation initiatives across the country.

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Under the visionary leadership of Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, Galaxy Backbone has continued to raise the bar in the provision of world-class digital solutions for both government and corporate sectors.

This recertification underscores GBB’s dedication to safeguarding sensitive financial data, mitigating cyber threats, and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.

The PCI DSS certification is a globally recognized benchmark for securing financial transactions, ensuring that organizations handling payment card information maintain the highest level of security.

“As an organization at the forefront of digital transformation and secure connectivity, achieving PCI DSS recertification reflects our unwavering commitment to data security, compliance, and international best practices,” said Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone. “Our financial services partners and customers can continue to trust GBB to provide secure, resilient, and high-performance infrastructure that meets global regulatory requirements.”

By maintaining PCI DSS compliance, GBB continues to support financial institutions, government agencies, and businesses in ensuring secure digital transactions.

This milestone reinforces the company’s role as a trusted technology partner in Nigeria’s evolving digital and financial landscape.

The PCI DSS recertification also compliments our extensive portfolio of internationally recognized certifications, including ISO 20000, for Service Management Systems (SMS), ISO 27001 for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), ISO 9001 for Quality Management Systems (QMS), and ISO 22301 for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS).

These certifications reaffirm the organisation’s commitment to providing services that are secure, efficient, and in line with global best practices.

Galaxy Backbone recognises that providing excellent service goes beyond just compliance. It is about creating lasting value for corporations and government entities alike, delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive digital transformation, improve operational efficiency, and foster secure, reliable communication and data exchange.

With these certifications, Galaxy Backbone continues to benchmark itself against international standards, ensuring that we consistently meet and exceed the expectations of our customers.

GBB’s dedication to innovation, excellence, and security is at the core of everything we do, empowering organizations to thrive in a digital-first world.

confirming this development to Techeconomy, Mr. Chidi Okpala, head, Corporate Communications at Galaxy Backbone, said that the globally recognized certification, underscores GBB’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional digital infrastructure services that adhere to the highest global standards of availability, resilience, and reliability.

“As Nigeria’s foremost digital infrastructure and ICT service provider, Galaxy Backbone remains steadfast in its mission to provide innovative Cloud, Colocation, Connectivity, and Cybersecurity solutions to meet the dynamic needs of organizations in both public and private sectors”, Okpala said.

The Tier III Certification is a testament to the company’s dedication to building a world-class digital ecosystem that supports its clients’ evolving demands while maintaining uncompromising operational efficiency.

The Uptime Institute Tier III Certification represents a benchmark for operational excellence and reliability.

“The certification guarantees an infrastructure built to withstand unexpected disruptions, including natural disasters, cyberattacks, and emergencies.

“This ensures uninterrupted business operations for our customers and aligns with our commitment to delivering reliable services that safeguard our clients’ critical data and digital assets”, he added.

This achievement adds to Galaxy Backbone’s portfolio of certifications, which already includes ISO 20000(Service Management Systems), ISO 2700l(Information Security Management Systems(ISMS), ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management), PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and ISO 22301:2019 (Business Continuity Management).

These milestones highlight our unwavering commitment to operational excellence, continuous improvement, maintaining international standards and client satisfaction. With each certification, Galaxy Backbone solidifies its position as a trailblazer in ICT solutions and a key enabler of Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

As Galaxy Backbone celebrates this significant milestone in addition to Galaxy Backbone existing  Tier-IV Data Center TCCF (Tier-IV Certification of Constructed Facility), we reaffirm our commitment to fostering sustainable partnerships with stakeholders while expanding our fibre-optic network to reach more cities and underserved communities across Nigeria.

“This expansion will create a stronger and more inclusive digital ecosystem, empowering organizations of all sizes to achieve their goals with confidence.

“Together, we will continue to set new benchmarks in innovation, service delivery, and infrastructure development, positioning Nigeria as a leading player in the global digital economy”, Okpala told Techeconomy.

Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Limited is Nigeria’s premier Digital transformation Company and foremost provider of shared ICT infrastructure and digital services.

The organization is committed is to driving digital inclusion and enabling digital services across the nation.

At its core, GBB serves as the digital backbone of the Federal Government, providing secure, reliable ICT infrastructure and services with a robust National ICT Infrastructure spanning over 5,000km of fibre-optic cables in 28 states of the federations.

[Featured Photo Credit: X/@musingsofenigma]

This partnership underscores GBB’s role as the premier digital infrastructure platform in Nigeria, offering comprehensive services including cloud computing, colocation, connectivity, cybersecurity, and business continuity solutions.

This was disclosed as Galaxy Backbone (GBB) hosted Dr. Hycinth Iormem Alia, the executive governor of Benue State, for a comprehensive tour of its cutting-edge digital infrastructure facilities.

The visit marked a significant milestone in GBB’s mission to drive digital transformation across the federal republic of Nigeria.

During the visit, the Governor was introduced to Galaxy Backbone’s Uptime Certified Tier III Data Centre, Security Operations Centre, and Network Operations Centre.

These state-of-the-art facilities exemplify GBB’s commitment to providing top-tier digital infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions.

In the words of Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, GBB’s Managing Director/CEO;

“We are honored to host His Excellency, the Governor of Benue State, and to showcase our state-of-the-art digital infrastructure. This visit signifies a pivotal step in our partnership with Benue State to drive digital transformation. We are committed to providing the technological foundation through our High Speed Fibre Connectivity currently available in Benue state and in close to 30 states of the nation, alongside other digital infrastructure solutions, that enables states to thrive in the digital age.”

Key Highlights of the Visit:

• Tier III Data Centre: The Governor was given a detailed tour of the Uptime Certified Tier III Data Centre, which offers unparalleled reliability, security, and scalability for data storage and management.
• Security Operations Centre (SOC): The SOC is equipped with advanced monitoring tools to provide real-time threat detection and response, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are in place.
• Network Operations Centre (NOC): The NOC enables continuous monitoring and management of network performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and operational efficiency.

Galaxy Backbone’s collaboration with Benue Digital Infrastructure Company is set to enhance the state’s digital landscape, providing the technological backbone required for effective governance, economic growth, and improved public services.

In his response, Governor Alia, a reverend father and the executive governor of the State, expressed his delight at GBB’s Digital Infrastructure;

“I am impressed by the advanced facilities at Galaxy Backbone and the potential they hold for our state’s digital transformation initiatives and its future. Our collaboration with GBB through the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company will pave the way for significant technological advancements in Benue State, enhancing governance and service delivery.” He concluded.

GBB, in a statement signed by Chidi Okpala, head, Corporate Communications, “invites all states across Nigeria to leverage its extensive infrastructure for their digital transformation initiatives.

“By utilizing GBB’s comprehensive digital services, they enjoy economies of scale and can achieve significant advancements in cloud computing, colocation, connectivity, cybersecurity, and business continuity.

“Galaxy Backbone remains dedicated to supporting the digital transformation of all states in Nigeria, offering a robust platform, being an enabler and an aggregator of digital services that ensures security, connectivity, and continuity.

“This initiative aligns with the broader vision of a digitally inclusive and economically vibrant Nigeria”, the statement reads.