The inauguration ceremony, held at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Abuja, was presided over by Senator Dr. George Akume, who also serves as the Chairman of GBB’s Board.

This development marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Galaxy Backbone’s governance and strategic outlook, underscoring the government’s commitment to building robust digital infrastructure capable of powering Nigeria’s role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In his address, Senator Akume emphasized the strategic importance of Galaxy Backbone to the national digital landscape.

“Our collective objective is to transform Galaxy Backbone into a more agile, responsive, and impactful institution—one that serves as a driving force behind Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure and service delivery,” he said.

The Chairman further called for a culture of collaboration, transparency, and mutual accountability between the Board and Executive Management.

“This partnership must be built on shared vision, openness, and respect. Together, we will elevate GBB to new heights of technological excellence, commercial success, and strategic relevance,” he remarked.

During the ceremony, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, the managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, extended a warm welcome to the new Board and presented a brief on the organization’s progress since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 22, 2024.

Professor Adeyanju highlighted the efforts of the Executive Management team, which, despite operating without a governing board for over a year, successfully developed and launched the Integrated Digital Transformation Strategy (IDTS) 2025–2028.

This ambitious roadmap is designed to modernize Nigeria’s ICT infrastructure and foster a digitally empowered public service.

The Key pillars of the IDTS include; Modernizing Nigeria’s National ICT Backbone Infrastructure; Building inclusive digital ecosystems connecting government, business, and citizens; Leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain for smarter service delivery; Enhancing digital trust through cybersecurity and data governance; Diversifying GBB’s revenue base to ensure long-term sustainability.

The strategy aligns with the priorities of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, and supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

In further remarks to the board, Prof. Adeyanju states;

“Your presence marks a turning point in our journey. We are excited to work with a Board whose insight and guidance will be critical to our continued growth and national impact.”

Following the inauguration, the SGF and Board members undertook an official tour of GBB’s National Shared Services Centre (NSSC)—the organization’s ultra-modern corporate headquarters.

They visited the Uptime Certified Tier III Data Centre, Security Operations Centre, and Network Operations Centre, all of which are core components of Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure.

Impressed by the scale and sophistication of the facilities, Senator Akume commended Galaxy Backbone for its remarkable achievements and reiterated the government’s commitment to fully leveraging this infrastructure to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation.

The Newly Inaugurated Board Members comprises distinguished professionals and representatives from key national institutions:

• Senator Dr. George Akume (CON) – chairman & secretary to the Government of the Federation
• Professor Ibrahim  Adeyanju – Managing Director/CEO, Galaxy Backbone
• Hon. Olusegun Olulade – Executive Director, Customer Centricity & Marketing
• Mr. Olumbe Akinkugbe – Executive Director, Digital Exploration & Technical Services
• Mr. Mohammed Sani Ibrahim – Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services
• Mrs. Rabi’ah Adamu-Waziri – Non-Executive Director (PTDF Representative)
• Mrs. Oluwakemi Babalogbon – Non-Executive Director (MOFI Representative)
• Mr. Abdulqadir Abubakar Maje – Non-Executive Director (Jigawa State Representative)
• Mrs. Margaret Ene Ebute – Non-Executive Director (Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy)
• Mrs. Adama Pindar – Company Secretary, Galaxy Backbone

With the breadth of expertise and strategic leadership brought by this reconstitution, Galaxy Backbone is well-positioned to advance its mandate of providing secure, reliable, and inclusive digital services across Nigeria.

He also emphasized that the poor and vulnerable population would need it to benefit from palliatives.

The SGF made this statement while declaring open an Inter-Ministerial retreat on the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Represented by Professor Babatunde Bolaji, Senator Akume reiterated that providing digital identity for all Nigerians is a cardinal focus of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He urged all government agencies to support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in establishing a robust and inclusive national identity system.

He also commended the NIMC Director-General, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for her dedication and commitment to fulfilling the Commission’s mandate.

The SGF who is also the Chairman of the Project Ecosystem Steering Committee (PESC) of the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project assured her of his willingness to support the commission in pursuing reforms that will reposition it through the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, lauded the NIMC leadership and the ID4D team for their achievements so far.

He also reiterated his Ministry’s collaboration with NIMC to ensure that the NIN is used to access social services and palliatives meant for vulnerable populations across the country.

For her part, the NIMC DG/CEO, represented by Ayobami Abiola, the technical assistant on Policy and Partnerships, expressed gratitude to the SGF and the Minister. She assured the PESC members of the Commission’s readiness to deliver on its mandate.

“The enthusiasm and collaborative spirit displayed at this retreat are truly encouraging,” said the NIMC Director-General, who is also the Secretary of the PESC.

“Our discussions today have not only highlighted our achievements but also paved the way for innovative solutions to the challenges ahead.

“We are confident that with sustained inter-agency collaboration and support from all critical stakeholders, we will fast-track our mission to reposition the national identity system, making it more robust and inclusive, ensuring that every Nigerian and legal resident has a verifiable digital identity and that no one is left behind,” she added.

According to a statement signed by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, head, Corporate Communications Unit at NIMC, the retreat was attended by key members of the Project Ecosystem Steering Committee and other strategic partners, who reviewed the progress of the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, celebrated milestone achievements and engaged in robust discussions to address implementation challenges.