Experts across government and the private sector unanimously agreed while speaking at the IoT West Africa 2026 Conference and Data Centre Cloud Expo held in Lagos.

In a keynote address , Dr Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), warned that rapid digital expansion was being matched by rising cyber threats.

Olatunji said cyberattacks now occur every 39 seconds globally, with cybercrime losses estimated at 10.5 trillion dollars annually.

He noted that Nigeria records over 4,000 cyberattacks weekly, accounting for about 45 per cent of incidents in Africa, while financial losses exceeded ₦12 billion in 2024.

He added that global data generation had reached about 402.89 million terabytes daily and was projected to grow from 181 zettabytes to 221 zettabytes.

“Data is now the new oil, driving everything from IoT to cloud services and digital platforms,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s digital economy is valued at 18.3 billion dollars and could double within five years.

Also during a fireside chat at the IoT West Africa 2026 with the theme “Role of Colocation in Enabling Africa’s Data Centre Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges,” industry leaders identified interconnectivity, power and affordability as critical to scaling the sector.

Mr Yashnath Issur, the chief executive officer of Nxtra by Airtel, said Africa’s data centre market must be built to global standards.

“This market is no longer local; it is a global business requiring global quality, scale and expertise,” he said.

On his part, Mr Lars Johannisson, the chief executive officer of Rack Centre, said energy remained the biggest constraint to growth.

“Data centres are about power, cooling and people. Energy is the machine that will power our growth, and without fixing it, scaling will remain constrained,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Wole Abu, the managing director of Equinix West Africa, stressed the need for interconnected ecosystems.

“A data centre without interconnection is like a ship, but an interconnected one is a port that enables trade and economic growth,” he said.

Mr Akinsehinwa Akin-Taylor of African Infrastructure Investment Managers said while capital was available, investors were becoming more cautious.

“The focus is now on bankability, strong operating history and quality assets that can support long-term growth,” he said.

Mr Ifeanyi Otudoh of MTN said Africa must build local capacity and ensure inclusive access.

“We must put digital capability in the hands of African innovators and ensure secondary cities are not left behind,” he said.

Mr Gary Chomse of Vertiv added that power instability continues to shape data centre design across the continent.

“We must design for resilience to withstand outages and still guarantee uptime,” he said.

Meanwhile, at a panel session on “Role of Digital Twins for Data Centre Optimisation in Nigeria,” experts said the adoption of digital twin technology could significantly improve efficiency and reduce failures in data centres.

Mr Johnson Agogbua, chief executive officer of Kasi Cloud, said digital twins would enhance power optimisation and predictive maintenance.

“The biggest headache in Nigeria is power. Digital twins help you understand how power behaves and allow you to visualise problems before they occur,” he said.

Mr Morris Nmor of Uptime Institute said the technology could drastically reduce operational risks.

“If adopted, failure and risk will reduce significantly, and efficiency levels can improve rapidly,” he said.

Mr Riaan De Leeuw of Zutari noted that digital twins could also address cooling inefficiencies and reduce operational costs.

Mr Kayode Akomolafe of Amazon Web Services said the technology enables deeper insights for planning and forecasting.

“It provides granular data that allows operators to predict, plan and even monetise their operations,” he said.

Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju of Galaxy Backbone said digital twins could improve energy efficiency and cybersecurity.

“There is a lot of energy wastage, and this technology can help optimise usage while strengthening data protection,” he said.

The experts agreed that integrating data infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity and deploying emerging technologies such as digital twins would be critical to unlocking Africa’s multi-trillion-dollar digital economy potential.

The post IoT West Africa: Experts Say Africa’s Digital Economy Hinges on Data Growth, Cybersecurity, Power appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Presenting a paper titled: Building Digital Infrastructure for a Sustainable Digital Economy at the 2024 edition of Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 4.0) held recently in Lagos, Prof. Adeyanju noted that technology has the potential to redefine Africa’s economic trajectory, and that at Galaxy Backbone, they are dedicated to building the foundational digital infrastructure that supports this vision.

According to him,

“Africa’s digital journey presents immense opportunities, but it requires robust, scalable, and sustainable infrastructure to enable economic growth. Galaxy Backbone’s mission aligns directly with these goals, as we work to provide the infrastructure and connectivity that powers government services, businesses, and communities across Nigeria.”

He said that today, digital infrastructure is much more than just technology but about creating resilient systems that empower citizens, foster economic empowerment, and drive inclusive growth.

“Our investments in state-of-the-art data centres, fibre optic networks, state of the art SOC and secure cloud solutions have created a backbone that supports Nigeria’s public sector and enables interconnectivity among MDAs,” he said.

Prof. Adeyanju who was represented at the event by Mr. Nnamdi Onoh, Field Service Engineer at Galaxy Backbone, highlighted key projects, including the National Information Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB), which has expanded connectivity and digital services across Nigeria.

Focusing on sustainability, he outlined Galaxy Backbone’s commitment to three pillars including Environmental Responsibility through energy-efficient practices in data centres; Economic Empowerment which aims at facilitating job creation and innovation, allowing businesses to scale; and Social Inclusion which is targeted at bridging the digital divide and reaching underserved communities.

He said that looking ahead, Galaxy Backbone plans to expand cloud services, strengthen cybersecurity, and explore AI, IoT, and blockchain to build a future-ready infrastructure, noting that the Government Service Portal (GSP), a consolidated platform for public services, was also introduced as a step towards enhancing transparency and citizen-centric services.

“In the next 12 to 24 months, Galaxy Backbone will focus on expanding our cloud capabilities, strengthening cybersecurity, and exploring emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and blockchain to enhance service delivery. Our goal is to build a future-ready infrastructure that supports the dynamic needs of Nigeria’s digital economy.

“We are also advancing projects such as the Government Service Portal (GSP), which consolidates public services into a single, accessible platform. This effort demonstrates our commitment to making government services more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric,” he said.

The CEO emphasized that digital transformation is a collaborative effort involving government agencies, industry, and international partners and highlighted partnerships with NITDA, the Ministry of Communications, and ECOWAS members as essential for a resilient digital economy.

According to Prof. Adeyanju,

“As we pursue this vision, we recognize the challenges we face—connectivity gaps, regulatory hurdles, and cybersecurity threats. Our approach is to address these proactively by investing in secure, scalable infrastructure and advocating for policies that enable digital growth. At Galaxy Backbone, we are committed to developing a skilled workforce capable of managing and advancing our digital infrastructure.”

In recognition of its leadership, Galaxy Backbone was awarded the ATAEx Outstanding Government Agency of the Year, an award Prof. Adeyanju said “underscores our commitment to a secure, inclusive, and sustainable digital future for Nigeria, reaffirming Galaxy Backbone’s dedication to advancing Africa’s digital economy.”

The post AfriTECH 4.0: Africa Requires Sustainable Digital Infrastructure to Fuel Economic Growth – GBB CEO appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.