The visit to Sammy Bright School underscores WIOCC Group’s commitment to fostering education and empowering the next generation of African leaders in technology and innovation.

During the visit, executives engaged with students, sharing insights into the importance of STEM education and the myriad of opportunities available in these fields.

“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to interact with the bright young minds at Sammy Bright School and encourage them to explore careers in STEM,” said Ryan Sher, Chief Operations Officer at WIOCC Group. “As a company deeply rooted in Africa, we recognise the critical role that STEM education plays in driving innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent.”

The executives conducted interactive sessions with the students, highlighting real-world applications of STEM disciplines and sharing personal anecdotes to inspire and motivate the students. Through engaging presentations and discussions, they emphasised the significance of developing problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity, all of which are essential attributes for success in STEM fields. Representatives from WIOCC Group included: Nikki Popoola, Director of Sales West Africa & DRC, Adesola Adesugba, Country Marketing Manager, Yvonne Okonkwo, HR Manager as well as Sales Managers Robert Ogbomo and Linda Mbaba.

Working with its Partner, Readland Global, WIOCC decided to select Sammy Bright School after looking at various other schools for the 2024 CSR because it fulfilled the requirements that it had set out in its CSR mission. Founded in 2011, Sammy Bright School currently accommodates 270 students.

“The parents of our students are facing economic challenges, but despite this, we strive to maintain a peaceful environment,” explains Mr. Temitope Adebambo, the School’s founder. “We are deeply honoured that WIOCC Group has selected us for its Q1 2024 CSR Project. Their visit, along with the presence of their executives, has been invaluable. By facilitating our students’ visit to a data centre and providing much-needed assistance, they have made a meaningful impact on our school.”

WIOCC Group’s CSR initiative at Sammy Bright School reflects the company’s broader commitment to social responsibility and community development.

By investing in education and empowering young minds, WIOCC Group aims to create a lasting impact on the communities it serves, driving positive change and prosperity across Africa.

More about WIOCC Group

• WIOCC Group, the parent company of WIOCC, Africa’s digital backbone; Open Access Data Centres (OADC), Africa’s fastest-growing data centre company; and Open Access Technical Services (OATS), a leading provider of holistic managed network and infrastructure services in Africa; is pioneering and accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
• It is creating an environment in which all Africans can take advantage of world-class technology developments to build better lives, better businesses, and a better world, by deploying converged open-access digital infrastructure (CODI) across Africa; infrastructure that will expedite and underpin Africa’s digital transformation.

Commenting on this latest expansion of the WIOCC, Group, Chris Wood, Group CEO of WIOCC Group, said: ”The creation of OATS is a natural extension of our client-focused philosophy of providing an integrated suite of services to enable and drive economic growth in Africa. OATS leverages the WIOCC Group’s assets, resources and expertise, both within Africa and further afield, to offer clients a range of services they can use to grow their operations how, where and when they want across the continent.”

OATS VP Jason Tutty added:

“With our experience and expertise, OATS offers a multitude of technical services to meet the unique requirements of businesses in all locations, and you do not need to be an existing client of WIOCC or Open Access Data Centres.”

From network equipment logistics and managed capacity termination, to field services, dark fibre and spectrum management, and network operations centre management, organisations can now outsource any or all of these technical services to OATS.

Logistics

OATS can provide expert support for CDNs (Content Delivery Network operators) and multinationals wanting to establish or expand their footprint in Africa, including ensuring they adhere to the appropriate customs and regulatory framework requirements when importing equipment to enable them to expand into a new African country or region.

Managed subsea capacity termination

For CDNs, carriers and hyperscalers that require connectivity or fibre pairs, OATS can terminate capacity and manage the infrastructure at the Cable Landing Station (CLS), Power Feeding Equipment (PFE) hub or in a carrier-neutral data centre – irrespective of whether or not the chosen location is a WIOCC or Open Access Data Centre facility.

Managed network field services

OATS can support services such as backhaul and licence termination, as well as providing comprehensive, expert field service support covering tasks including equipment termination, racking and stacking, trouble-shooting, maintenance, compliance and auditing.

Dark fibre and spectrum management

CDNs, carriers and hyperscalers with terrestrial dark fibre management requirements can take advantage of the dark fibre economics with managed capacity expertise of OATS.

As with subsea capacity management and termination, OATS clients can host in their chosen locations, including WIOCC or Open Access Data Centre facilities.

Similarly, for providers who own a percentage share of spectrum on fibre, OATS can oversee spectrum management and provide a comprehensive solution that encompasses the design, operation and support of core infrastructure.

Managed Network and Operations Centres (NOCs)

OATS can also provide an outsourced NOC service, with 24 hours a day, seven days a week support manned by trained and qualified engineers.