This recognition came during a high-level working visit by the HCSF to Galaxy Backbone’s National Shared Services Centre (NSSC) and Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration and evaluating the capacity of Nigeria’s core digital infrastructure in supporting the Federal Government’s public sector transformation agenda.

Mrs. Walson-Jack was accompanied by Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), alongside other Permanent Secretaries and senior officials from the Office of the Head of Service.

During the tour, the delegation was shown GBB’s state-of-the-art facilities, including its Network Operations Centre (NOC), Security Operations Centre (SOC), and a Tier III Uptime Institute-certified Data Centre, each playing a key role in ensuring secure, scalable, and sovereign ICT infrastructure for Nigeria’s public institutions.

GBB Positioned as Backbone of Digital Governance

Speaking at the visit, Mr. Olarinre praised Galaxy Backbone as a critical enabler of Nigeria’s digital government vision.

“Today’s engagement demonstrates the important strides GBB has taken in establishing the infrastructure necessary for a digital-first public service,” he said. “It’s a chance to align MDAs with GBB’s platforms and deepen inter-agency collaboration.”

In his remarks, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, thanked the Head of Service for the symbolic visit, describing it as a validation of GBB’s mandate.

“This visit reaffirms the centrality of the civil service in our national transformation,” he said. “Our infrastructure, such as the 1Government Cloud, GovMail, and our fibre optic footprint across 28 states, is built to support an agile, secure, and digitally connected government.”

Prof. Adeyanju also highlighted the need for stronger cooperation with the Office of the Head of Service to promote adoption of GBB’s infrastructure across MDAs—especially leveraging existing fibre links in Federal Secretariat complexes and expanding Local Area Networks (LANs) within the FCT.

Civil Service Transformation: “From Paper to Digital”

Following a guided tour of GBB’s facilities, Mrs. Walson-Jack expressed deep admiration for the agency’s capabilities, describing her visit as an eye-opener.

“Galaxy Backbone is not just an ICT provider,” she said. “It is a strategic partner in our mission to build a modern, agile, and paperless civil service.”

She commended GBB’s role in critical projects, including:

• Support for the War Room
• Provision of high-speed fibre connectivity during the 2025 International Civil Service Week.
• Deployment of GovMail, now used by over 34,000 civil servants.

Reiterating her office’s commitment to achieving a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025, Mrs. Walson-Jack outlined key areas of collaboration with GBB:

• Full-scale deployment of the 1Government Cloud to host MDA operations.
• Adoption of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to streamline records and workflow automation.
• Synergy between 1Government Cloud Academy and the Civil Service Academy for capacity building.
• Training on tools like Service-Wise GPT, Nigeria’s AI-driven solution for improving public service delivery.

Commitment to a Digitally Empowered Government

In a vote of thanks, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Sani, executive director of Finance and Corporate Services at GBB, expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with the civil service.

“We are honoured by this visit and even more inspired to deliver inclusive, resilient, and future-proof digital solutions for the Federal Government,” he said.

The visit marks a renewed momentum in aligning Galaxy Backbone’s digital infrastructure with the Federal Government’s public sector reform goals, underscoring the importance of technology as a foundation for transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric governance.

This state-of-the-art facility, powered by Microsoft’s AI-enabled Sentinel platform, aims to deliver a comprehensive suite of cutting-edge solutions, offering round-the-clock protection for governments and businesses across the region.

“The establishment of our SOC represents a major milestone, reinforcing our commitment to bolstering the Nigerian and West African technology sectors,” stated Olugbolahan Olusanya, Country Director for Tek Experts Nigeria, during the Center‘s inauguration in Lagos.

“As part of Tek Expert’s dedication to investing in and advancing the Nigerian technology industry, we are pleased to expand our services to include cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions and services, ensuring that their data and operations remain protected against ever-evolving cyber threats.”

Tek Experts is already doing exploits in the tech talent sector, having over 6,000 skilled professionals globally, with 2,000 strategically positioned in Nigeria. From Nigeria’s biggest banks to renowned technology giants, the company has partners including Microsoft, Amazon, Vodafone and others. Now, with Cytek, Tek Experts venture goes beyond talent provision, enhancing its cybersecurity expertise.

“We’re thrilled to establish this crucial cybersecurity hub in Nigeria, extending our reach across West Africa,” emphasized Anat Garty, Chief Cybersecurity Architect at Cytek.

“Our team of cybersecurity experts remains at the forefront of threat intelligence, constantly evolving our strategies to shield our clients from emerging threats. The SOC empowers businesses across diverse industries – especially those handling sensitive data and relying heavily on technology, like financial institutions, healthcare organizations, retailers, and telecoms – with a proactive approach to cybersecurity. It enables them to operate securely and confidently in today’s digital landscape,” asserted Garty.

Cytek brings to the table over 150 cybersecurity experts, a team of vigilant individuals working together from across the globe, with a strong presence in Nigeria. Their arsenal? Managed security services designed to shield organizations from the innovative cyber threats growing daily.

The Cytek SOC rests on three foundational pillars, forming an impenetrable protection against cyber threats. 

The first pillar, Capability Building, provides clients with the knowledge and skills to navigate the cybersecurity sector. Through comprehensive training programs and educational resources, Cytek empowers organizations to understand risk, identify vulnerabilities, and implement best practices. 

No longer passive bystanders, organizations become active participants in their own security, building a foundation of awareness that serves as the first line of defense.

Next stands the Advisory and Implementation pillar. Cytek acts as a trusted advisor and implementation partner, guiding organizations in establishing strong security protocols. Working in close collaboration, Cytek’s expert security team analyzes unique needs and vulnerabilities, crafting bespoke security protocols and infrastructure tailored to each client’s environment. 

This tailored approach ensures that every digital doorway, every access point, is secured with the most effective tools and procedures, leaving no space for attackers to exploit.

Finally, the Managed Security Services, ceaselessly monitoring and managing client security infrastructures. This 24/7 watch provides a shield against evolving threats. Advanced technology scans for anomalies, detects intrusions before they materialize, and triggers swift, coordinated responses to neutralize any potential attack. With threats neutralized and vulnerabilities identified, Cytek engineers implement effective countermeasures, constantly strengthening the digital walls against future incursions.

These three pillars, seamlessly interlinked, form the Cytek SOC’s firm defense system. Providing clients with knowledge, building customized defenses, and maintaining perpetual vigilance, the Cytek SOC ensures that clients can operate with confidence in the ever-shifting digital sector.

Cytek’s SOC leverages the Microsoft Sentinel, an AI-driven platform that acts as a vigilant sentinel, constantly scanning for threats. From proactive threat detection to rapid incident response and comprehensive endpoint defense, Sentinel stands in as the brainpower behind Cytek’s solid security framework.

For companies that already have an in-house cybersecurity team, Cytek recognizes this and emphasizes collaboration. It offers a range of services that seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure, providing expert support in areas like threat hunting, incident response, and intelligence gathering, filling any gaps and bolstering overall security posture.