In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Galaxy Backbone, Tizeti, West Africa’s pioneering solar-powered internet service provider, has launched a transformative Fiber-to-Hostel initiative at two of Nigeria’s leading academic institutions — the University of Abuja and the University of Lagos — delivering high-speed fiber-optic internet directly into student hostels.
This milestone is part of a broader national effort championed by Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to enhance digital infrastructure on university campuses and drive inclusive innovation across Nigeria’s knowledge economy.
Speaking at the launch events, Temitope Osunrinde, chief marketing officer of Tizeti, described the initiative as “a bold step to democratize access to the tools that power learning, research, and innovation.”
Reflecting on his time as a student at the University of Lagos, he added:
“Twenty years ago, internet access was a distant luxury. Today, we are delivering what we once dreamed of — right to the doorstep of students.”
Students at the launch experienced internet speeds ranging between 50 Mbps and 200 Mbps, enabling seamless access to digital learning resources, online collaboration, and global innovation ecosystems.
The Fiber-to-Hostel initiative is built on strong public-private partnerships between operators like Tizeti, universities and national agencies such as Galaxy Backbone and the Nigeria Broadband Alliance Network.
The effort aligns with the global Triple Helix model — fostering collaboration between government, academia, and industry to drive research, digital inclusion, and innovation.
Stressing on the Fibre-to-Hostel, Kendall Ananyi, CEO of Tizeti, said that connectivity should no longer be a luxury.
“The internet is the fuel of innovation, the foundation of research, and the bridge to global opportunity. With reliable, high-speed internet by Tizeti, Galaxy Backbone and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, students now have the digital foundation to work smarter, create fearlessly, and innovate without limits. We’re not just connecting campuses — we’re unlocking the next generation of African changemakers,” he said.
Among the dignitaries present at the launch were Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, minister of Education; Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos; Prof. Patricia Monko Lar, Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja; and Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone.
They commended the initiative’s transformative potential to empower students with real-time access to information, global research collaboration, and digital tools for academic and entrepreneurial success.
Tizeti has a proven track record of bridging Nigeria’s digital divide — from connecting over 2.5 million Nigerians through Facebook’s Express WiFi to broadband deployments in underserved communities in partnership with Microsoft and USAID.
Tizeti recently introduced its fiber broadband service offering hyper-mega speeds of up to 1 Gbps, providing its fastest and most reliable internet performance to date.
According to Ananyi,
“This initiative is more than just fast internet. It’s about empowering communities, fostering innovation, and enabling people to thrive in a digitally connected world. Our free fiber service will revolutionize how people, homes, and businesses in West Africa access the internet — creating new opportunities for education, communication, and commerce.”
