Ayomide Awe
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has urged Nigerians, businesses and government institutions to patronise locally developed digital solutions as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and protect the country’s data sovereignty.
Oyedele made the call on Monday during a courtesy visit to Galaxy Backbone Limited in Abuja, where he stressed the need for greater investment in indigenous technology, digital infrastructure and innovation.
The minister said Nigeria could no longer afford excessive dependence on foreign technology providers when competent Nigerian companies and institutions were developing solutions capable of meeting local needs.
He urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s “Buy Nigeria, Make Nigeria” initiative by patronising locally produced software, hardware and other digital infrastructure.
Oyedele said increased patronage of indigenous technology would not only stimulate economic growth but also enhance Nigeria’s control over its data and improve the country’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
He noted that some Nigerian organisations that had embraced locally developed technologies had found them more affordable while maintaining better quality.
According to him, Nigeria has little excuse not to maximise the opportunities presented by the digital economy, stressing that the sector requires deliberate policies, investment and sustained support.
“Many organisations, particularly in the private sector, still rely heavily on foreign suppliers, despite the availability of capable Nigerian technology providers.
“Digital infrastructure is critical. As a country, we must be intentional in making that investment,” Oyedele said.
The minister identified the digital economy as a critical component of the Federal Government’s economic growth agenda, saying greater attention must be paid to infrastructure, innovation and the development of local technology.
He also assured Galaxy Backbone of the Federal Government’s support towards strengthening its digital infrastructure and making its operations more impactful and sustainable.
Oyedele described the activities of Galaxy Backbone as a national responsibility, particularly given the organisation’s role in providing shared digital infrastructure and services to government institutions.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, called for sustained investment to enable the organisation expand its fibre network, data centres and cybersecurity capabilities.
Adeyanju said the growing demand for digital services had made further investment in the country’s digital infrastructure imperative.
He appealed for increased government investment, private-sector partnerships and appropriate policy support to enable Galaxy Backbone connect more institutions, strengthen digital infrastructure, reduce duplication and improve public service delivery.
The GBB managing director said investment in digital infrastructure should be viewed as an investment in productivity, innovation, economic growth and national development.
“Every Naira invested in digital infrastructure is an investment in productivity, innovation, economic growth and national development,” he said.
Adeyanju described Galaxy Backbone as a critical component of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure ecosystem, noting that the organisation had more than 5,000 kilometres of fibre infrastructure.
He said the organisation also operates data centres, cybersecurity infrastructure, government email services and other shared digital platforms supporting ministries, departments and agencies of government.
According to him, Galaxy Backbone operates Uptime Institute-certified Tier III and Tier IV data centres and maintains international standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 22301 and ISO 20000.
Adeyanju assured that Galaxy Backbone remained committed to delivering greater value to the country while supporting the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.
The minister’s call comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s dependence on imported digital technologies and the need to strengthen local capacity in critical areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, data centres, software development and telecommunications infrastructure.
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