Ecosystem leaders elected to drive strategic Cloud Infrastructure initiative
Nigeria has taken a significant step toward strengthening its digital infrastructure and data sovereignty with the inauguration of a Technical Working Group (TWG) for its National Sovereign Cloud Initiative (NSCI), led by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The initiative is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to localize cloud services, protect national data, and position the country as a regional hub for cloud infrastructure in West Africa. Modeled on global best practices, the NSCI aims to boost domestic cloud adoption, tighten cybersecurity controls, and enhance Nigeria’s standing in the fast-growing digital economy.
In a notable move reflecting industry collaboration, members of Nigeria’s cloud ecosystem – including local data center operators, global hyperscalers, and cloud service providers – convened to elect the TWG’s leadership. The elections marked a rare consensus across public and private sector stakeholders.
Oluwasayo Oshadami, Director and Solutions Architect at Equinix West Africa, was elected to chair the Technical and Infrastructure Subcommittee, with Dewole Ajao, Global Network Acquisition, and Google as Deputy Chair. For the Policy and Regulatory Subcommittee, Cisco’s Government Affairs Leader, Ikechukwu Ibeawuchi and Mastercard’s West Africa Public Policy Director, Morayo Adebayo-Adisa will lead.
The broader TWG will be co-chaired by Ike Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty Nigeria, and Nonye Ujam, Government Affairs Lead at Microsoft. NITDA will act as secretariat, providing coordination and oversight.
At the inauguration, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi underscored the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. He noted that the TWG’s ecosystem-driven structure combines inclusivity with technical expertise, reinforcing Nigeria’s broader goal of becoming a trusted continental leader in data sovereignty, cloud innovation, and scalable digital services.
The TWG’s mandate includes drafting a regulatory framework for cloud governance and charting a roadmap for Nigeria’s leadership in the regional digital economy. The NSCI is expected to serve as a blueprint for building trusted cloud infrastructure in Africa, reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to become a digital sovereign power on the continent.
