The 15th edition of the ICTEL Expo 2025 opened with high expectations at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, as leaders in innovation, policy, and enterprise gathered to shape the continent’s digital future.
Delivering the welcome address, President and Chairman of Council of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, lauded stakeholders for their consistent support and partnership over the years. He described the theme of this year’s event, “Leveraging Technology for Innovation and Development in Africa,” as both timely and essential to Africa’s growth ambitions.
One of the standout participants at the event was Galaxy Backbone Limited, Nigeria’s premier government-owned digital infrastructure company. The organization was led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, who delivered the keynote address.
“We Are Nation Builders”
In his keynote, Professor Adeyanju emphasized Galaxy Backbone’s core mandate—to design, deploy, manage, and expand digital infrastructure for government and the broader digital ecosystem.
“We are not just a service provider—we are nation builders,” he stated, setting the tone for an address that highlighted Galaxy Backbone’s far-reaching impact on Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He noted that the company operates Africa’s largest publicly owned Tier III and Tier IV certified Data Centre network, built to Uptime Institute standards. These facilities ensure high availability, resilience, and operational sustainability—providing local startups, enterprises, and government institutions with infrastructure previously limited to global tech giants.
Securing the Digital Future
Professor Adeyanju also drew attention to Galaxy Backbone’s advanced cybersecurity infrastructure, which includes a 24/7 Network Operating Centre (NOC) and a state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre (SOC). These centers offer critical services such as threat detection, endpoint protection, and brand integrity monitoring, ensuring digital assets across public and private sectors are protected.
NICTIB: Connecting Nigeria
A key highlight of his presentation was the update on the National Information Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) project, described as “one of the largest digital connectivity investments in Nigeria’s history.”
He revealed that over 5,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable have already been deployed across 28 states, linking state capitals, federal agencies, ministries, and private sector operators—creating the foundation for true digital governance.
“But we are not stopping at routers and cables,” Professor Adeyanju said.
“We are building a platform for digital governance—a connected Nigeria that empowers service delivery, transparency, and innovation.”
Driving Nigeria’s Digital Economy
Galaxy Backbone’s active presence at ICTEL Expo 2025 reinforces its position as a strategic driver of Nigeria’s digital economy. The company continues to lead with vision, investing in world-class, resilient, and secure ICT infrastructure that empowers innovation and governance across the country.
