By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

Galaxy Backbone Limited, GBB, on Monday unveiled plans to expand digital access and drive innovation across the country as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s digital transformation and create more opportunities in the digital economy.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer GBB, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing held to kick off activities marking Galaxy Backbone’s 20th anniversary celebration.

He said while Nigeria’s digital foundations had already been laid, the focus now should be on scaling, modernising and strengthening existing infrastructure to unlock its full value for governments, businesses, institutions and citizens.

He said, “Fortunately, Nigeria does not need to start from scratch. The foundations have already been laid.

“The challenge before us now is to scale; To modernize; To strengthen and, most importantly, to unlock the full value of those foundations.

“The next chapter of Galaxy Backbone will therefore not simply be about building infrastructure; It will be about maximising infrastructure. It will be about enabling innovation through smart digital solutions, expanding digital access, supporting sub-nationals, businesses and institutions. It will be about creating opportunities for every Nigerian to participate in the digital economy,” he said.

Reflecting on the organisation’s journey, Adeyanju said Galaxy Backbone was established by the Federal Government in 2006 to build and manage a shared digital infrastructure platform for government institutions, eliminate duplication and improve service delivery.

According to him, the organisation has since evolved into one of Nigeria’s strategic digital infrastructure institutions, with fibre infrastructure spanning nearly 30 states, data centres hosting critical government systems and cloud platforms supporting ministries, departments and agencies.

He said Galaxy Backbone’s infrastructure now serves federal and state governments, development partners, educational institutions and private sector organisations.

Adeyanju noted that the company’s impact extends beyond technology infrastructure to improving government efficiency, strengthening cybersecurity, promoting collaboration among institutions and enhancing service delivery to citizens.

Looking ahead, he said the organisation would focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, automation, data analytics and cybersecurity as part of efforts to position Nigeria for the future digital economy.

He also announced that one of the major highlights of the anniversary celebration would be the inaugural Galaxy Backbone Digital Transformation Summit themed, “Powering Nigeria’s Digital Future.”

According to him, the summit will bring together leaders from government, industry, academia, development organisations and the technology ecosystem to explore how digital innovation can accelerate national development and economic growth.

Adeyanju further disclosed that the organisation would unveil a refreshed brand identity during the anniversary week, describing it as a reflection of Galaxy Backbone’s evolution from a government ICT infrastructure provider to a national digital transformation enabler.

In his remarks, Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Mohammed Sani Ibrahim, said technology remains critical to bridging the gap between developing and developed nations.

He added that Galaxy Backbone had grown beyond being a connectivity provider and was now offering cloud services capable of competing on the global stage.

“We’re actually in the business of providing cloud services to compete with the likes of Amazon and Google, as we have it today,” he said.

Ibrahim also revealed that the organisation had helped the Federal Government save more than $3.6 billion through its technology advisory role and efforts to optimise investments in digital infrastructure.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Customer Centricity and Marketing,
Olusegun Olulade, said customer trust has remained one of the key pillars of the organisation’s growth over the years.

He explained that Galaxy Backbone operates a 24-hour customer support system and a dedicated first responder team that regularly engages customers to improve service delivery and address challenges promptly.

Galaxy Backbone was established in 2006 by the Federal Government to provide shared ICT infrastructure and digital services for public institutions across Nigeria.