Industry leaders say digital twins – improved interconnectivity, and resilient energy systems – are essential to optimising data centres and unlocking Africa’s multi-trillion-dollar digital potential.
Experts from government and the private sector have stressed that Africa’s digital economy can only achieve sustainable growth by effectively tackling escalating cyber threats, expanding critical data infrastructure, and overcoming persistent power and connectivity challenges.
They shared these insights at the IoT West Africa 2026 Conference and Data Centre Cloud Expo, which held in Lagos between April 28-30, 2026.
Delivering the keynote address, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, cautioned that the continent’s rapid digital transformation is increasingly being accompanied by sophisticated cyber risks.
According to Olatunji, cyberattacks now occur globally every 39 seconds, with annual cybercrime-related losses estimated at $10.5 trillion.
He revealed that Nigeria experiences more than 4,000 cyberattacks each week, representing nearly 45% of all cyber incidents recorded across Africa, while financial losses from cybercrime surpassed ₦12 billion in 2024.
Olatunji further noted that global data generation has surged to approximately 402.89 million terabytes per day and is projected to rise from 181 zettabytes to 221 zettabytes, underscoring the urgent need for stronger digital security frameworks and expanded infrastructure capacity.
“Data is now the new oil, driving everything from IoT to cloud services and digital platforms,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s digital economy is valued at 18.3 billion dollars and could double within five years.
Also, during a fireside chat on the theme “Role of Colocation in Enabling Africa’s Data Centre Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges,” industry leaders identified interconnectivity, power and affordability as critical to scaling the sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of Nxtra by Airtel, Mr. Yashnath Issur, said Africa’s data centre market must be built to global standards. “This market is no longer local; it is a global business requiring global quality, scale and expertise,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Rack Centre, Mr. Lars Johannisson, said energy remained the biggest constraint to growth. “Data centres are about power, cooling and people. Energy is the machine that will power our growth, and without fixing it, scaling will remain constrained,” he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Equinix West Africa, Mr. Wole Abu, stressed the need for interconnected ecosystems. “A data centre without interconnection is like a ship, but an interconnected one is a port that enables trade and economic growth,” he said.
In his view, Mr. Akinsehinwa Akin-Taylor of African Infrastructure Investment Managers said while capital was available, investors were becoming more cautious, noting that “The focus is now on bankability, strong operating history and quality assets that can support long-term growth.”
Other speakers included Ifeanyi Otudoh of MTN, who said that Africa must build local capacity and ensure inclusive access, added: “We must put digital capability in the hands of African innovators and ensure secondary cities are not left behind.”
Gary Chomse of Vertiv added that power instability continues to shape data centre design across the continent, and warned that “We must design for resilience to withstand outages and still guarantee uptime.”
