Insights From TMT Industry, Anambra And Lagos States Colourise Dialogue On Public-Private Partnerships For Infrastructure Development
By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West, Nigeria
At the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa Conference held yesterday at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, south west, Nigeria, leading experts in technology and infrastructure development convened to discuss regulatory frameworks for fostering digital infrastructure in Africa.
Among the distinguished panelists were the Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Lagos State, Olatubosun Alake, and the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, who shared insights from their respective states on the journey so far.
In his remarks, Mr. Agbata,( CFA), highlighted Anambra’s success story through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), particularly in digital infrastructure development.
He noted that Governor Charles Soludo’s initiative to waive Right of Way (RoW) charges was pivotal in attracting investors and enhancing ease of business, following the examples set by Lagos and Kaduna.
“Governor Soludo’s decision to waive RoW charges significantly boosted connectivity and economic growth in the state,” Agbata said, adding: “Government is financially burdened, so we have focused on collaborating with local partners to connect our services. For the first time, we now have a civil service with access to the internet – another successful example of PPP in action.”
Cyber Era NG understands that a major component of the state’s digital transformation strategy has been leveraging partnerships with local businesses to foster digital access across government institutions.
Agbata emphasized that such collaborations were critical for states, not just Anambra, as efficient resource management is key to meeting diverse governance priorities.
“Partnerships as this enable progress in areas like digital infrastructure without placing the full burden on government resources, making them a vital part of modern governance,” he concluded.
Mr. Alake, highlighted the importance of stakeholder consultation and advocacy, particularly when engaging the private sector and urged companies to establish their own codes of conduct to ensure smooth interactions with the government and legislative bodies, which played a critical role in reforms aimed at fostering ease of doing business.
“Ease of doing business is pivotal because it determines whether an investor will engage,” Alake said.
He also emphasized the importance of qualified personnel in civil service sectors and advocated for competitive pay packages to ensure optimal service delivery.
Other distinguished panelists included Chairman, Africa Data Centres Association; Ayotunde Coker, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere; and Director of Regulatory Affairs and Special Projects, WIOCC Group Douglas Njenga,. The session was moderated by Public Policy Manager for Anglophone West Africa at Meta Sade Dada.
The discussions underscored the importance of regulatory frameworks, partnerships, and targeted reforms in driving digital infrastructure development across Nigeria and the African continent.
