Joy Agwunobi
Huawei, a leading global technology firm, has officially launched its local cloud service in Nigeria, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s African expansion strategy. This development is expected to provide significant benefits, including enhanced data sovereignty, reduced latency, and increased support for local businesses, all of which align with Nigeria’s regulatory framework and its goals for digital transformation.
The announcement was made during the Huawei Cloud Summit Nigeria 2024, where the company introduced its local cloud infrastructure. The initiative aims to address critical needs such as data localisation, ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws, safeguarding sensitive information, and enhancing security for businesses operating within the country.
Huawei’s local cloud service ensures that sensitive data remains within Nigeria’s borders, adhering to national data protection policies. This move is anticipated to reduce latency, providing Nigerian businesses with faster and more reliable access to cloud resources. Startups and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that rely on cloud-based applications stand to gain the most, as they will experience improved performance, which will in turn boost productivity and increase their competitiveness in both local and global markets.
A standout feature of Huawei’s cloud services is its ultra-low latency of 15 milliseconds, a vast improvement from the previous 80+ milliseconds. This reduction in latency is expected to vastly improve customer service interactions, enabling businesses to function more efficiently and effectively.
At the unveiling ceremony, Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos State, delivered a goodwill message in which he emphasised the significance of Huawei’s local cloud infrastructure for Nigeria’s technological evolution. “Huawei’s investment in building local cloud services in Lagos is a major step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation,” Hamzat said.
He also commented on the event’s theme, “Leap Now with a Better Cloud,” noting that it reflects Nigeria’s growing technological ambitions and the resilient spirit of Lagos. “Huawei’s decision to build a cloud in Nigeria is monumental because it addresses data sovereignty, allowing Nigeria to compete globally. This summit’s theme speaks to our collective drive toward embracing digital transformation.”
Hamzat stressed the importance for businesses to adopt technologies like cloud computing, which, he explained, could unlock transformative opportunities across various sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, banking, and commerce. “Digital transformation is no longer a choice for Nigeria; it is essential for sustainable growth,” he said, highlighting that cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and big data are crucial to advancing the country’s infrastructure and business opportunities.
The deputy governor further reflected on the importance of maintaining control over data within Nigeria, drawing attention to global concerns around data sovereignty. “If other countries were allowed to access and legislate over data within their borders, we would face serious challenges. Having a local cloud is vital for our sovereignty and gives us greater control over our future,” he added.
Chris Lu, CEO of Huawei Nigeria, underscored the significance of the company’s local cloud investment in the country. He highlighted three core factors driving the project: performance, trust, and long-term commitment.
“For me, the introduction of a local cloud means a latency of less than 15 milliseconds, which outperforms other global cloud services and significantly enhances efficiency and user experience,” Lu explained. “Hosting data locally in Lagos boosts confidence among customers, government, and regulators by ensuring data sovereignty and security. With a 25-year presence in Nigeria and plans for another 25 years, Huawei is dedicated to fostering a robust ecosystem that encourages growth and innovation.”
Roc Bai, vice president of Huawei Cloud Sub-Saharan Africa, presented the company’s latest advancements, including Huawei Cloud Stack 8.5, cloud-native databases, and large AI models. Bai stressed that local cloud architecture is the ideal solution for today’s digital transformation, offering enterprises innovative tools to overcome the challenges of industry change.
Osita Iweze, deputy managing director of Huawei Nigeria, highlighted the company’s efforts in developing digital talent in Nigeria. “We have trained over 70,000 digital professionals in the country and will continue to provide cutting-edge solutions, particularly with the launch of our local cloud infrastructure,” Iweze stated.
