ICT experts seek stronger technical capacity to support Nigeria’s digital infrastructure growth

Information and communications technology (ICT) experts have stressed the need for stronger technical capacity and adherence to global standards to support Nigeria’s digital infrastructure growth and improve network reliability across the country.

The call was made during a Certified Installer Training organised by Mart Networks in partnership with Siemon, a U.S.-based network infrastructure company, for technology professionals and partners in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Esther Oyedokun, Country Manager of Mart Networks Nigeria, said the training was designed to equip participants with the knowledge required to properly deploy fibre and copper cabling solutions, data centre infrastructure, and other network systems.

According to her, the certification programme, which normally costs over $2,000 per participant, was offered free of charge to partners to encourage wider participation and improve deployment standards within the industry.

“It is one thing to have a solution and another thing to deploy it successfully. We want our partners to understand the technology and be able to deliver optimal results for customers,” she said.

Adewale Olagbenro, Regional Sales Manager for West Africa at Siemon, said poor installation practices remain a major cause of network failures, downtime and slow connectivity.

“There are international standards that must be followed for network infrastructure to perform effectively. This training is aimed at helping our partners understand and apply those standards,” he said.

Olagbenro noted that Nigeria still faces significant gaps in technology adoption and infrastructure development, adding that continuous training is essential to keeping professionals abreast of emerging technologies, including advanced data centre and AI-driven infrastructure solutions.

Also speaking, Dinesh O.P., Technical Manager for Africa at Siemon, said the programme was designed to help participants distinguish between quality and substandard network infrastructure products while promoting global best practices in structured cabling.

Participants at the training described the initiative as an opportunity to enhance their skills and stay updated on evolving industry standards.

Landon Erumono, Chief Technology Officer at Hafol Resources Limited, said continuous certification and training remain critical for professionals seeking to deliver reliable technology solutions in a rapidly changing digital environment.