Statistics released during the IDC CIO Summit META in 2016 found that public cloud adoption in Nigeria was already close to 40 percent, with 20 percent of organisations looking to implement cloud solutions by end of 2018 while a remarkable 25 percent having no plans to adopt cloud.
As for private cloud, well, not only did the statistics show that a mere 11 percent were set to implement it by the end of 2018, but that a staggering 40 percent had no plans to implement it at all. These statistics raise questions around Nigeria’s ability to lasso innovation in ICT and ride it to the next level of success – is there a lack of interest in cloud that could lose the country ground in the technology revolution, or is adoption merely a trend away?
The challenge that every country faces right now, not just Nigeria, is in creating a cloud-based infrastructure that’s capable of capturing the potential of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automation and robotics. In a recent report released by PwC on IoT, the benefits include: real-time analytics for improved decisions and costs, enhanced productivity, better customer service, effective communications, and new revenue streams. Without access to the backbone of IoT – cloud – and its central nervous system – connectivity – the enterprise and country loses ground to those that do.
Business and government have to remain relevant and competitive if they wish to participate on the global stage, and the adoption of cloud and the technologies that surround it are instrumental.
The past few years have seen Nigeria steadily emerge from an economic recession that has forced organisations to re-look IT spend and focus on targeted and relevant IT investment. It has been almost a blessing in disguise as it has catapulted many organisations away from legacy and weighty architecture towards the light and scalable agility of the cloud. Nigeria is definitely cloud ready, but there are still some challenges that need to be overcome.
The first of these is the double-edged sword of the recession. It has weighted down growth and investment, but it has, as mentioned before, pushed organisations into a more demanding IT space. They are questioning what technology is right for their business while reducing cost, allowing them to create a more agile organisation. The second challenge is customer education. The concerns that surround cyber-security, data residency and connectivity are valid within this environment, but technology has been paying attention. The solutions in play today are designed to be robust enough to ease these concerns – organisations just need to recognise this and take the bold step of investment.
One of the most prevalent challenges in Africa is, of course, connectivity. Internet consistency and speed have remained a barrier and access is patchy and costly. As connectivity is fundamental to successful cloud deployment, this is an issue that remains high on the CIO agenda. However, in spite of these challenges, numerous companies are breaking tradition and creating disruptive waves. Many are creating solutions that are born in the cloud that allow for innovation through agility, quicker deployment and competitive pricing – all disrupting the market and continent in new ways.
Added to this growing awareness around the benefits of technology is the government’s vision to become one of the largest economies in the world by 2020. A bold goal, but one that is being driven by a clear focus on digital adoption and the use of innovative, accessible and modern tools. The emerging IoT economy that has dug into Nigerian soil will likely continue its steady growth with both government and private sector organisations paying close attention to cloud and its potential. It seems that lack of interest is not the issue – it’s budget – and as the costs come down and the infrastructure goes up, Nigeria is shifting into new gears and markets.
Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson
