An Artificial Intelligence (AI) system builder and automation specialist, Ms Mary Mmoh, says digital infrastructure remains the most critical gap holding back Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
Mmoh made this statement in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday while responding to a question on what Nigeria needs to build a stronger technology sector.
She said reliable electricity, internet connectivity, data centres and access to cloud infrastructure are the foundations that allow technology companies to build and scale.
She noted that Nigerian technology companies often build locally but deploy their solutions on foreign infrastructure, a practice she described as expensive because of the exchange rate.
She said it is therefore imperative for the government to invest in local data centres and dedicated servers, as these would significantly reduce the cost of operating technology solutions in Nigeria.
“If the government invested in reliable, high-quality data centres and dedicated servers within Nigeria, it can significantly reduce the cost of deploying technology solutions.
“This will give local technology companies a stronger foundation to build and scale their products,” she said.
She added that access to reliable internet and affordable cloud and computing resources would further support growth.
Mmoh also identified limited access to capital and poor market reach as major challenges facing Nigerian technology companies.
She said some companies have built genuinely useful solutions but lack the resources to market them effectively or reach the right audience.
She noted that potential users are sometimes unaware that such solutions exist because of limited infrastructure, affordability issues and low awareness.
“One major reason promising Nigerian technology solutions struggle is limited access to resources, particularly capital and market access.
“Some technology companies may have built a genuinely useful solution, but they may not have enough resources to effectively market it or reach the right audience,” she said.
Mmoh said it is therefore important for technology companies and potential users to work together — with companies gaining the capacity to reach their markets and users gaining the infrastructure and awareness to adopt solutions.
She also said the government has a role to play by creating an enabling environment where emerging technology companies can grow and compete effectively.
She added that a good technology solution has a better chance of becoming a sustainable business when the right conditions are in place.
The AI expert also called for a structured research and development centre where Nigerian researchers, startups and businesses can collaborate to develop practical solutions.
She said government support would be critical, particularly in providing funding, infrastructure and opportunities to test and deploy solutions at market level.
She stressed the need for a platform that would help move useful ideas beyond research into products that can actually reach consumers.
“There should be a structured platform where Nigerian researchers, technology startups and businesses can come together to collaborate and develop practical solutions.
“Government support will also be important, particularly in providing funding, infrastructure and opportunities to test and deploy these solutions.
“Most importantly, the platform will help move useful ideas beyond research into products that can actually reach the market and consumers,” she said.
Mmoh said Nigerian startups should also think about the global market from the beginning, building with international users in mind from the start.
She said this should include using reliable infrastructure that can support customers in different locations and offering payment options that support different currencies.
She added that startups should also consider international data protection and regulatory requirements so their products can be easily adopted outside Nigeria.
According to her, what separates technology companies that survive changing market demands is their ability to understand user adoption and adapt continuously.
She said such companies invest in research, development and education and have stronger business capacity, with access to investors that give them room to grow.
She added that companies that gradually fade away after launching their first product often lack the capacity or willingness to keep evolving with the market.
