Coker Urges Africa to Close Digital Infrastructure Gap for Prosperity Increase

Ayotunde Coker, Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centre, has said that closing Africa’s digital infrastructure gap is the key to increasing prosperity on the continent.

Coker stated this in his keynote speech at the ‘Hyperscalers Convergence Africa’ event “Closing the digital infrastructure gap is key to Africa’s prosperity,” held in Lagos on Thursday.

The inaugural Hyperscalers conference was organised by Africa Hyperscalers Media and was aimed at uniting the continent’s digital infrastructure community.

Coker disclosed that Africa accounts for about 17 percent of the world’s population but contributes only around 4 percent of the global GDP, adding that this disparity, which he described as the prosperity gap, is closely linked to Africa’s underdeveloped digital infrastructure.

“For instance, nine submarine cables deliver internet capacity to Nigeria’s shores, but a 90,000-kilometer fiber infrastructure gap results in slow and unreliable internet access in the country. Gaps like this hurt the economic potential of the most populous African nation.

“Meaningful broadband connectivity, which is measured by speed, latency, and cost, is necessary for economic development,” Coker stated.

He called on governments and businesses to focus on expanding fibre networks and improving broadband services to support digital growth.

He highlighted the role of supportive regulations, noting that while some African countries have made progress in implementing regulations for the digital economy, more needs to be done.

Coker stated further that “There needs to be collaboration between governments, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to create an environment that fosters investment in digital infrastructure.”

He, however, acknowledged ongoing efforts in Nigeria and across the continent to improve visibility and support for digital projects but cautioned that progress would remain limited unless the underlying infrastructure gaps were addressed.

Coker who emphasized that “Africa must light up its dark digital spine,” harped on the need for revolutionary efforts to drive corporate adoption of digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity, adding that “Without these steps, Africa’s economic growth would continue to be stifled by its underdeveloped digital landscape.”

Deremi Atanda, the chief executive officer of Remita Payments, who corroborated Coker, noted that connectivity can transform Africa’s innovation and economy.

Atanda stressed during a panel session themed ‘Innovating Towards Africa’s Digital Future,’ that the continent’s prosperity lies in the strength of its digital infrastructure.

Atanda said “The prosperity of Africa is dependent on the quality of our digital infrastructure. Connectivity has the power to redefine Africa’s innovation.”

He highlighted that the ability of Africans to take responsibility for their own challenges will only improve with better digital infrastructure, adding “We must respond to Africa’s needs when it comes to digital infrastructure. It will enable Africans to better understand their problems and improve their quality of life across the continent.”

Frank Eleanya, Senior Writer for Business, and Big Tech at TechCabal, also acknowledged that while efforts have been made to improve digital infrastructure, yet, there has been a lack of leadership to fully realize these goals.

Eleanya said “What’s needed is the leadership to make it all happen. We have the capacity, but leadership must wake up and translate all these plans into reality.”

Wabo Majavu, Executive of Strategy and Business Operations at Africa Data Centre, declared that involving communities in Africa’s innovation journey requires monitoring and measuring impact, adding “When you look at the opportunities, there’s a need to talk about access.”