The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified its drive to enhance Nigeria's innovation landscape through a strategic collaboration with Galaxy Backbone Limited. This partnership aims to provide subsidised sovereign cloud services for startups, as disclosed on Sunday.
The initiative will support participants of the iHatch programme by granting them access to secure, locally hosted cloud infrastructure. This move is considered vital for scaling indigenous technology solutions and reinforcing data sovereignty.
Under the agreement, startups will be integrated into the Galaxy Cloud Platform, enabling them to host data within Nigeria while benefiting from enterprise-grade infrastructure supported by advanced data centres and cybersecurity systems.
Leadership Perspectives
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of NITDA, stated that the initiative aims to eliminate major obstacles confronting startups. He said, "This partnership underscores our commitment to cultivating a resilient and globally competitive startup ecosystem by providing essential digital infrastructure."
Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, described the move as a significant boost for innovation-driven enterprises. "This initiative empowers startups with secure, enterprise-grade cloud services at highly subsidised rates, enabling local data hosting and strengthening Nigeria's digital sovereignty," he said.
Programme Structure
The programme will operate on a tiered, milestone-based system where cloud credits are distributed across different growth phases, including build, validation, and scale. These credits will be valid for a specified period before beneficiaries transition to standard billing.
To ensure sustainability, all post-subsidy payments will be made in naira, protecting startups from foreign exchange volatility. A dedicated support team will guide users, and automated tools will monitor and optimise usage.
Impact on Innovation
Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator of the innovation office, remarked that incorporating sovereign cloud services into the iHatch programme will enhance startups' ability to grow and compete globally.
The iHatch programme has already trained over 160 startups across multiple hubs nationwide. Stakeholders are optimistic that this new partnership will accelerate innovation and deepen Nigeria's digital economy.
