Smith Osemeke, CEO of Unitellas Edge Cloud, is calling on Nigerian businesses and government bodies to adopt locally hosted cloud services as Nigeria prioritises digital sovereignty and the stabilisation of its foreign exchange reserves.
Speaking at a recent media chat in Lagos, Osemeke emphasised that patronising indigenous cloud infrastructure providers like Unitellas is a crucial step toward reducing capital flight and strengthening the naira.
“We are saving a lot by having this cloud situated here in Nigeria,” Osemeke said. “If you’re paying foreign cloud providers, you’re not only exposing your data, you’re exporting your currency. That’s money leaving our economy every second.”
Unitellas, in partnership with U.S.-based edge cloud provider Zadara, has launched a cutting-edge local infrastructure designed to meet Nigeria’s real-time digital demands. The company’s Edge Cloud platform provides ultra-low latency and high-volume data processing capabilities, which are crucial for sectors such as oil and gas, financial services, and government operations.
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Unlike traditional cloud solutions hosted in far-off data centres in Europe or the U.S., Unitellas’ edge cloud operates from within Nigeria, delivering real-time performance while ensuring sensitive data remains on sovereign soil. This move aligns with national data protection laws and enhances cybersecurity by limiting foreign access to critical national information.
Osemeke warned of the risks associated with offshore data storage, stating that “I cannot be here in Nigeria, and my information is stored outside. These providers have access to your data, not you. It can be compromised.”
The local hosting model also allows clients to pay in naira, thereby bypassing the volatile foreign exchange market and significantly reducing costs. This affordability, coupled with high performance, makes Unitellas’ services attractive to both private companies and public institutions.
Unitellas is a key partner in the federal government’s cloud initiative spearheaded by Galaxy Backbone and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, which seeks to digitise over 700 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through a secure, centralised Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS).
Beyond policy alignment, the company is actively involved in shaping Nigeria’s cloud landscape as a contributor to the forthcoming Sovereign Cloud Policy under NITDA. This national policy aims to localise cloud infrastructure, attract global investment, and reduce reliance on foreign technology platforms.
Read also: The Nigeria First Policy: Why Local Cloud is Now a National Imperative
The CEO noted that in sectors like oil and gas, Unitellas is already demonstrating the impact of local edge computing, enabling real-time monitoring of crude flows and drilling data to improve efficiency and reduce theft.
To address common concerns about local infrastructure reliability, Osemeke assured stakeholders of the company’s partnerships with carrier-neutral, globally compliant data centres. These facilities meet international uptime standards and provide the necessary environment for secure, uninterrupted cloud operations.
Unitella’s cloud-native architecture supports auto-scaling and subscription-based pricing, allowing clients to pay only for the resources they use, offering flexibility, cost control, and scalability that match global standards.
Osemeke concluded with a call to action, stating, “We need to believe in what we can build. We need to support our solutions. It’s not just about technology, it’s about economic independence, job creation, and securing our future.”
Margarete Grisby
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