IHS Nigeria, the telecom infrastructure giant led by U.S.-Nigerian businessman Sam Darwish, has invested more than $750 million in solar and hybrid power projects across the country.
The move highlights the company’s push to support Nigeria’s energy transition and reduce environmental damage caused by fossil fuels.
With more than 16,000 sites in Nigeria, IHS is one of the biggest players in the country’s telecom space. According to the group’s Chief Executive, Mohamad Darwish, the company’s size means it cannot ignore climate change.
Speaking in Abuja during the signing of a new partnership with the Federal Capital Territory’s Health Services and Environment Secretariat, he stressed that sustainability is now a central part of IHS’s agenda.
“Climate and environmental responsibility are central to our agenda,” he said. “Our investments in clean energy reflect that. Partnering with the FCT allows us to extend this impact, support healthier communities and contribute to Nigeria’s energy transition.”
How the public and private sectors working together
The collaboration with the FCT is aimed at promoting clean energy use, cutting down carbon emissions, and improving environmental standards in Abuja.
Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, who heads the secretariat, explained that the partnership is an example of how the government and private sector can work hand in hand to create a healthier environment.
“There is no health without a clean environment,” she said. “Through this collaboration, we want to promote clean cooking alternatives, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and inspire other states to follow the FCT’s lead.”
More than telecoms
IHS has already supported other sustainability projects in Nigeria. Last year, the company installed four solar-powered boreholes in Maiduguri, which now provide clean water to about 20,000 people who were displaced by floods.
Founded by Sam Darwish in 2001, IHS has grown into the world’s third-largest independent telecom tower operator, managing more than 39,000 towers in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Darwish, who still owns a stake in the company, has spent over 20 years driving telecom and infrastructure growth across emerging markets.
A company reshaping its future
Even as IHS invests in renewable energy, it continues to adjust its wider business strategy. For the second quarter of 2025, the company reported revenues of $433.3 million, slightly below last year’s $435.4 million.
Earlier in May, it sold its Rwanda operations for $274.5 million to reduce debt and focus on bigger markets like Nigeria and Brazil. It also raised $1.6 billion this year through loans and bonds, giving it more financial flexibility to face currency challenges and fund expansion.
For Sam Darwish, these latest energy projects show that IHS is not just about connecting people through telecom towers, but also about investing in clean power solutions that benefit communities and protect the environment.
Oluwadamilola Olanrewaju
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