IHS Nigeria, a leading provider of shared communications infrastructure, has reiterated its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital economy and supporting national reform through technology and innovation at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) held from October 6 to 8 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
As a platinum sponsor and thought leader, the company underscored the critical role of digital infrastructure in building a prosperous and inclusive Nigeria during the summit, themed “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030.”
The summit brought together public and private sector leaders to explore strategies for economic transformation, with Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima officially declaring the event open. During his tour of exhibition stands, he commended IHS for its corporate social responsibility initiatives and contributions to expanding broadband access and fostering economic inclusion.
Later that day, IHS hosted a high-level plenary session titled “Smart Growth, Digital Leap”, moderated by technology leader Mrs. Nkemdilim Begho. Executive Vice President and CEO of IHS Nigeria, Mr. Mohamad Darwish, emphasised that digital infrastructure has become the backbone of national productivity, calling for robust public–private collaboration to bridge the country’s digital divide.
Darwish highlighted IHS’s extensive infrastructure footprint, noting that the company operates over 16,000 towers nationwide and manages 15,000 kilometres of fibre network. He reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, rural connectivity, and digital skills development, stating that infrastructure, innovation, and talent must be treated as core economic drivers.
The panel discussion featured key figures including Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Mr. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founder of Future Africa; Mr. Fernando Barros, CFO of I-Systems Brazil; and Mrs. Nneka Enwereji, CEO of Citibank Nigeria. They discussed how Nigeria could leverage digital infrastructure and innovation to drive economic transformation.
Minister Tijani outlined the government’s focus on broadband expansion, AI research, and the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, stressing measurable impact through policy execution. Aboyeji called for the establishment of digital economic zones to serve as innovation testbeds, while Barros drew parallels with Brazil’s data-driven strategies. Enwereji emphasised the need for predictable policy environments and transparent governance to attract long-term investment.
Participants agreed that Nigeria’s digital leap rests on three interconnected pillars — infrastructure, investment, and talent — working within a stable and innovation-friendly policy framework.
On the second day, IHS participated in one of the NES #31 Design Workshops, where working groups developed pilot initiatives on value chain development, data standards, and education, setting clear KPIs to track implementation.
Through its engagement at the summit, IHS Nigeria reinforced its role as a key enabler of national reform and digital transformation. “IHS remains dedicated to building the infrastructure that powers Nigeria’s connected future,” Darwish said. “We believe collaboration between public institutions and private innovators is essential to achieving an inclusive digital economy.”
