In a collective effort to bridge Nigeria's digital divide, key technology players convened in Lagos for the Nigerian Peering and Interconnection Forum (ngPIF) to strategise on expanding internet infrastructure in the country's underserved regions.

The Nigerian Network Operator Group and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) jointly organised the forum.

Ganiyu Oseni, senior adviser on Technology, Broadband, and Innovation, spoke on behalf of Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu about the transformative influence of digital connectivity on the Nigerian economy.

"Digital connectivity is a catalyst for economic transformation," he stated, reaffirming the government's commitment to fostering digital inclusion and infrastructure expansion.

The two-day forum included panel discussions and workshops on peering, interconnection, data centres, and government role in promoting digital innovation.

Wale Adedokun, national coordinator of ngPIF, stressed the forum's objective of bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities, highlighting the importance of stakeholder participation in making internet resources more affordable and readily available across the country.

“This forum has evolved into a vibrant community dedicated to advancing Nigeria’s interconnection and peering infrastructure, putting the country on the global digital map,” he said.

Muhammed Rudman, CEO of IXPN, underscored the need of rural connectivity and advocated for government support, particularly through institutions like as the Universal Service Provision Fund.

Lars Johannisson, CEO of Rack Centre, an African data centre, spoke at a panel discussion at the event and reaffirmed the company's commitment to harnessing innovation and technology to advance Nigeria's connectivity future.

He highlighted the significance of developing resilient and scalable infrastructure to enable the country's rapid digital growth.

“Through Rack’s open-access ecosystem we have further enhanced network resilience, ensure seamless connectivity even in challenging environment making Nigeria an attractive digital hub and we promise to do more,” he said.

Founded in 2012, Rack Centre is a carrier and cloud neutral Tier III constructed facility certified data centre in Africa and focuses solely on data centre colocation services and 'unrestricted' interconnect between carriers and customers.

Rack Centre clients include 64 telecoms carriers, Internet Service Providers, global tier 1 networks and pan Africa international carriers, including direct connection to 5 undersea cables serving the South Atlantic coast of Africa.