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Speaking with Nana Theresa Timothy of ITEdgeNews, Hammed Iyanuoluwa shared the journey behind Notion Technology and how the company is helping to improve Nigeria’s fiber optic ecosystem through affordable and reliable optical communication solutions. He spoke about the company’s evolution from a fiber optic engineering firm into a trusted technology distribution and support company, the challenges of building a tech business in Nigeria, and the impact its solutions are having on businesses and underserved communities.
Can you walk us through the founding story of Notion Technology and the core problem you set out to solve in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem?
Notion Technology was founded in 2012 as a fiber optic cable engineering and project execution company. At the time, we noticed a major challenge within Nigeria’s telecommunications industry. The optical testing instruments and fiber splicing tools needed for projects were almost entirely imported, with the market dominated by Japanese, Canadian, European, and Chinese brands.
These tools were extremely expensive, which increased the cost of fiber deployment and slowed infrastructure development across the country. That challenge inspired our mission, to provide affordable, high-quality optical communication instruments without sacrificing reliability or performance.
In 2018, we became an authorized distributor of COMWAY, a globally recognized brand in optical testing and fusion splicing technology. That partnership marked a major turning point for us. We evolved from being purely an engineering company into a technology distribution and support company focused on solving cost and accessibility issues within Nigeria’s fiber optic ecosystem.
What specific products or solutions is Notion Technology currently developing, and how do they stand out from other tech providers in Nigeria?
We currently provide a full range of COMWAY and TELKOM products, including:
- OTDRs (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometers)
- Fiber fusion splicers
- Fiber cleavers
- Accessories and consumables
- Professional training and after-sales support
What sets us apart is our ability to combine affordability with strong local support.
First, we focus heavily on cost efficiency. By introducing competitive alternatives to expensive foreign brands, we help contractors and telecom companies reduce deployment costs significantly. Second, we provide local technical support in Lagos and Abuja. Customers can access spare parts, repairs, training, and troubleshooting without waiting for overseas assistance.
Third, we offer end-to-end solutions. We are not just selling equipment; we are also empowering engineers with the technical knowledge needed to deliver quality fiber installations.
Finally, our solutions are scalable. Whether it is a small local contractor or a large national infrastructure project, our products and support systems are designed to meet different operational needs. At Notion Technology, we see ourselves as enablers of faster, cheaper, and more reliable fiber deployment across Nigeria.
Can you share real examples of how your solutions have impacted businesses or communities, particularly in underserved or emerging markets?
Yes, absolutely. One of our most impactful projects involved telecom contractors operating in northern Nigeria. Before partnering with us, access to affordable OTDRs and fusion splicers was extremely limited. Most equipment had to be imported, leading to delays and high costs.
After working with Notion Technology, those contractors reduced their project costs by more than 30 percent and completed installations much faster because they no longer had to wait weeks for imported equipment or repairs.
Another example involved a community-based internet service provider in a rural area. Using our COMWAY fusion splicers and technical training, they successfully built their own fiber network for the first time. Today, that network provides affordable internet access to more than 5,000 households.
We have also seen similar success stories in Abuja and Lagos, where smaller engineering firms are now able to compete with larger companies because they have access to reliable tools, technical support, and affordable solutions.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced building a tech company in Nigeria, and how have you navigated issues like infrastructure, funding, or talent?
Like many Nigerian businesses, we have faced challenges in infrastructure, funding, and talent development.
Infrastructure remains a major issue, especially in logistics and power supply. To manage this, we built a lean inventory system and established localized repair centers to reduce downtime for our customers.
Funding was another challenge because we operated as a bootstrapped company for several years. Instead of relying heavily on external investment, we focused on reinvesting profits, keeping operational costs low, and building strong customer relationships that generated recurring revenue.
Talent development was equally important. Finding engineers who understood both optical communication technology and customer service was difficult. To address this, we invested in internal training programs and partnered with COMWAY and TELKOM to provide technical certifications for our team.
Most importantly, we adopted a customer-first approach. Every challenge became an opportunity to improve our service delivery. Today, our reputation for reliability and technical support remains one of our strongest advantages.
What’s next for Notion Technology in terms of growth, partnerships, or innovation, and how do you see the company contributing to Africa’s digital transformation?
Our next phase of growth focuses on expansion, training, and localized innovation. We plan to expand our training programs to help develop a new generation of certified fiber optic engineers across West Africa.
We are also working toward expanding our regional presence beyond Lagos and Abuja into countries like Ghana and Cameroon by 2027. In addition, we are exploring private labeling and localized assembly of certain accessories to further reduce costs and improve accessibility for African businesses.
When it comes to Africa’s digital transformation, we strongly believe that affordable infrastructure tools are essential for digital inclusion. By lowering the cost of fiber deployment, we can help accelerate broadband expansion, improve connectivity for schools and hospitals, and support stronger local tech ecosystems.
At Notion Technology, we see ourselves as more than equipment suppliers. We are partners in building Africa’s digital backbone. Our long-term goal is to become the continent’s most trusted optical technology partner while driving innovation from within Africa itself.
