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NITDA, GBB Deepen Support for Nigeria’s Startup Ecosystem
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has entered into a strategic partnership with Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) to provide subsidised sovereign cloud services to startups participating in the iHatch programme.
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Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda has reached a significant milestone with this collaboration. The partnership prioritises data sovereignty, digital inclusion, and the expansion of indigenous technology innovation.
Startups to Access Sovereign Cloud Infrastructure
Under the agreement, qualifying startups will be onboarded onto the Galaxy Cloud Platform (GxCP), GBB’s sovereign cloud infrastructure. The platform is powered by Uptime Institute-certified Tier III and Tier IV data centres. It also relies on a nationwide fibre-optic backbone and advanced cybersecurity capabilities.
The initiative enables startups to host data locally and comply with data protection requirements. It also allows them to scale securely using enterprise-grade digital infrastructure built and operated within Nigeria.
Boosting Data Sovereignty and Digital Inclusion
Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the partnership reinforces the agency’s commitment to building a resilient, globally competitive startup ecosystem by expanding access to critical digital infrastructure.
Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, MD/CEO of GBB, stated that the initiative provides startups with secure cloud services at heavily subsidised rates. He explained that this approach bolsters Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and reduces operational hurdles for early-stage innovators.
Milestone-Based Cloud Credits to Drive Sustainability
To ensure long-term sustainability, GBB will adopt a tiered, milestone-based support model. Cloud credits will be released in phases aligned with each startup’s growth journey—Build, Validate, and Scale. The credits must be utilised within a 12-month period.
At the end of the credit window, startups will transition to standard subscription or pay-as-you-go billing models, ensuring continuity without disruption to operations.
Dedicated Support and Naira-Based Billing
The partnership also includes the deployment of a dedicated Startup Success Team by GBB to support onboarding, drive adoption, and provide technical guidance. Automated usage monitoring and alerts will help startups optimise resources and manage costs effectively.
Importantly, all post-credit billing will be conducted in Nigerian Naira, protecting startups from foreign exchange volatility and improving financial predictability.
Bridging Infrastructure and Innovation
Abdul Malik Suleiman, GBB’s General Manager for Strategic Partnerships, described the collaboration as a deliberate effort to bridge the gap between infrastructure and innovation by making world-class cloud services accessible to Nigerian startups.
Victoria Fabunmi, ONDI’s National Coordinator, stated that integrating GBB’s sovereign cloud into iHatch greatly enhances startups’ ability to progress from ideation to scale. She noted this also helps them stay competitive at both local and global levels.
iHatch Programme Scales Impact Nationwide
The iHatch programme, supported by NITDA through ONDI, has already trained more than 160 startups across 37 innovation hubs nationwide.This partnership with GBB will deepen the initiative’s impact by accelerating innovation and enabling startups to scale. Additionally, it will strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem through secure, locally hosted cloud infrastructure.
