Two years ago, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ushered in a new era for Nigeria’s digital development by appointing a new Executive Management Team at Galaxy Backbone Limited.
Today, the organisation celebrates the second anniversary of the leadership of Prof. Ibrahim A. Adeyanju (MD/CEO), Honourable Olusegun Olulade (Executive Director, Customer Centricity and Marketing), Muhammed Sani Ibrahim (Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services), and Olumbe Akinkugbe (Executive Director, Digital Exploration and Technical Services).
From the outset, the team focused on building secure, sovereign infrastructure to drive digital transformation across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. The launch of the Integrated Digital Transformation Strategy (IDTS) 2023–2028 signaled a shift from simple connectivity provision to creating a robust digital ecosystem that integrates infrastructure, platforms, policy, value creation, and human capacity.
Under their leadership, Galaxy Backbone has expanded national digital access, including broadband rollout to nine underserved Local Government Areas through Project 774.
Academic institutions like the University of Lagos, University of Abuja, and University of Jos benefited from Fibre-to-Hostel projects, improving research and learning environments. Strategic national assets, such as Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and key Federal Secretariats, now enjoy enhanced connectivity for efficient operations.
A strategic partnership with West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) strengthened Nigeria’s national fibre backbone, improving redundancy and enabling broadband expansion to more states and communities. Sovereign digital capabilities were deepened through expansion of the 1Government Cloud, the launch of GovMail for over 100,000 federal professionals, 24/7 cybersecurity monitoring, upgraded data centre operations, and a fully operational 24/7 Service Desk. Initiatives such as the Government as a Platform (GaaP) framework, ISO recertification, and Integrated Management System (IMS) have institutionalized governance and operational excellence.
Despite challenges like fiscal constraints, legacy systems, and rising cyber threats, the Executive Management stabilized systems, improved service delivery, and positioned Galaxy Backbone as a trusted enabler of public sector digital transformation. Support from the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the SGF, Senator Dr. George Akume, and the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson Jack, has been crucial in aligning national priorities with tangible digital outcomes.
Galaxy Backbone’s efforts have earned over 20 notable awards, including the NET5.5G Pioneer Award, the inaugural Artificial Intelligence Award, BPSR Website Performance Award, and Best ICT Provider of the Year at the International Standard Excellence Awards. Prof. Adeyanju was also named among the top 100 leading personalities in Nigeria’s telecom industry.
Two years into their tenure, Galaxy Backbone has established itself not merely as an infrastructure provider, but as a strategic custodian of Nigeria’s sovereign digital backbone. With clear vision, disciplined execution, and strong government collaboration, the organisation continues to expand connectivity, reinforce cybersecurity, strengthen cloud sovereignty, and build a resilient foundation for Nigeria’s digital future.
