irtel Nigeria Strengthens Digital Infrastructure & Empowers Youth with ICT and Skills Partnerships
Lagos & Abuja, Nigeria — Airtel Nigeria, one of the country’s leading telecommunications operators, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to boosting Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, expanding data capacity, and empowering young people with education and work opportunities, with several impactful initiatives in recent weeks.
Major Data Centre Project at Eko Atlantic to Boost Digital Infrastructure
Airtel Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to strengthening national digital infrastructure through the development of its Nxtra Data Centre in Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The state-of-the-art facility — set to become the largest hyperscale data hub in Nigeria — is designed to support advanced cloud services, enterprise solutions, artificial intelligence, and content distribution across West Africa.
During a recent high-level site inspection led by Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh and the Nxtra by Airtel Africa leadership, construction progress was highlighted as steady toward the facility’s anticipated 2028 go-live date. Positioned within the smart city hub of Eko Atlantic, the data centre is expected to bridge connectivity gaps, expand reliable data access, and unlock new business and employment opportunities across Nigeria’s rapidly digitising economy.
This investment demonstrates Airtel’s strategic role in accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation, supporting government and private-sector initiatives to improve cloud capacity, remote work platforms, and resilient digital services.
Youth Empowerment Through Digital Skills & Connectivity Partnerships
Continuing its corporate social impact mission, Airtel Nigeria recently partnered with UNICEF Nigeria to launch the Links2Work Programme under the Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) initiative.
This multi-year programme aims to connect young Nigerians — especially women aged 18–24 — with education, skills training, and pathways to meaningful employment. Airtel’s contribution includes zero-rated access to key digital learning platforms such as the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) and YOMA, removing data cost barriers for learners.
The initiative broadens opportunities in digital and green-sector roles, spotlighting talent development and economic inclusion for Nigeria’s youth.
Why This Matters for Nigeria’s Growth
🔹 Expanding Digital Infrastructure: Airtel’s Nxtra Data Centre project significantly enhances Nigeria’s digital backbone — enabling higher-capacity data hosting, cloud computing, and enterprise ICT solutions.
🔹 Empowering Young Nigerians: Partnerships like Links2Work support digital inclusion, skills development, and employment pathways for the next generation of Nigerian professionals.
🔹 Economic Development: These initiatives align with national priorities for technology-driven economic growth, job creation, and enhanced competitiveness in the digital age.
