NITDA, Galaxy Backbone Roll Out Subsidised Cloud Scheme for Startups

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has deepened its push to strengthen Nigeria’s tech ecosystem through a new partnership with Galaxy Backbone Limited, offering subsidised sovereign cloud services to startups.

The initiative, announced on Sunday, is targeted at participants in the iHatch programme, who will gain access to secure, locally hosted cloud infrastructure aimed at helping them scale operations while keeping data within the country.

Under the arrangement, beneficiaries will be onboarded onto the Galaxy Cloud Platform, providing them with enterprise-grade hosting supported by advanced data centres and robust cybersecurity systems.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the collaboration is part of broader efforts to eliminate structural challenges facing startups in Nigeria’s digital space.

“This partnership reinforces our commitment to building a resilient and globally competitive startup ecosystem by providing access to essential digital infrastructure,” he said.

On his part, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the initiative as a significant step toward empowering innovation-driven businesses.

“This initiative empowers startups with secure, enterprise-grade cloud services at highly subsidised rates, enabling them to host data locally and strengthen Nigeria’s digital sovereignty,” he noted.

The scheme will run on a phased, milestone-based model, with cloud credits disbursed at different stages of startup growth, including product development, validation, and expansion. These credits will be time-bound, after which participating firms will transition to standard billing.

To cushion the impact of exchange rate volatility, all post-subsidy payments will be denominated in naira, a move expected to ease financial pressure on startups. In addition, a dedicated technical support team will assist users, while automated tools will help track and optimise usage.

The National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, Victoria Fabunmi, said integrating sovereign cloud solutions into the iHatch programme would boost the capacity of startups to compete on a global scale.

She noted that the programme has already supported over 160 startups across innovation hubs nationwide, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the latest intervention would further accelerate growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Industry watchers say the partnership underscores a growing focus on local data hosting and infrastructure development as Nigeria positions itself to harness the opportunities of the global digital economy.