Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has launched its operations in Nigeria in accelerating the nation’s digital transformation.
As a one-stop shop technology company offering high-speed connectivity, cloud and cyber security services with unmatched resilience and scalability, Liquid Intelligent Technologies entry into Nigeria will give new impetus to the country and region’s digital transformation journey.
Group president & CEO of Cassava Technologies, Hardy Pemhiwa said: “we were the first African company to lay over 100,000 km of fibre network across the African continent, and we plan to extend our reach into Nigeria. Expanding our operations here reiterates our interest in working with the government to achieve the objectives of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2021-2025) and to transform Nigeria into a leading digital economy, a vision enshrined in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030).”
Pemhiwa stated that “through our expertise, we will work towards ensuring that businesses and individuals can add to the growing digital economy setting Nigeria on its path to transform into a tech powerhouse in Africa.”
Speaking at the company’s dinner, at the weekend, in Lagos, the CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria, Wole Abu, noted that, “access to new and innovative technologies and high-speed connectivity has changed how organisations work across the continent.
“West Africa boasts the largest connectivity on the continent, connecting Nigeria locally and internationally. Liquid’s Intelligent Technology brings de-facto means of backhauling traffic within middle-mile networks, allowing the effective deployment of broadband networks in Nigeria and the rest of the region.”
According to him, “In the last two years, we have seen Nigeria benefit exponentially as businesses transformed digitally. The need now is to elevate local businesses with increased access to digital solutions that will level the playing field compared to their European and US counterparts. In addition, the expertise we have garnered in the last two decades of partnering with businesses in other African countries will play a crucial role as we provide companies with the necessary tools to enable further growth.”
Minister of communications and digital economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, stated that, digital connectivity, access, and skills are critical for human and economic development in both developed and developing countries.
He explained that, “it is crucial for us to prioritise affordable access to digital technologies. To achieve this, there is a need to create an enabling environment for organisations such as yours to promote universal access to digital infrastructure, enhance digital penetration, support access to devices and address affordability.
“As Nigeria moves to harness the potential of its digital economy through public-private partnerships and provision of an enabling environment for growth, attraction, and protection of investment in the sector, it is time for Nigeria, as the largest economy with the largest population in Africa to leapfrog in utilising digital technologies to achieve prosperity.”
The executive vice-chairman and chief executive officer of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, stated that, diversification of the Nigeran economy remains a key priority for President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said, “We are happy that Liquid is expanding its presence to Nigeria being operational already in several Eastern, Central and Southern African countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. We have leant that Nigeria will be Liquid’s hub into the West African region and we could not be more proud in this regard.”
