Huawei Proposes ‘One Cloud + One Network’ Architecture for Nigeria’s eGovernment Digital Infrastructure

Global Information and Communication Technology infrastructure provider- Huawei has proposed the concept of ‘One Cloud + One Network’ as Nigeria’s national eGovernment digital infrastructure architecture.

The Deputy Managing Director, Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, Olanrewaju Odekunle, made this proposition while delivering his keynote address at the Nigeria eGovernment Summit 2023 with the theme ‘eGovernment: Pathway to a Prosperous Nation’ held in Lagos on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

Odekunle declared that telecom and private networks are essential and indispensable to accelerate eGovernment development. He advised that both private and public sectors should leverage their strengths to connect, empower and benefit more regions and populations.

“So, Huawei proposes the concept of “one cloud + one network” as the national eGovernment digital infrastructure architecture. “One cloud” means a national cloud supporting government services, AI innovation, education, healthcare, and scientific research. One Network represents the national dedicated network connecting cities, government branches, and even remote areas, including villages, schools, and hospitals”, he said.

He expressed optimism that the national eGovernment digital infrastructure will enhance the efficiency and quality of government services, establish a solid foundation for developing the digital economy, bridge the digital divide, and address concerns about data sovereignty.

He stated that the telecom network is an ROI-centered investment by business companies, while a private network for eGovernment is a human-centered investment by the government, noting that in the current context, communication infrastructure has become one of the critical infrastructures, a dedicated private network for eGovernment is highly demanded, to ensure the security, availability, inclusivity, for the emergency communication and the marginalized regions.

He declared that China is a good example to follow, considering their experience, commitment and the know-How. He also shared some winning cases of Huawei project/solutions across the globe and advised the organizer to submit the outcome of the summit to the Government.

Speaking during a panel session titled “Connecting Panel: Positioning Telecoms Infrastructure for eGovernment Deployment’, Strategy Director Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, Eric Chen, described telecom infrastructure as a critical foundation that can enable e-government service, noting that there is the need to bridge the digital infrastructural gap in Nigeria to make it beneficial to both government and citizens.

Chen stated that the fourth industrial revolution, which is enabled by digital technology, will play a key role in ensuring a prosperous e-government service development in Nigeria.