Egbin Power Picked to Host Nigeria’s First National Data Park, Compute Infrastructure

Peter Uzoho

In a significant move aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital economy, Lagos-based power generating company, Egbin Power Plc has been identified as the ideal location to host the nation’s first National Data Park and Compute Infrastructure.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced this yesterday during his visit to the power plant in Lagos.

Received by the Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, owners of the power firm, Dr. Kola Adesina and the Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Power, Mr. Mokhtar Bounour, among others, Tijani expressed confidence that Egbin Power has the right environment to host the Data Park, enabling the Genco to play a crucial role in powering the digital economy.

The groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by the federal government, aims to harness the power of reliable energy and cutting-edge technology to drive Nigeria’s digital economy forward.

The collaboration between the power-generating company and the federal government underscored a shared vision to enhance the nation’s technological capabilities and foster innovation in the digital sector.

Tijani stated, “Without a digital economy, the growth we seek cannot be realised. Everything we need to truly power the digital economy exists here in Egbin Power—not only in terms of energy and water, but also in the excellence of the team that runs this facility. That is what is required to fuel the digital economy.”

The minister highlighted the global advancement in artificial intelligence, emphasising the need for Africa to catch up with this momentum.

He stressed the importance of finding innovative ways to participate in this digital phenomenon.

He further noted that Nigeria’s digital economy significantly contributes to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), emphasising that an efficient data centre was vital for harnessing the capabilities of AI and data processing.

The minister also toured the Bright Gyimah Innovation Centre, located within Powerfields Schools, owned by Egbin Power. The Innovation Centre serves as a facility for students to acquire skills in Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and to explore their creativity in arts, music, and culinary/hospitality fields.

Commenting on the strategic collaboration, GMD of Sahara Power, Adesina, said, “There is a nexus between the digital economy and power. Reliable power enhances the functionality of the digital economy, whether in terms of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), data utilisation, and more.”

He expressed commitment to supporting the establishment of a National Data Park and Compute Centre and other IT infrastructure required for the digital economy.

He highlighted Egbin Power’s reliable energy, available land for expansion, and a conducive environment for such digital infrastructure.

“We are here to support the idea of building the Data Park or other IT infrastructure required within the digital economy. We have reliable power, the land and the right environment needed,” he said.

Adesina also noted that since the takeover, significant investments and technological innovations have been done to revitalise the plant, while expansion plans are in the pipeline to double its capacity.

In his remarks, Egbin Power’s CEO, Bounour, reiterated the plant’s dedication to consistent power generation for the national grid in spite of the challenges inherent in the power sector.

“We are open to collaborations that will drive Nigeria’s growth and success. We will continue to push boundaries to deliver reliable power to the nation, facilitating socio-economic progress and ensuring our communities and stakeholders thrive,” Bounour stated.