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ConSol & Mellanox Partnership is Symbolic- Adeoye

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Abiodu Adeoye, managing director, Contact Solutions
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Abiodun Adeoye is the Managing Director of Contact Solutions Ltd “ConSol”. He has consulted for various telecom operators around the globe (KPN-Orange Belgium, Vodafone Netherland, SBC Technologies, Vodacom SA, Vodafone Australia, Vodafone NZ, Vodafone Hungry, Telsim Turkey, Turkcell, etc.) also held intermediate and Senior Engineering positions at One2One (now T-Mobile) in the UK.
He briefly spoke to peter ugwu on how a new partnership between ConSol and Mellanox will benefit the enterprises in the Nigerian market.

ConSol and Mellanox Symbolic Partnership
One of the synergies with our business is that we also run data centres. Our contact centre services are datacentric.
The whole operation is powered from the data centre. So, we have that as an advantage. Now, the founders of ConSol were the same people that built the MTN network.
We understand technology and what BIG DATA is all about. Having operated in this environment, pre-ConSol, we understand some of the challenges that organizations have. It is not actually so much as in infrastructure deployment, rather throughput.
So, a customer wants a service not excuses. For example, you go to an ATM, slot in your card and expect to withdraw cash; there is a failure along the line.
A lot of the time, it is because the pipe tries to carry a lot of transactions at the same time and there is a jam along the line.
The typical example is traffic gridlock we witness on the road daily. With that understanding, we came across Mellanox Technologies.

Why InfiniBand, Ethernet and Other Mellanox Products
They have solutions that can triple the capacity and upgrade the network, so that you can increase the pipe and allow much traffic go through.
So, they are interested on how you manage the BIG DATA. The ICT industry in Nigeria is getting that.
Fortunately, we had a Government that set the pace and we are keenly interested in seeing continuity of the ICT blueprint by the present Government.
In fact, we are at a par with the world in terms of technology. We have the infrastructural challenges that have held us back. But in terms of technology deployment, we are not lagging behind as such; LTE is there in USA, it is here in Nigeria.
However, the biggest challenge is how we are deploying the technology, and we need to prepare for BIG DATA. There is a lot of activities revolving around the concept such as the National Identity Number (NIN); Bank Verification Number (BVN); data capture by the Police, FRSC, and national population census is around the corner.
There is a lot of data. It used to be in the oil sector that we harvest data, presently; every sector is feeling the impact of the concept.
Thus, for quality of service, we should start looking at Mellanox technologies that can help us manage data and throughput in a more efficient manner.

Opportunities for SMEs
If you look at their range of products, it is very wide. The reason for that is that there is a solution that can be tailored for each level or size of organization; whether you are SME, medium or large size organization.
The complexity of your data increases as you get better. From that point of view, they have low-cost solutions for SMEs, where you have solutions like CloudX that allows and SME to plug in without necessary spending the capex to deploying a data centre large infrastructure to benefit from the same services.

Critical Challenges to Be Tackled
Power, network optimization and, of course, bandwidth are challenges many enterprises face. What is critical at the end of the day is how that data centre should be able to deliver services.
If you look at the financial services, when one demands for a service and there is a downtime while people are doing transactions online, it could cost the company millions of naira.
 In other words, half a second downtime can cost a company millions of naira lost…

…In Other Words, The Solutions Guarantee Optimal Time?
They offer zero downtime, faster throughput, low latency, which are the important factors to keep organization’s network up and running.
If you are allowed to know the numbers, you will be amazed how inefficient data centres are, especially, how much it costs organizations.
So, Mellanox is one of the organizations we partner with because of the range of products. We have others with great deed of products and load-balancing applications that allow you move traffic across your network, while optimizing the bandwidth.
So, we are specifically targeting this kind of technology to deliver value added capability within a data centre or cloud-based environment to unleash better quality service delivery.

Data Security & Trust: Mellanox’s Promise
You only need to look at their existing clients’ list such as e-Bay, Facebook, Twitter, Alibaba. The volumes of traffic on those e-commerce spaces are phenomenal.
Security is critical to them. Therefore, if this is their product of choice, we don’t need to say more.
Out other partner’s product is used by the FBI in US; Cisco has now adopted and integrated it into their platform. So, we did our homework.

Value Proportion for Nigerian Enterprises
Obviously, we need to create awareness for the development of domestic companies that can compete globally.
However, we already have multi-national players investing in organizations in the country. The likes of Konga, Jumia, Yudala, PayPorte, Kaymu, OLX, etc; they are offering seamless services like e-Bay, Amazon. So, the products will be critical to them too.
Apart from the back end of logistics and delivery, when the customers go on their websites to buy products, they would want to ensure there is throughput, no cyber security lapses.
The oil industry will embrace the products too, due to the nature of the industry that requires protection and seamless operations.

Bandwidth
While we are hoping for improved broadband penetration, we can optimize what we have now for better throughput. I think that should be the approach in every industry.

ConSol’s Unique Services
What differentiate us from others are the quality and efficient service deliveries. Our customers remain with u s for year, because they trust our processes.
So, the better value added service implies we are not just there to make money from them, rather to deliver cost-saving services.  

          


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FG Plans N50m STEEM Grant to Support Student Innovation in August

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In a giant stride to support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic transformation, the Federal Government is set to unveil a N50 million grant for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEEM) students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

The project, which is referred to as the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), is a pioneering initiative designed to empower the students towards building the next generation of scalable, job-creating ventures.

According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo, Friday, the initiative will be formally unveiled in August by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Boriowo stated that the minister made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ engagement session held in Abuja in the presence of vice-chancellors, provosts, rectors, student leaders, academic staff, and development partners, and will chart a collective course for nurturing student-led innovation.

The statement noted that the grant targets full-time undergraduate students in STEMM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences), specifically those in 300 level and above.

“Each selected student-led project will be eligible to receive startup funding of up to N50 million, along with access to mentorship, incubation services and business development support.

“The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to ensure financial transparency, impact measurement and effective project execution.

“S-VCG is not just a grant. It’s a launchpad for bold, young innovators to lead Nigeria’s industrial and technological transformation,” said Alausa.

Speaking at the session, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the grant as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

“We’re building a stronger, more competitive future by supporting innovation from the ground up,” she said, adding that the programme’s design was informed by months of consultation with students, faculty and institutional leaders.

Participants at the event welcomed the STEMM-Up Grant as a timely, strategic and high-impact initiative that will drive youth innovation, tackle graduate unemployment, and position Nigeria as a hub for student-led entrepreneurship in Africa.

 


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UK Businesses Look to Africa As Strategic Growth Partners

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New research by UK-based Strategy Management Partners reveals that a growing number of British businesses are identifying Africa as a key strategic growth region – drawn by structural reforms, demographic momentum, and rapid digital transformation across the continent.

The research, based on a survey of senior decision-makers from 250 large UK-based companies, finds that 50% are already active in African markets and planning to expand further.

An additional 28% are considering entry, signalling a clear uptick in long-term interest from international businesses with the resources to scale regionally.

The findings challenge outdated perceptions of Africa as a high-risk or secondary market. Instead, they highlight key drivers behind renewed commercial interest: • 61 per cent of UK leaders cited Africa’s large and growing consumer markets as a major draw. • 61 per cent pointed to the continent’s rapid pace of digital and technological adoption. • 50 per cent highlighted the potential of Africa’s young, skilled, and digitally native population.

The study also suggests that Africa is no longer viewed simply as a market for philanthropic initiatives or shortterm gain. Only 20 per cent of respondents cited philanthropic motives, while most are focused on building commercially viable, long-term operations.

Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), are also laying the groundwork for significant economic growth.

With 23 countries already implementing preferential tariffs, the framework is expected to facilitate smoother intra-regional trade, enable market scale, and support more efficient supply chains.

These structural improvements are making Africa more attractive to global firms with the ambition to operate at scale.

However, despite rising optimism, significant operational and policy challenges remain. The top four barriers to investment cited by UK business leaders were: political and country risk (68%); safety and security issues 66.4%); regulatory barriers and tariffs (60.4%); and the complexity of cross-border transactions (60%).

Addressing these issues will be crucial to unlocking Africa’s full potential for UK investment. UK companies are showing the most interest in sectors that align with Africa’s core strengths, such as natural resources, agriculture, a young and expanding population, and infrastructure development.

These areas are seen as the backbone for long-term commercial growth, offering opportunities to build local supply chains, expand digital services, scale manufacturing, and meet rising consumer demand.

However, for companies looking to invest or expand into Africa, success also depends on key enabling conditions. According to business leaders surveyed, the top factors supporting investment are: • The size of market and consumer demand (49.6%) • Reliable and consistent energy supply (48.4%) • Access to affordable, educated and capable talent (44.8%) • Efficient transportation networks, such as roads, ports, airports (38%) • A favourable macroeconomic environment: low interest rates, low inflation, stable exchange rates, and seamless cross-border transactions and repatriation of earnings(38%).

“UK businesses are increasingly seeing Africa as a strategic growth market, driven by structural reforms, digital adoption, and the momentum behind the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” says Muibat Ijaiya, Partner at Strategy Management Partners.

“But real progress will depend on practical cooperation with African governments. The AfCFTAis a pivotal step forward – what’s needed now is a deeper alignment between public policy and private investment to address trade, regulatory and infrastructure barriers, and unlock long-term, sustainable growth.”

 


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Experts Champion Sustainability at Lagos Green Economy Forum

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Lagos State’s transition to a greener economy is gaining momentum, with female leaders from top corporations taking the lead and the state government beginning to record early wins from its plastic bag policy.

At the Lagos Green Economy Forum held on July 23, senior executives from MTN Nigeria, IHS Towers, TechnoServe, and other large organisations highlighted the role of corporate innovation in advancing sustainability.

The all-female panel also emphasised the urgent need to integrate Nigeria’s thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into the country’s green transition.

“We’re not just here to share strategies,” said Temilade Olabanji, Senior Manager, Sustainability and Shared Value, MTN Nigeria. “We are here to build local resilience. Our Project Zero is not only helping us cut emissions but also equipping our suppliers with the knowledge to do the same.”

MTN’s Project Zero aims for net-zero emissions by 2040, with a 50% reduction target by 2030. The company is already powering base stations and data centres with renewables, while training suppliers to understand carbon footprints and adopt circular practices. MTN has pledged that by 2026, 80% of its top suppliers will align with its sustainability goals.

Titilope Oguntuga, Director of Sustainability, IHS Towers, reinforced this approach, noting that the company’s Project Green is decarbonising its over 16,000 tower sites across Nigeria by switching to renewable energy. “Project Green is enabling all sites to run effectively with more renewable sources of energy rather than the typical fossil fuels,” she said. IHS also runs Clinic Without Walls, a free micro-health insurance scheme for underserved communities.

From the nonprofit sector, Juliet Ezeani, Senior Business Advisor of TechnoServe, explained how the organisation supports vendors through environmental impact assessments, sustainability training, and responsible procurement.“For all our projects, we look at how the project runs and especially how it affects the environment,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government provided an update on its green policy efforts, especially the plastic bag ban introduced two months ago.

“All of what we have done so far is towards making the economy of Lagos or the quality of life of the average Lagosian much better,” said Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), who represented the Honourable Commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.

On the plastic bag ban, he added: “What that [the ban] has also done is to free up our drainage from the plastic waste. In some way, we have reduced flooding, reduced pollution, and reduced the headache and the cost of maintaining drainages and labourers.”

Dr. Ajayi emphasised that green transition is not just a compliance issue for SMEs but an economic opportunity. “It helps them drive their engines, their entire businesses in a more sustainable manner.”

As Lagos accounts for nearly 30% of Nigeria’s GDP, the increasing alignment between corporate leaders and public policy towards a greener economy is positioning the state as a model for inclusive, environmentally responsible development.


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