From Lagos to global technology hubs, Ifetayo Agboola, a Nigerian data-centre and AI infrastructure expert, is helping shape how Africa prepares for the next wave of artificial intelligence. In this exclusive interview, Agboola speaks on what drew him into the sector, why power remains Nigeria’s biggest digital bottleneck, and how African-built data centres can become the backbone of the continent’s AI future.
Interviewer: What drew you to data centres and AI work?
Ifetayo: “I’ve always been fascinated by the invisible machinery that keeps the digital world alive. Long before I ever set foot in a data centre, I was simply curious about what was happening behind the screen, about the systems powering every click, transaction, and conversation. My journey took a defining turn when I realised how much untapped potential Africa held: a young, brilliant population, rising connectivity, and the chance to build our own digital foundations rather than rely on imported ones.
“Having gained extensive experience across multiple information technology and telecommunications companies in Nigeria, the real shift happened when I was headhunted by an American company to support data centre and AI development for their European business. That experience opened my eyes to the scale, complexity, and global importance of AI infrastructure, and it made me even more determined to bring that level of innovation back home. Entering the data centre and AI ecosystem became more than a career move; it became a mission to help build systems that reflect Africa’s strengths and ambitions.”
Interviewer: In one sentence, how would you describe Africa’s data-centre readiness today?
Ifetayo: “Africa’s readiness is rapidly rising, but the progress is uneven, with pockets of excellence still challenged by power and infrastructure gaps.”
Interviewer: What is the single biggest bottleneck to scaling data-centre capacity in Nigeria?
Ifetayo: “The single biggest bottleneck to scaling data centre capacity in Nigeria is the challenge of securing reliable and affordable power. Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is vibrant and full of potential, but the reality on the ground tells a different story when it comes to infrastructure. As demand for digital services grows, operators are forced to rely heavily on backup power systems just to maintain uptime. Instead of directing resources toward expansion, innovation, and new capacity, they must constantly invest in generating their own electricity.
“This dependence on costly power alternatives drives up operational expenses, limits scalability, and slows the rollout of additional data centre capacity. In many ways, the ambition of the ecosystem is held back not by talent or demand, but by the fundamental need for consistent and efficient power.”
Interviewer: How should data-centre design change to handle heavy AI training loads?
Ifetayo: “AI training introduces an entirely new level of heat, power density, and compute intensity, and data centre design must evolve accordingly. To support these workloads, facilities need to transition toward high-density rack configurations, modular and rapidly scalable architectures, and advanced liquid-cooling systems capable of efficiently managing GPU-driven heat output. These changes not only ensure performance and reliability but also help maintain energy efficiency and long-term sustainability as AI demands continue to grow.”
Interviewer: Are GPUs and liquid cooling realistic for African facilities now?
Ifetayo: “Yes, in general, liquid cooling is becoming the most practical path forward, especially considering the amount of heat generated by modern AI systems. From both a technical and financial standpoint, it makes sense. Some Tier III and Tier IV data centres in Africa are already piloting GPU clusters and adopting hybrid cooling solutions.
“However, widespread adoption will depend on a few critical factors: improved availability of modular liquid-cooling systems, greater power stability, lower upfront capital costs, and the development of local technical expertise to deploy and maintain these cooling technologies.”
Interviewer: Which power model will work fastest in Africa, renewables, hybrid, or grid tie-ins?
Ifetayo: “Hybrid power models offer the fastest, most practical path. Combining grid power, solar generation, and backup systems ensures reliability today while creating space for a future shift toward fully renewable operations.”
Interviewer: Which policy fix would unlock the most private investment in data centres?
Ifetayo: “A renewed national focus on IT infrastructure, supported by a clear, enforceable minimum operating standard for data centre providers, would unlock substantial private investment. When combined with targeted tax incentives, predictable regulatory environments, and strong data-policy frameworks around localisation and privacy, investor confidence increases significantly. These measures create clarity, reduce risk, and signal long-term governmental commitment, which are exactly the conditions private investors look for before deploying capital into large-scale data centre projects.”
Interviewer: How can Africa balance data sovereignty with cross-border cloud services?
Ifetayo: “By adopting a regional framework that protects national interests while enabling secure, interconnected cloud ecosystems across African countries.”
Interviewer: Edge or hyperscale, where should African operators focus first, and why?
Ifetayo: “Edge should come first. Africa’s geography and connectivity gaps make it essential to bring compute closer to users, improving reliability and latency while laying the groundwork for hyperscale expansion later.”
Interviewer: What three KPIs should investors demand before funding an African data-centre project?
Ifetayo: “Power reliability and redundancy; network connectivity and latency performance; and market demand forecasts and sustainability plans.”
Interviewer: What immediate skills should universities and bootcamps prioritise?
Ifetayo: “We need strong training pipelines for power-systems engineers, HVAC and cooling specialists, computer-hardware engineers, and data-centre operations technicians, roles that are foundational to building and maintaining modern facilities. In addition, universities and bootcamps should prioritise skill development in network engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure management, as these areas directly support data centre reliability and scalability.”
Interviewer: By 2030, what milestone would prove Africa has built, not borrowed, its AI infrastructure?
Ifetayo: “A powerful milestone would be seeing at least half of the continent’s AI workloads trained, hosted, and maintained in African-built data centres, running on renewable energy and managed by African engineers.”
Note: Ifetayo Agboola is a Senior Data Centre Operations Engineer based in Germany.
