An Artificial Intelligence (AI) system builder and automation specialist, Ms Mary Mmoh, has identified inadequate digital infrastructure as the biggest challenge slowing the growth of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
Mmoh said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, while highlighting what the country needed to build a stronger, more competitive technology sector.
She said reliable electricity, internet connectivity, data centers and access to cloud infrastructure were essential for technology companies to develop, deploy and scale their solutions.
According to her, many Nigerian technology companies build their products locally but deploy them on foreign infrastructure, exposing them to high operational costs due to exchange-rate pressures.
She urged the government to invest in local data centers and dedicated servers to reduce the cost of running technology solutions in the country.
“If the government invested in reliable, high-quality data centers and dedicated servers within Nigeria, it can significantly reduce the cost of deploying technology solutions.
“This will give local technology companies a stronger foundation to build and scale their products,” she said.
Mmoh added that reliable internet services and affordable access to cloud and computing resources would further strengthen the sector.
She, however, identified limited access to capital and poor market reach as other major challenges confronting Nigerian technology companies.
The AI expert said some startups had developed useful solutions but lacked the financial resources and market access needed to promote their products and reach potential users.
“One major reason promising Nigerian technology solutions struggle is limited access to resources, particularly capital and market access.
“Some technology companies may have built a genuinely useful solution, but they may not have enough resources to effectively market it or reach the right audience,” she said.
Mmoh called for closer collaboration among technology companies, government, and consumers, saying startups needed the capacity to reach their markets, while potential users required adequate infrastructure and awareness to adopt available solutions.
She said government had a key role in creating an enabling environment for emerging technology companies to grow, compete and turn innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
Mmoh also advocated the establishment of a structured research and development center where Nigerian researchers, startups and businesses could collaborate on practical technology solutions.
She said government support would be critical through funding, infrastructure and opportunities for innovators to test and deploy their products in real-world markets.
“There should be a structured platform where Nigerian researchers, technology startups and businesses can come together to collaborate and develop practical solutions.
“Government support will also be important, particularly in providing funding, infrastructure and opportunities to test and deploy these solutions.
“Most importantly, the platform will help move useful ideas beyond research into products that can actually reach the market and consumers,” she said.
The specialist further urged Nigerian startups to adopt a global outlook from the early stages of product development by designing solutions for international users.
She said this should include using reliable infrastructure capable of supporting customers across multiple locations, offering payment options in multiple currencies, and complying with international data protection and regulatory requirements.
According to Mmoh, the ability to understand user behavior and continuously adapt to changing market demands is a major factor separating successful technology companies from those that eventually fade away.
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She said companies that survived changing market conditions typically invested in research, development, and education while maintaining strong business structures and access to investors, enabling them to expand.
Mmoh added that startups that disappeared shortly after launching their first products often lacked the capacity or willingness to continuously evolve with the market.
 system builder and automation specialist, Ms Mary Mmoh, has identified inadequate digital infrastructure as the biggest challenge slowing the growth of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.){kind=link}