Smith Osemeke, Chief Executive Officer of Unitellas Edge Cloud, has made a strong case for the domestication of data hosting in Nigeria, warning that continued reliance on foreign-based cloud infrastructure leaves the nation vulnerable to surveillance, cyber attacks, and digital exploitation.
Osemeke, speaking on the growing threats facing both the public and private sectors, emphasized that the hosting of sensitive national data outside the country compromises digital sovereignty and exposes Nigeria to external manipulation.
“Hosting data locally gives us control over who can access it, when, and under what conditions. That level of precision is not possible with foreign-hosted platforms,” he stated.
The CEO highlighted the strategic advantages of edge cloud platforms, noting that unlike traditional public clouds hosted overseas, locally based solutions offer reduced latency, faster performance, and enhanced data control—especially in critical sectors like banking, oil and gas, and national defense.
To advance this vision, Osemeke revealed that Unitellas has partnered with U.S.-based edge cloud provider Zadara to deploy state-of-the-art edge cloud infrastructure within Nigeria. The result, he said, is a locally compliant, high-performance platform that now powers millions of secure daily transactions across sensitive sectors.
“With this deployment, we ensure real-time data processing and full compliance with national data protection laws,” he added.
Unitellas’ infrastructure also includes a robust Security Operations Center (SOC), which actively detects and neutralizes threats from both domestic and international sources. Osemeke stressed that local hosting allows for faster threat response and tighter control, an advantage he said foreign-hosted platforms simply can’t match.
In addition to its security benefits, Osemeke outlined the economic impact of data domestication, pointing out that Unitellas operates on a naira-denominated, subscription-based model. This eliminates the burden of foreign exchange volatility, making advanced cloud solutions more affordable for Nigerian businesses.
Osemeke also noted the company’s role in the Federal Government’s 1Government Cloud initiative, led by Galaxy Backbone. Unitellas, he said, has helped transform over 700 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by providing locally hosted cloud solutions aligned with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the broader national digital economy agenda.
“What we’re doing is not just about technology—it’s about sovereignty, security, and economic empowerment,” Osemeke concluded.
