The news:
Amazon Web Services, an Amazon subsidiary that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms, has opened its first Nigerian office in Lagos Nigeria.
Why it matters:
The official opening is set to see an increase in customers and partner adoption of AWS services in Nigeria. Also, the Nigerian office will play in support organizations, startups, foundations, and public sector agencies, following their transition to AWS Cloud. The new Lagos office is in line with AWS’ support of the growing number of customers and partners in Nigeria.
The Lagos office is the latest opening for AWS after the launch of its office in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its final office will see dozens of AWS account managers, partner managers, solution architects, and other roles supporting Nigerian clients, ensuring quality services from development and testing environments to big data analytics; mobile, web and social apps; business applications; Internet of Things (IoT); and mission-critical workloads.
Why Nigeria?
Nigeria has hosted some of the key companies and stakeholders in the technology ecosystem. With the Nigerian Startup Bill signed into law, the country has been a hub for tech talent on the African continent. It has made the country somewhat of a home for companies like AWS.
The customers of AWS include SeamlessHR, Yellow Card, BFree, Bankly, and public sector organizations. These organizations are some of Nigeria’s fastest-growing and best-known startups and businesses.
The platform, AWS was launched in Africa in 2004 with its first office in Cape Town and has extended its reach to Nigeria to see that both old and new clients use AWS products and services to innovate, lower their information technology (IT) costs, and grow their organizations in the cloud.
Speaking on the launch, Amrote Abdella, Regional Manager of Sub -Saharan Africa at AWS said, “We are excited to open our first AWS office in Nigeria. Lagos offers a highly skilled and creative talent pool, and the area is home to many fast-growing startups and notable Nigerian enterprises leading the way in digital innovation”.
“We look forward to fostering the country’s pioneering spirit and helping our customers accelerate their digital transformation as they deliver innovative new products and services to the Nigerian community”, Abdella added.
According to, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim, the Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, “The Service Infrastructure Pillar of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) emphasizes the importance of digital platforms in the development of a robust digital economy,”.
“The programs of Amazon Web Services support the development of such platforms and we look forward to partnering with AWS to accelerate the implementation of NDEPS’’ he added.
The platform also supports Nigerian Startups and communities such as AWS Activate and AWS educational programs like AWS Academy, AWS Educate and AWS re/Start. The AWS Activate provides startups with the resources they need to get started on AWS, including up to $100,000 in AWS credits, training, support, and contact with incubators, accelerators, and venture capital firms. AWS Academy helps university students and educators develop knowledge and skills about AWS Cloud computing, to accelerate cloud-related learning.
Furthermore, its member institution, AWS Academy houses institutions in Nigeria including the University of Benin, the University of Jos, and Igbinedion University. AWS re/Start is a 12-week, in-person, skills-based training program that covers fundamental AWS Cloud skills and practical career skills, such as interviewing and resume writing, to help prepare individuals for entry-level cloud positions. AWS re/Start in Nigeria has expanded the program to three locations—Lagos, Edo, and Benue. In Benue state, AWS Partner, New Vision Institute Technology, recently opened a campus hosting over 100 AWS re/Start learners in Otukpo, Nigeria, a remote rural community.
AWS also has a vibrant user group in Lagos, with hundreds of members that organize local meetups for developers to network and share best practices and knowledge. As it is open to all, one can join by clicking on the AWS User Group page.
