This week marked the start of the construction of our first major Data Centre facility in Lagos, Nigeria. Named the ADC Atlantic, this is a US$100m investment in the Nigerian economy. In the Data Centre world, this will be the largest facility outside South Africa.
Another major development for us this week was the approval of an investment of US$300m into this business by the United States government’s International Development Finance Corporation known as DFC. This money will allow us to expand our facilities in South Africa and Kenya, as well as build new facilities in Egypt, Ghana, and Morocco.
Data Centres are huge computer facilities which require massive cooling, so we must provide a lot of power to make them operate. ADC works with its sister company DPA which provides the power system using solar energy and natural gas.
As an entrepreneur here are some things for you to think about:
#1. As new opportunities emerge in your industry, are you able to spot them quickly enough to be one of the first?
#2. Being able to pitch for investment is a skill you must develop because you will always need it. As I reflect on the $500m we raised this year for ADC, I cannot count the number of pitches that went into it. When you watch pitches like those of Africa’s Business Heroes, or SharkTank, it is not a game… This is the heartbeat of modern entrepreneurship. Take it seriously!
#3. A few years ago, ADC was just a single facility in Nairobi, Kenya. It was not a company, but as my team and I watched what was happening we realised it should become a separate company. We hired experts from around the world, and brought them together. We then began to expand the business by inviting investors.
#4. You must be persistent. This is our largest investment in Nigeria since the mobile industry started.
Once again, I’m kicking off a new revolution in the next phase of technology. What is important is not the Data Centres but the technologies that will be unleashed in Nigeria because of this infrastructure. That’s the BIG deal here!
Finally, the picture on this post is an Architect’s rendition of part of the building in Lagos… it will ultimately cover five acres!
From vision to execution can be a long road, but don’t lose heart or let this global pandemic slow you down.
Stay focused and think ahead to great opportunities that new technologies will make possible if you prepare now, including #SkillingUp.
Let’s talk.
Image credit: Architect’s drawing of ADC Atlantic Data Centre, Lagos.
End.
