Schneider Electric is spotlighting the role of advanced software in shaping the future of Nigeria’s data centre landscape, as the country accelerates its adoption of artificial intelligence, cloud services and edge computing. With Nigeria’s data centre market projected to grow significantly over the next five years, the integration of intelligent software has become essential to overcoming challenges related to power availability, operational efficiency and sustainability.
In Nigeria, the demand for digital infrastructure is being driven by financial services, telecom operators, technology startups and government digital transformation projects. The country’s push for AI adoption across sectors such as fintech, agriculture, education and healthcare further increase pressure on data centres to deliver resilient and energy efficient operations. Against the backdrop of an already strained national grid, the ability to run data centres with greater efficiency and predictive intelligence is no longer optional but a necessity.
Schneider Electric is addressing this need with software that enhances every stage of the data centre lifecycle. Through the use of digital twins, facilities can be simulated and optimized before construction, ensuring better energy design and reduced costs. Once operational, Schneider Electric software delivers real time visibility across assets, automating controls for power and cooling, and enabling predictive maintenance. These innovations help Nigerian operators reduce downtime, extend the lifespan of critical equipment and lower energy costs in a market where electricity expenses are a major operational challenge.
Cooling in particular is becoming a significant focus as Nigerian enterprises adopt AI powered applications that demand high density computing. Schneider Electric’s AI driven software manages these workloads by predicting cooling requirements, scheduling interventions such as coil cleaning and fluid treatment, and signalling when motors or fans should be replaced. This predictive approach is essential in Nigeria where energy use for cooling can account for nearly 40 percent of data centre operating costs.
Ajibola Akindele, Country President, Schneider Electric West Africa, emphasized the importance of this shift. “Software is no longer a background tool for data centres in Nigeria. It is the intelligence that allows operators to anticipate changes in demand, optimize energy use and ensure resilient performance even in the face of power constraints,” he said.
As Nigeria continues to position itself as a digital hub for West Africa, the ability of data centres to scale efficiently will be central to this ambition. With AI adoption expected to grow across sectors, data centres will need to balance performance with sustainability. Schneider Electric is investing in software platforms such as EcoStruxure IT to help operators monitor, predict and orchestrate operations in a unified way. Ajibola Akindele added, “By embracing AI enabled software, Nigeria’s data centre industry can move from reactive management to proactive orchestration. This is how we will embed sustainability as a driver of innovation rather than treat it as a compliance requirement.”
Through these advancements, Schneider Electric is helping Nigerian data centres prepare for the next wave of digital transformation, ensuring that the country’s enterprises and institutions can leverage AI without compromising efficiency or reliability.
