April 24, (THEWILL) — UniCloud Africa and Open Access Data Centres have entered a strategic partnership to expand locally hosted cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure across key African markets, amid rising demand for data sovereignty and in-country digital services.
Under the agreement, UniCloud will deploy its cloud and AI platforms within OADC’s data centre facilities in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa. The collaboration targets governments, financial institutions, and enterprises seeking to modernise operations while complying with local data regulations.
The companies said the arrangement will leverage OADC’s carrier-neutral, Tier III-certified infrastructure to deliver lower-latency cloud services and locally billed solutions. Nigeria is expected to serve as a key hub for fintech and enterprise demand through OADC’s Lagos campus, while Kinshasa will provide domestic cloud capacity for the DRC. In South Africa, the infrastructure will support geographically separated primary and disaster recovery systems.
Chief Executive Officer of UniCloud Africa, Krish Ranganath, said the partnership aligns with efforts to retain African data within the continent and expand access to enterprise-grade services. OADC CEO, Ayotunde Coker, added that localised infrastructure will be critical to digital and economic growth.
Beyond cloud hosting, the partnership will support deployment of GPU-powered services for artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. It is also expected to enable local currency pricing and reduce reliance on offshore providers, lowering costs and improving compliance for businesses across the region.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
