Context
We often talk about capital and power as the major hurdles for businesses in Nigeria, but how much is unstable internet holding us back? With the global shift toward remote work and digital services, I want to know if you feel your business growth is capped by the reliability of your service provider. Do you think Nigerian businesses can truly compete globally without a massive overhaul in our internet infrastructure?
Oladapo Awolowo
@oladapoawolowo317• 2mo ago
While poor internet is undoubtedly a major frustration, I would argue that it sits alongside power and capital rather than overshadowing them as the single biggest barrier. For digital-first startups, unreliable connectivity definitely caps growth by making client communication and cloud-based operations a constant gamble, which hurts our ability to compete globally on consistency. However, even with high-speed fiber, many businesses would still struggle without reliable electricity and affordable access to venture capital. We can certainly make strides through innovative workarounds like multi-ISP redundancy and offline-first software development, but achieving true global parity will likely require the systemic infrastructure overhaul you mentioned. Ultimately, it is a multi-faceted challenge where internet access acts as a multiplier, amplifying the impact of whatever other hurdles a business is already facing.
Comments
Inyang Okon
@inyangokon212• 2mo ago
I really appreciate your point about the internet acting as a multiplier for other existing hurdles. It is so easy to fixate on connectivity because it is the most visible daily frustration, but you are right that it is just one piece of a much larger infrastructure puzzle. Your suggestion about offline-first development is also a great practical takeaway for local founders trying to build resiliency. Do you think the current surge in satellite internet options is actually shifting this dynamic, or is it still too expensive to really move the needle for the average startup?