This episode of Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS by REMMY NWEKE examines IHS Nigeria’s 2023–2024 Impact Report, highlighting strides in digital skills, school connectivity, and healthcare. Yet beyond the promises, questions remain on scale, diesel reliance, and independent verification, thus, making cautious optimism essential in judging real impact.
The report details support for Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent programme, claiming more than 100,000 people have been trained in digital skills. It also highlights the construction of innovation hubs in Ilorin, Ogbomosho, and Alimosho, which are expected to nurture digital entrepreneurship.
Through a partnership with UNICEF, 421 schools have reportedly been connected to the internet, giving students access to the Nigerian Learning Passport.
On the healthcare side, IHS cites the establishment of nine medical oxygen plants across several states, projected to benefit around 90,000 patients.
Other interventions include the provision of solar-powered boreholes in Borno to supply clean water to over 20,000 residents, alongside environmental initiatives such as the planting of 4,000 trees, installation of 144 solar streetlights in eight states, and the deployment of hybrid power solutions at 6,747 tower sites.
For IHS executives, led by CEO Mohamad Darwish, these efforts demonstrate that the company’s role goes beyond telecoms infrastructure, describing its interventions as “a picture of progress” for communities nationwide.
Yet, while encouraging, the report also invites caution. Many of the impact figures rely on projections or third-party estimates. For example, the 90,000 patients said to benefit from oxygen plants is drawn from UNICEF modelling rather than independent audits, while training and school connectivity numbers may be more optimistic than verified.
Equally, despite the sustainability narrative, IHS’s core operations remain deeply dependent on diesel. With over 16,000 towers in Nigeria, only about 6,747 have transitioned to hybrid power, leaving thousands still reliant on fossil fuels. This tension between renewable rhetoric and diesel reality undermines the company’s climate claims.
Scale is another concern. Planting 4,000 trees and installing 144 solar streetlights are commendable gestures, but modest when measured against the scale of Nigeria’s environmental and energy challenges, or the company’s stature as a multibillion-dollar telecoms infrastructure provider.
For IHS executives, led by CEO Mohamad Darwish, these efforts demonstrate that the company’s role goes beyond telecoms infrastructure, describing its interventions as “a picture of progress” for communities nationwide.
Yet, while encouraging, the report also invites caution. Many of the impact figures rely on projections or third-party estimates. For example, the 90,000 patients said to benefit from oxygen plants is drawn from UNICEF modelling rather than independent audits, while training and school connectivity numbers may be more optimistic than verified.
Equally, despite the sustainability narrative, IHS’s core operations remain deeply dependent on diesel. With over 16,000 towers in Nigeria, only about 6,747 have transitioned to hybrid power, leaving thousands still reliant on fossil fuels. This tension between renewable rhetoric and diesel reality undermines the company’s climate claims.
Scale is another concern. Planting 4,000 trees and installing 144 solar streetlights are commendable gestures, but modest when measured against the scale of Nigeria’s environmental and energy challenges, or the company’s stature as a multibillion-dollar telecoms infrastructure provider.
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While the report notes that interventions span six geopolitical zones, it offers no clear evidence that the most marginalized communities are being reached, raising questions of equity and inclusivity.
Finally, the issue of credibility looms large. The Impact Report is produced internally by IHS Nigeria rather than independently audited, which opens the door to perceptions of public relations spin or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) branding, rather than a verifiable measure of social progress.
In the end, IHS Nigeria’s Impact Report paints an ambitious picture of community development, digital empowerment, and environmental responsibility.
Finally, the issue of credibility looms large. The Impact Report is produced internally by IHS Nigeria rather than independently audited, which opens the door to perceptions of public relations spin or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) branding, rather than a verifiable measure of social progress.
In the end, IHS Nigeria’s Impact Report paints an ambitious picture of community development, digital empowerment, and environmental responsibility.
But its reliance on self-reporting, the modest scale of interventions, and the persistent contradiction of diesel-powered towers suggest it should be approached with cautious optimism.
True impact will not be measured by pledges or polished reports, but by sustained delivery, transparent verification, and, most importantly, the lived experiences of Nigerian communities.
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