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COVID-19: A litmus test for SMEs performance and survival

Published

5 years ago

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 By Najafi Auwalu Ibrahim

We are experiencing the highest rate of changes in history, leading to a lot of disruptions, envisions, chaos, and opportunities. Before the coming of notorious pandemic COVID-19, SME’s business failure is on the rise especially in developing countries like Nigeria.

This has skyrocketed the Nigerian unemployment rate from 5.5% in January 2015 to 23.1% in November 2019 with a projected rise to 33.5% in 2020.

And it is expected to double as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current situation has become entrepreneurs’ judgment day, when many debatable issues will be sorted, which might give rise to new ones. Previously, most people see entrepreneurship as “having excess money”, “a chance”, “about connection”, “just being born by nature” or “character”. But, we are today faced with a problem in which none of the above can save any business, hence, threatening many jobs, business survival, and even the economy of various countries around the world.

It is my submission that the entrepreneurial journey requires more than what has been listed above; character inclusive. Don’t get me wrong, entrepreneurship requires wherewithal such as equipment, finance, and passion to achieve success.  

But success in today’s entrepreneurial journey requires discipline and perseverance. Success is not a person, it’s an event”. These events are made up of very small stones developed and put together strategically over a period of time.

 We might not be responsible for the effect of COVID-19 on us and our businesses, but we will be responsible for failing to get back stronger and better. The choice is ours.

As we face COVID-19 and its effects on businesses and jobs, it’s an opportunity for “acclaimed entrepreneurs” to know where they stand. According to Michael Gerber “we have entrepreneurs, we have managers and we have technicians“. The entrepreneurs will from this trivial condition identify an opportunity and capitalize on it to remain relevant, ensure survival and sustainability. This is one of the major difference between entrepreneurs and others i.e. their tenacity and the absence of fixed success ideology. The entrepreneurs will not give up despite being faced by one of the adversity of the 21 century, but rather will persevere to redefine and reshape the purpose of their business to ensure its survival and growth.

What does this means?

It means we all, either as individuals or businesses would be affected by COVID-19, but that should not be an end to our life, hopes and dreams.

We all need to think outside the box or even draw a new box to survive this trying moment. It’s possible, though not easy, hence, the need to fight valiantly to become victorious.

How can we do it?

Let me start by quoting George Bernard Shaw who says “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” For us and our business to survive post-COVID-19 we need to do the unreasonable, change our strategy, make difficult decisions, and also push ourselves. Normally, entrepreneurs are known to be proactive, flexible and self- educative among others. The current pandemic requests for more to survive and grow, hence, the following are some of the major to-do list needed by individuals and businesses in this trying moment:

i.

We need to be aggressive with our plans: It’s ok to look foolish in the short term for us to win in the long term, hence changing our plans might result in short booing but will lead to cheering in the long run. COVID-19 has created a lot of chaos, and other new things which can be fun, except for people who are afraid of change. Let’s remember that it takes guts to make change, which defines how progressive we are.  The fact is, most of our decisions might not be felt by our team, because they may look delicate as compared to when things were normal. At this junction, we all have to temporarily feel the insanity that comes with the situation, but most importantly we should carry our people along in taking any decision. That is, the decision making process should be collaborative and inclusive.

ii. Differentiate between controllable and uncontrollable factors: What we do always have consequences (intended and unintended), the decisions we make and actions we take all have weight. However, certain factors such as government policies, COVID-19 virus cannot be controlled, but our plans and decisions can. So, knowing the difference will give us the chance to consolidate and position our business solidly for the future.

iii. Spend the money for the right reasons i.e. drastically reduce cost: We need to cut bait on our losses, we all know them, the ones we have been defending hoping they will come around but secretly we know they never will. This is differentiating between having and must have, doing this will give room for new ideas that win, for success to present themselves. More so money should be spent to either survive or to grow as to actualize new opportunities.

iiii. Create certainty for yourself, the business and the customers: We should be beacon of hope to ourselves and also extending same to our business and customers. These include showing them that we really know how a business should be run based on our actions and inactions. The whole point is to keep them happy as well as assure them that the future will be bright. This requires more discipline, work ethics and the likes to ensure we create certainty at least within our business, industry and the community.

v. We should look deep into our existing customers: We need to carefully and deeply watch, listen, and respond to our customer’s needs now, more than before. This will give them the assurance that we are still capable of adding value to them. Many will start looking for new customers, but the real entrepreneurs will focus more on their existing customers, making more contacts to know how their preferences, income, and needs have changed and assured them of our readiness to serve them well. In essence, now is the time for consolidation and positioning for the future. Hence, our focus should find out how we can help our customers and make them feel that we are on their side. This will make the customers happy and more confident in us.

vi. Avoid putting more cash when it’s clear the business is sinking: though we need to withstand the pressure and tolerate a lot of risks when the shot is going against us, still we should never hold on to a loser. The moment it doesn’t feel right, you let it go and get away from it. Many will ask what happens to the notion that “entrepreneurs don’t quit”, to me is not quitting but jumping out of a ship, the moment it is actually going to sink. This gives you the opportunity to start a new challenge.

In conclusion, though the situation and the market are delicate, we need to be deliberate in our actions. So lets us all get out there to do what needs to be done. We all need to be game-changers in our lives and businesses to survive post-COVID-19.

Najafi Auwalu Ibrahim, PhD teaches Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation in the Department of Bus. Admin,
Bayero University, Kano.
najafauwal@gmail.com

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Business

HOS Commends GBB’s Digital Infrastructure

Published

4 months ago

on

July 17, 2025

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In a significant move towards accelerating the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, paid a strategic working visit to Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Limited, Nigeria’s foremost ICT infrastructure and shared services provider.

The visit, which took place at GBB’s National Shared Services Centre (NSSC) and Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, forms part of the HCSF’s efforts to deepen collaboration and assess the technological infrastructure supporting the government’s ongoing digitalisation reforms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre, and a delegation of Permanent Secretaries and Directors from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the visit featured an extensive tour of GBB’s cutting-edge Digital Infrastructure facilities. These included its Network Operations Centre (NOC), Security Operations Centre (SOC), and Uptime Institute Certified Tier III Data Centre; all built to ensure a secure, scalable, and sovereign digital infrastructure for Nigeria’s public sector.

In his welcome address, Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre described Galaxy Backbone as a critical institution under the supervision of FMCIDE, tasked with providing the nation’s core digital infrastructure and shared ICT services. “Today’s visit is an important opportunity to showcase the significant progress GBB has made in building the infrastructure necessary for a truly digital government,” he said. “I believe this engagement will foster stronger alignment and collaboration between MDAs and GBB as we move towards a more connected and efficient public service.”

The Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, expressed appreciation for the visit, noting its alignment with GBB’s mandate to support Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.

“A visit of this nature by the Head of the Civil Service is highly symbolic,” he remarked. “It reinforces the central role that the Civil Service plays in national development and highlights the importance of strategic ICT infrastructure in driving effective governance.”
He went on to emphasize that GBB’s mission to design, build, and manage Nigeria’s digital infrastructure aligns seamlessly with the Civil Service’s digital reform agenda. “Our platforms; including the 1Government Cloud, GovMail, and our extensive fibre optic network present in 28 states, are designed to support a digitally enabled, secure, and efficient government,” Prof. Adeyanju added.

He also called for greater collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service to drive the adoption of GBB’s infrastructure, particularly the fibre optic connectivity already terminated at Federal Secretariat buildings across 28 states of the country. He further appealed for support in expanding Local Area Networks (LANs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) secretariat buildings to integrate more MDAs into the digital ecosystem.
In her remarks, Mrs. Walson-Jack commended the world-class infrastructure and strategic digital solutions developed by Galaxy Backbone, stating that her perception of the agency had been greatly enhanced following the tour.

“This visit has opened my eyes to the enormous potential and capacity that Galaxy Backbone brings to Nigeria’s digital journey,” she said. “I now see GBB not just as an ICT agency, but as a strategic partner in the realisation of our dream to build a modern, agile, and paperless civil service.”

She specifically praised GBB’s support for the “War Room” initiative, the widespread deployment of GovMail — currently serving over 34,000 civil servants, and the agency’s high-speed fibre connectivity provided during the 2025 International Civil Service Week hosted by her office.

Reaffirming her office’s commitment to achieving a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025, the Head of Service expressed optimism that this goal is attainable with stronger collaboration and technical support from GBB.

She also highlighted several strategic areas where partnership with GBB is critical, including:
Full implementation of the 1Government Cloud to host and manage MDA operations.

Adoption of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to streamline records and workflow automation across MDAs.
Synergy between the 1Government Cloud Academy and the Civil Service Academy to enhance capacity development.
Training and onboarding of civil servants on innovative tools such as Service-Wise GPT – Nigeria’s AI-powered platform designed to transform public service delivery.

In his vote of thanks, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Sani, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services at GBB, expressed deep gratitude to the Head of Service and her delegation for taking the time to visit and engage with the team. He reiterated GBB’s unwavering commitment to partnering with all stakeholders to deliver inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking digital solutions for the Federal Government.

About Galaxy Backbone
Galaxy Backbone is a wholly owned enterprise of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. It provides secure digital infrastructure, cloud services, connectivity, and platforms that power public institutions and enable the delivery of citizen-centric services. Through innovation, capacity development, and strategic partnerships, GBB is championing Nigeria’s transition to e-Government and digital sovereignty.

 
















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Galaxy Backbone Unveils Ambitious 4-Year Digital Transformation Roadmap for Nigeria

Published

8 months ago

on

March 18, 2025

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Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria’s foremost digital infrastructure and services provider, has unveiled a bold and comprehensive four-year strategic plan (2025-2028) aimed at accelerating the integrated digital transformation Strategy (|DTS) plan for government and businesses in Nigeria.

This strategy is designed to enhance digital service delivery, strengthen connectivity, and support
Nigeria’s vision of a fully integrated digital economy.

Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, the strategy focuses on five core pillars that will drive efficiency innovation, and sustainability in Nigeria’s digital landscape.

Mr. Chidi Okpala Head, Corporate Communications in a statement said the first focuses on building a Resilient Digital Infrastructure; ensuring that govemment and businesses have access to secure, high-speed, and scalable digital platforms.

He said by building and maintaining a robust digital backbone, GBB aims to support the nation’s growing demand for seamless connectivity and data security.

He also said the second pillar, Integrated Digital Ecosystems; fosters coll aboration between
government, businesses, and local communities, creating a more connected Nigeria.

He however said, through this initiative, GBB seeks to break silos and establish a unified digital
experience that enhances communication, innovation, and service delivery.

He added that to meet the evolving demands of governance and business, the strate gy prioritizes Innovative Service Delivery; ensuring that digital solutions are tailored to address economic, social, and administrative needs.

“By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, GBB is committed to driving efficiency, economic growth, and improved public service delivery.”

“Now, recognizing the critical role of trust in the digital era, the fourth pillar of the strategy places a strong emphasis on Digital Leadership & Trust.

“GBB is dedicated to fostering a culture of cybersecurity transparency, and accountability, ensuring that Nigerias digital infrastructure is not only efficient but also secure and reliable.”

“To sustain long-term impact, the fifth pillar, Financial Sustainability; remains a key priority.”

According to him, by investing in innovative technologies and expanding its digital services, GBB aims to drive revenue growth while ensuring affordability and accessibility for all users.

He also maintained that at its core, this strategic roadmap is designed to enhance government efficiency, boost economic development, and improve the overall digital experience for Nigerians.

” So, as part of its commitment to achieving these goals, GBB is actively engaging with government agencies, private sector players, and international and local partners to foster collaboration and accelerate implementation.”

He pointed out that through strategic partnerships, the organization is poised to lead Nigeria into a new era of digital excellence, ensuring that businesses and government institutions alike are equipped for the future.

Galaxy Backbone, through its IDTS plan, remains steadfast in its mission to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation through world-class infrastructure, secure connectivity, and innovative solutions that power progress.
















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GBB to Train Over 300 Civil Servants on Govmail

Published

8 months ago

on

March 11, 2025

By

 

Abuja, Nigeria – Galaxy Backbone (GBB), the nation’s foremost digital infrastructure and services provider, is set to train over 300 civil servants, including Email Administrators and Heads of ICT, on the adoption, management, and administration of Govmail—the secure official email platform for Nigeria’s public sector. The training, which will be conducted in batches throughout the month of March 2025, aims to ensure maximum impact and effective knowledge transfer.

This initiative is in alignment with the Federal Government’s digitalisation agenda, which prioritizes secure, efficient, and technology-driven governance. By equipping civil servants with the necessary expertise to optimize Govmail, the government is ensuring seamless communication across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) while strengthening data security and operational efficiency.

Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, the Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation through innovative and secure technology solutions. “As the nation’s leading provider of digital infrastructure, GBB is playing a pivotal role in ensuring that government communications are secured, professional, and aligned with global best practices. This training will enhance civil servants’ ability to effectively utilize Govmail in carrying out their official responsibilities,” he stated.

The training is being conducted in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), who has sent out a Circular to all MDAs informing them of this specialized training aimed at providing hands on experience with GOVMAIl features and ensure uniform adoption of and compliance with government approved digital communications standards. This further reinforces the government’s commitment to a digitally-driven public service. It would be recalled that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation recently described Govmail as a ‘game changer’ for government communication. This underscores the significance of the platform in enhancing inter-agency collaboration, data sovereignty, and information security across all MDAs.
Through this capacity-building initiative, GBB is reinforcing its role as a key enabler of Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, ensuring that public sector professionals are well-equipped to harness the full potential of digital tools in their daily operations.

 

About Galaxy Backbone
Galaxy Backbone Ltd is a digital infrastructure and services company committed to providing secure and efficient digital solutions to support governance, service delivery, and national development for public and private sector organisatuons. GBB plays a critical role in the digitalisation of government processes, ensuring efficiency, security, seamless collaboration across MDAs and providing a platform for enabling digital services across corporate and public organisations.

Signed:
Chidi Okpala
Head, Corporate Communications
















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