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In this conversation with IT Edge News, Wale Owoeye, Managing Director/CEO of Cedarview Communications Limited, shares insights on the transformative impact of connectivity, communication, and cloud services on Africa’s market dynamics. Despite Nigeria’s ongoing foreign exchange challenges, Owoeye remains optimistic about the resilience of technology companies in delivering optimal services and innovating new offerings. He emphasizes the critical role of talent management in fostering creative expression among young people and expanding avenues for innovation.
Cedarview Communications Limited is known for innovative solutions, particularly in mobile app development and network monitoring. How do you foresee the future of this technology evolving in Nigeria? And what role do you aim Cedarview to play in shaping the evolution of mobile application and network monitoring?
Cedarview focuses on three key areas. Number one is Connectivity. We specialize in the business of last mile connectivity solutions. We partner with major players to deliver connectivity to enterprises and other ISPs, leveraging innovative collaboration.
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Second, we concentrate on Communication. We hold a value-added service license for SIP trunking (as opposed to C trunking), and provide Contact (Call) Center as a Service using Centrex solutions for small and medium enterprises. This includes toll-free and vanity numbers.
Third, we concentrate on Cloud services. We emphasize data sovereignty, ensuring that sensitive data is stored locally in Nigeria. By partnering with leading data centers in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, we provide comprehensive cloud solutions akin to those offered by global platforms like Windows Azure, AWS, and Alibaba Cloud, but tailored for Nigeria. (Rephrased this paragraph)
Our goal is to lead in connectivity, communications, and cloud services, offering innovative, cost-effective, and high-value solutions to our customers. We are committed to enhancing delivery, cost efficiency, and the perceived benefits of our services. As we grow, our aim is to make Cedarview an household brand for these focused areas using platforms like yours to spread the word.
Our goal is to lead in connectivity, communications, and cloud services, offering innovative, cost-effective, and high-value solutions to our customers. We are committed to enhancing delivery, cost efficiency, and the perceived benefits of our services.
Local talent is crucial for sustainable growth. What are your strategies at Cedarview for talent management and skill-building initiatives to sustain your growth within the ecosystem?
Absolutely! As an American thinker once said, as long as there are youths, civilization will not move backward. Our approach to talent is to harness the energy and potential of young people. Talent is universal, but opportunities are not always equally distributed. At Cedarview, we provide mentorship and challenging projects that allow young professionals to prove themselves, upskill, and advance their careers.
One example is a young software developer named Gboye, who started with us and has since moved on to work internally, inspiring others. Despite it took him a while to get into university, he was equipped with a laptop while in school and learned programming. He did an internship with us, before proceeding to work with Konga. Today, Gboye is living and working in Germany, inspiring other people through his journey to becoming. We’ve had many such success stories. We provide connectivity solutions to schools, prepare students for the workforce, and connect them with employers.
Furthermore, we partner with NYSC to engage and mentor young talents, focusing on empowerment through expression, access, and guidance. We challenge, reward, and expose them to real-world opportunities, ensuring they are well-prepared for future challenges.
How do you envision the technologies you mentioned earlier transforming business operations in Nigeria? Are there specific industries where Cedarview sees significant potential for adoption in the next five years?
We focus on challenging the status quo by targeting Fintech, insurance, and SMEs rather than legacy players. We partner with cost-effective platforms from Eastern Europe to bring cost advantages to our solutions. By investing in local infrastructure, we avoid relying heavily on foreign exchange, making our services more accessible, bearing in mind that every Naira saved is a Naira earned.
Our goal is to provide comprehensive cloud solutions locally, offering everything from DevOps to disaster recovery. This local approach can significantly impact various industries, particularly Fintech, insurance, and education. We believe these technologies will drive growth and innovation boosting Nigeria’s GDP and technology landscape.
How exactly do you envision the future of Cedarview in the next decade, 10 years from now?
In the next decade, we aim to be one of the top 10 ICT solution providers on the African continent and one of the top five within the next five years. We plan to expand our presence across West, East, South and North Africa. We believe African solutions should be developed by Africans, addressing unique needs with a communal approach. As I often say to my friends, in Africa, “good morning” is more than just a greeting. When we say it, we say it, we inquire about your well-being, your family, your work, and so much more. This reflects the communal way we live and the deep connections we value in our culture. Hence, we are committed to solving African problems with African solutions, leveraging our cultural strengths and deep understanding of the local context.
