AVEVA Africa Vice President Khaled Salah has described Nigeria as the driving force behind Africa’s digital transformation, citing the country’s youthful population, expanding technology ecosystem and growing investment in digital infrastructure as key reasons for the company’s renewed focus on the market.
Speaking during the AVEVA Day Nigeria conference, Salah explained that the global industrial software and industrial intelligence company recently restructured its operations by separating its former Middle East and Africa region into two independent markets. As part of that move, he was appointed Vice President for Africa.
One of his first major initiatives in the new role was hosting AVEVA Day Nigeria, an annual technology conference designed to help industries embrace digital transformation and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, productivity and business performance.
Explaining why Nigeria was chosen to host the event, Salah said the country possesses unique qualities that make it a strategic destination for digital innovation across Africa.
According to him, Nigeria’s large youth population is one of its greatest strengths, noting that a significant percentage of Nigerians are young people with the skills and potential to drive the country’s next phase of technological development.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s long standing experience in the oil and gas industry, saying the presence of major energy companies presents enormous opportunities for digital transformation. He added that government initiatives, including the National Identity Number programme, demonstrate a strong commitment to building a more data driven economy.
Salah said AVEVA’s approach is centred on developing solutions specifically for African markets rather than simply importing global models.
He explained that the company believes in creating technology for Africa by Africans, tailoring its products, business strategy and partnerships to meet the continent’s unique needs. According to him, the company intends to work closely with local talents, universities and technology partners to encourage innovation and deliver practical solutions for businesses.
Speaking on planned investments, Salah disclosed that AVEVA will strengthen the capacity of its technology partners in Nigeria by providing advanced training and access to the company’s latest digital solutions.
He also revealed plans to collaborate with Nigerian universities by offering students free access to learning resources and practical training on AVEVA technologies. The initiative, he said, will allow engineering students to gain real world experience before graduation and bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and industry practice.
Addressing concerns over foreign exchange pressures affecting businesses across Africa, Salah said many organisations already possess valuable operational data but often fail to use it effectively.
He explained that AVEVA’s technology helps businesses collect, organise and analyse their data to improve decision making, boost production, reduce operating costs and increase overall efficiency.
On how the company works with clients, Salah said every engagement begins with a detailed assessment of an organisation’s level of digital maturity. Once existing gaps are identified, AVEVA recommends suitable solutions, oversees implementation and continues supporting customers until the technology becomes fully integrated into their daily operations.
He stressed that the company remains committed to adapting to local business environments and governance structures rather than imposing international models that may not suit African markets.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as China and India, Salah said their success stems from building solutions around local realities. He believes Africa should adopt a similar approach by developing systems that reflect its own priorities and economic environment.
Speaking on the company’s technology platform, Salah said AVEVA’s solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with different technologies and business systems. He noted that the platform enables customers and technology partners to build innovative applications on a strong data foundation.
He also highlighted the company’s partnerships with global technology firms such as Databricks, Snowflake and Amazon Web Services, explaining that these collaborations benefit Nigerian businesses because the same partners already have a presence in the country, making technology integration easier and more efficient.
Salah further described the AVEVA Connect platform as a digital environment that brings together operational technology and information technology, allowing businesses to design, operate, optimise and manage their processes more effectively from a single platform.
Looking at Nigeria’s digital landscape, Salah identified scalability as the biggest challenge facing businesses seeking to adopt artificial intelligence.
According to him, the necessary technologies already exist, but many organisations remain stuck at the pilot stage. He said the next major step for Nigerian businesses is to move beyond testing new technologies and begin implementing them on a larger scale to unlock their full economic and operational benefits.
