Mololuwa Obafemi-Moses – Expedicom Founder and Data Insight Analyst discusses leveraging analytics to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide, navigating challenges, and the potential of AI in transforming the nation’s connectivity landscape.

In a landscape as rapidly evolving as Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, visionary leadership combined with analytical precision can make the difference between incremental improvements and transformative change. Mololuwa Obafemi–Moses, founder of digital infrastructure startup Expedicom and a seasoned Data Insight Analyst, exemplifies this blend of skills. He discusses his journey, his approach to technology development, and his bold vision for scaling digital infrastructure in Nigeria.

Hi Mololuwa, thanks for joining us today. Could you tell us a bit about yourself, how you got into data analytics and your entrepreneurship journey so far?
Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure. I’m a seasoned data and insight professional with a background in mechanical engineering and a distinction in MSc Computing and Information Communication Technology. My journey into data analytics began in 2020 when I joined a digital infrastructure company in Lagos. There, I discovered how data could be used to tell powerful stories and drive real-world impact.

I had the opportunity to work on a range of projects and products that transformed business operational efficiency. This experience ignited my passion for data-driven innovation and entrepreneurship, leading me to found Expedicom, a digital infrastructure startup company that collaborated with Lagos State on the Smart City Project. Through Expedicom, I helped design and deploy data architectures critical to expanding 5G technology, which ultimately improved internet access for thousands of homes.

Since moving to the UK, I’ve continued this journey, working with global organisations in designing advanced insight tools and machine learning models that have driven substantial revenue growth. Across all these experiences, my work has been centred on transforming complex data into actionable insights.

You’ve founded Expedicom, a startup that aims to transform digital infrastructure. What inspired you to start this venture, and how does your analytics expertise influence your approach?
Thank you for the question. Expedicom was born from recognising a significant gap in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, particularly in fibre optic technology and internet accessibility. I saw untapped potential, data clearly indicated growing demand for stable, affordable internet access to drive economic growth and digital innovation.

With my experience in data analytics, I recognised early on that infrastructure challenges could not be addressed through intuition alone, they needed a data-led approach. Leveraging analytics, I have been able to strategically map infrastructure deployment, optimising for maximum coverage, reduced costs, and faster implementation timelines. Ultimately, it is my belief that leveraging data science is not just about improving existing systems but about unlocking new opportunities for communities and industries to thrive in the digital economy.

Could you elaborate on the impact of Expedicom’s projects so far, and how do you see the company’s role evolving in the Nigerian tech landscape?
Our early projects, such as the Lagos State Unified Duct Infrastructure Project, significantly reshaped the broadband infrastructure in Lagos. We’ve successfully laid thousands of kilometres of fibre-optic cable, reducing infrastructure costs for operators by almost half and laying the foundation for the city’s smart city initiatives. Global tech giants like Google, Meta, and Liquid Telecom now leverage this infrastructure, validating our efforts and impact. We are also working on a number of projects with real estate firms to build Point of Presences (POP) across these estates to enable seamless internet connectivity across the regions.

Looking forward, Expedicom aims to scale aggressively. Our vision extends beyond Lagos; we see ourselves spearheading digital transformation across Nigeria and eventually throughout West Africa. Our goal is to democratize reliable internet connectivity, bridge the digital divide, and foster an environment ripe for technological innovation and economic empowerment.

What challenges do you foresee as Expedicom expands, and how do you plan on mitigating these risks?
Nigeria is a beautiful but complex operating environment. One major challenge is Right of Way (RoW), the regulatory process that allows companies to lay fibre. The fees are inconsistently applied, and bureaucratic delays are common. Then there are community-level frictions that Nigerians commonly call the “area boys’ tax.” These informal actors demand settlement fees before allowing infrastructure work in certain neighbourhoods.

To address this, we’re focused on partnerships with state governments, local councils, and community leaders. When people feel part of the solution, resistance drops. On the technical side, we’re using predictive analytics to plan around high-risk zones, proactively monitor infrastructure, and maintain service quality even as we scale. We’re shifting from reactive to predictive infrastructure management which is crucial when you’re growing fast in a volatile environment.

Let’s talk about AI, you have been one of the champions for the adoption of AI, what are your hopes for adoption of AI into the digital infrastructure sector in Nigeria?
AI presents a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria, particularly within the digital infrastructure sector, but it’s often misunderstood or misapplied. My hope is that we begin to leverage AI not just for its novelty, but for also its practical value specifically in driving operational efficiency. For example, AI can be instrumental in identifying optimal deployment zones, improving resource allocation, and analysing network traffic patterns to reduce downtime and enhance service delivery.

However, one of the biggest barriers to effective AI deployment in Nigeria is fragmented data. Much of our data sits in silos, making it difficult to build robust models or derive meaningful insights at scale. To truly unlock AI’s potential, Nigeria needs a cohesive national AI strategy, one that encourages data sharing, establishes ethical frameworks, and prioritises infrastructure investment.
Beyond the sector itself, I believe it’s critical that Nigeria’s youth are not left behind in the AI revolution. We need strong public-private partnerships to integrate AI education into tertiary curriculum, fund local research hubs, and support open-source data initiatives to empower local developers and startups.

Lastly, what advice would you give aspiring Nigerian entrepreneurs who want to create meaningful impact through technology?
My primary advice is to ground your ambitions in a deep understanding of the problems you aim to solve. Data analytics is essential here,it provides clarity, validates hypotheses, and uncovers hidden opportunities. Secondly, don’t shy away from innovation and bold solutions. The Nigerian market is dynamic and full of potential; entrepreneurs who leverage data-driven insights combined with daring vision are the ones who will shape our future.

Ultimately, creating lasting impact requires resilience, continual learning, and staying deeply connected to the community you’re serving. Technology is a powerful tool, but true transformation happens when innovation aligns with genuine societal needs.