…As Africa is experiencing some of the fastest growth in internet access seen around the world, largely due to its young population

LAGOS, Nigeria, November 4, 2021/ — Access to affordable, reliable and environmentally sustainable sources of electricity is a pressing issue for the growing number of Data Centre operators across Africa.

These facilities need to ensure a high availability of power to mitigate downtime, but many African countries face frequent power outages.

Existing Data Centres have relied on diesel-fuelled generators to sustain operations during power outages, a practice that could exacerbate carbon emissions in the future.

Indeed, the deployment of hyperscale Data Centre capacity is expected to increase emissions through further diesel-generator utilisation.

In a recently published focus report by Oxford Business Group titled “Data Centres in Africa”, the CEO of MainOne, Funke Opeke opined that power distribution networks are facing frequent shortages, but there is an adequate supply of electricity in the region’s national grids.

“By strategically locating our Data Centres close to sources of power and partnering with local power distribution companies to build direct connections to the national grid, we ensure high power availability and reduce the utilisation of diesel-fuelled power generation at our facilities” she states.

MainOne has increased the capacity of its Data Centres, which reached 5 MW in the key markets of Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, with services delivered to a total of 10 countries across West Africa.

Its data centre subsidiary, MDXi, runs energy-efficient facilities by optimising airflow, using sensors and artificial intelligence to manage operations, and installing energy-efficient hardware.

Taken together, these actions go a long way towards reducing the carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency for the sustainability of its Data Centres.

Following the launch of its Tier III Data Centre in Appolonia City in Accra, Ghana earlier in the year, MDXi has commenced the expansion of its Lekki data center in Lagos, Nigeria, with the goal of increasing its 600-rack facility to over 1200 racks by 2023. Further investments have also been directed towards the expansion for its Data Centre in Côte d’Ivoire.

Africa is experiencing some of the fastest growth in internet access seen around the world, largely due to its young population. As such, data consumption will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. This will fuel further investment in submarine cables and Data Centres to bring data closer to consumers. However, without sustainable power strategies, the industry will continue to contribute to global warming in a region that can least afford the consequences.

Traditionally, a 70th anniversary is referred to as a platinum anniversary as the gemstone symbolises true love, rarity and strength. This can very well describe Coca-Cola’s relationship with Nigeria since its introduction in 1951.

To celebrate Coca-Cola’s 70 magical years of operations in Nigeria, a slew of activities have been mapped out as the company seeks to tell its story, emphasise its Nigerian roots, and engage fans and consumers with exciting activities at all touchpoints. If Coca-Cola’s previous events are anything to go by, you’d know they create the grandest and most memorable experiences.

Interested in following and participating in this journey? Here are four magical activities to look out for!

Nigerians of Coca-Cola

The real magic of Coca-Cola is evident in its ability to be recognisable in virtually every country in the world. Additionally, the company has an extensive track record of sustainability initiatives that have served to improve the lives of hundreds of millions across the world, especially in Nigeria. It is with this insight that the company seeks to tell the stories of Nigerians that have been impacted by the company’s initiatives and its value chain, in a series aptly titled ‘Nigerians of Coca-Cola’. The testimonial series will lead up to the d-day of Coca-Cola’s 70th anniversary and will focus on select people of diverse tribes narrating their unique stories and how Coca-Cola has made a difference in their lives.

My Coke Moments

If you look long and hard enough, there are huge chances you are likely to come across an old picture of you or a loved one with a bottle of Coca-Cola, at a past celebration or a meetup with friends. Such is the magic of Coca-Cola; its pedigree of being present even in the micro-moments and memories of its consumers transcends generations. As part of Coca-Cola Nigeria’s 70th-anniversary celebrations, the company encourages consumers to share memories and photos of younger versions of themselves with a Coca-Cola in hand. Participants of #MyCokeMoments are also set to be rewarded with amazing items for sharing these wonderful memories with the world.

CCNL Executives addressing press men at the Coke at 70 press conference 2

Share A Trip With Coke

Between the parties, shopping, cooking, and travelling, this time of the year can be pretty chaotic. To help ease some of this discomfort and share some of that magic, Coca-Cola hopes to create memorable experiences with its consumers, right before we swing fully into the holiday season. Nigerians plying popular bus routes in major cities such as Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano, and Ibadan will be provided free rides alongside gift items as part of the company’s anniversary celebrations.

Magical Anniversary Event

The campaign activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Coca-Cola in Nigeria will culminate in a grand event set for a later date this year. The event will feature the best of Nigerian entertainment and other attractions celebrating the rich, unique and diverse culture of Nigeria.

The celebration of Coca-Cola at 70 coincides with the launch of Coca-Cola’s new global philosophy, Real Magic – a new platform built from lessons of the last 18 months: that we can find the magic all around us when we come together in unexpected moments that elevate every day into the extraordinary. The past seven decades have been a celebration of love and a passion to refresh Nigerians one bottle at a time. With decades of stories, Coca-Cola is an indispensable part of Nigeria’s history and this celebration emphasizes its enchanting love story with the country in the most magical way.