Projects

Creating AI-ready data centre capacity for Nigeria with Rack Centre

A landmark project reshaping the digital landscape in West Africa. With an additional 12MW capacity, this state-of-the-art facility is the largest data centre in the region and is also one of the first in Nigeria designed to be artificial intelligence (AI)-ready from completion.

Key information

Client Rack Centre

Location Nigeria

Project type Real estate

Services Cost and commercial management, Project management

Project timeline 2022 - 2025

Ezteror view of Rack Centre, large industrial building with a covered walkway and people walking nearby.

Contact

Caitlin Adair

Director

+27 66 204 4568

Powering Nigeria’s digital future

As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to accelerate, the need for reliable data hosting is becoming more urgent. The goal of the project was to address the limitations of traditional in-house server rooms, which often lacked formal data management protocols and suffered from connectivity issues.

Rack Centre set out to expand its existing 1.5MW facility to create a world-class, AI-ready data centre capable of driving digital transformation in Nigeria and beyond. The new facility increases capacity and has introduced cutting-edge technology and sustainable engineering practices to support the evolving needs of businesses across the region.

Project story

Driving efficiency through technology and collaboration

We supported the project by delivering both project and cost and commercial management services, working in close partnership with Rack Centre and a diverse group of stakeholders. Our teams in Nigeria and South Africa collaborated seamlessly, leveraging local expertise and global insights.

By implementing the use of Autodesk Construction Cloud, we managed project documentation, reporting, and issue tracking. This streamlined communication and ensured a smooth execution across borders. Our digital-first approach helped maintain quality and unlock efficiencies throughout the project lifecycle.

Community impact that goes beyond design

The Rack Centre Phase 2.1 is EDGE-certified, making it the first green data centre of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. The building design enables significant reductions in energy, water and material usage.

Beyond environmental sustainability, the project delivered meaningful social impact. Through our CSR initiative, we trained and certified 60 young people from the local community in construction skills, with many being employed on the project site. This has not only created employment opportunities but has empowered the next generation of tradespeople, leaving a legacy of growth.

“Delivering West Africa’s largest AI-ready data centre required precision, resilience and collaboration and the Turner & Townsend team delivered.

The team consistently demonstrated all three; successfully aligning design, engineering, construction and operational readiness to deliver a world-class facility on schedule and to the highest standards of quality and reliability.”

Ezekiel Egboye
Chief Operating Officer
Rack Centre Limited