With New Subsidiary, Chams Joins Nigeria’s Growing AI Infrastructure Race
•February 17, 2026
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Why It Matters
The launch positions Chams to capture a fast‑growing AI and data‑centre segment, elevating its value chain and strengthening Nigeria’s broader digital infrastructure ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- •Chams launches ChamsCorp for AI, data centre services
- •Subsidiary targets digital device manufacturing and intelligent systems
- •Nigeria data centre market projected $782.8M by 2031
- •Leadership appointed: Olufemi Oyenuga, data analytics expert
- •Investment amount and strategy remain undisclosed
Pulse Analysis
Chams Holding’s decision to spin off ChamsCorp reflects a broader shift among African tech firms seeking to own the compute and storage layers that will power next‑generation services. While the company built its reputation on payments processing and identity verification, the AI‑driven digital economy demands robust data‑centre capacity, edge computing, and intelligent systems. By entering this space, Chams aims to leverage its existing network and regulatory experience to attract enterprise clients that require low‑latency AI workloads, positioning itself alongside regional players such as MainOne and Rack Centre.
The Nigerian data‑centre market, forecast to exceed $780 million by 2031, is being fueled by rising internet penetration, cloud adoption, and government initiatives to localise data. ChamsCorp’s focus on AI infrastructure could accelerate the deployment of specialized hardware, such as GPUs and TPUs, enabling local startups and multinational firms to run machine‑learning models without relying on overseas providers. This vertical integration may also reduce operational costs for Chams’ payment platforms, creating synergies across its five subsidiaries and enhancing overall service reliability.
However, the venture’s success hinges on securing sufficient financing and navigating Nigeria’s regulatory landscape, which remains fluid for emerging technologies. The undisclosed investment size raises questions about the company’s ability to compete with well‑capitalised global data‑centre operators. If Chams can marshal capital—potentially through its earlier ₦7.65 billion raise—and deliver a clear operational strategy, it could become a pivotal player in Africa’s AI infrastructure race, offering investors exposure to a high‑growth segment of the continent’s digital transformation.
With new subsidiary, Chams joins Nigeria’s growing AI infrastructure race
Chams Holding Company Plc, a Nigerian-based Information and Communications Technology company, has created a new subsidiary, ChamsCorp Plc, as it positions itself for opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre infrastructure, according to a regulatory filing on Monday.
The new company will operate in digital device manufacturing and infrastructure development, data centre design, implementation and operations, AI infrastructure, and intelligent systems, among other technology-driven verticals.
This move is a strategic pivot for one of Nigeria’s oldest indigenous technology companies, signalling Chams’ ambition to reposition itself from a legacy payments and identity infrastructure firm into a player in the foundational layers of the new digital economy.
By entering AI infrastructure and data centre development, Chams is attempting to move up the value chain, from transaction processing to owning and enabling the compute, storage, and intelligence systems that will underpin future digital services, enterprise platforms, and national digital infrastructure.
Nigeria’s data centre market is expected to hit $782.82 million by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence, a global market intelligence company.
ChamsCorp will be led by Olufemi Oyenuga, an information management and data analytics specialist with experience across healthcare, telecoms, ICT, and manufacturing. His appointment took effect on February 1, 2026.
However, the company offered few details about the new venture’s operational strategy or investment scope.
In its filing, Chams said it is still “embarking internally on the strategic positioning of ChamsCorp Plc and will make further disclosures as and when there are material developments, in accordance with applicable NGX disclosure requirements.”
The cost of the venture remains undisclosed. In August 2025, Chams announced plans to raise ₦7.65 billion ($5.52 million), stating that the funds would be deployed into strategic projects aligned with its ambition to lead Africa’s digital payments and identity management markets.
With the creation of ChamsCorp, Chams Holdings now operates five subsidiaries: Card Centre Nigeria Limited, Chams Access Limited, Cham Switch Limited, Chams Mobile Limited, and ChamsCorp Plc.
Chams’ new AI and data centre focus reflects a company looking beyond payments and identity infrastructure to sectors increasingly central to the future of the digital economy.
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