Schneider Electric is ramping up efforts to equip Nigerian engineers and technicians with the skills needed to manage cutting-edge industrial technologies, positioning the country for sustainable digital transformation.
The global leader in energy management and automation says that beyond supplying edge computing and Human Machine Interface (HMI) solutions, it is committed to building local expertise capable of maintaining and optimising these systems over the long term.
Edge computing allows data to be processed and analysed directly at the source, close to machines or devices, without relying entirely on remote servers. In Nigeria, where internet connectivity can be inconsistent, the technology enables faster, real-time decision-making and reduces costly downtime.
HMIs, on the other hand, act as interactive dashboards, giving operators clear and actionable insights into system performance.
“For many Nigerian industries, especially those in manufacturing, energy, and oil & gas, the reality is that business continuity depends on having reliable, localised solutions that do not rely solely on external infrastructure. Edge computing provides that autonomy, while HMIs give operators the power to respond to system conditions on the ground, with clarity and speed,” said Ajibola Akindele, country president of Schneider Electric Nigeria.
The global adoption of these technologies underscores their growing importance.
The industrial edge computing market is projected to expand from $21.2 billion in 2025 to $44.7 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1 percent. Likewise, the Human Machine Interface market is expected to reach $7.7 billion by 2028, reflecting increased demand for modern, user-friendly visualisation tools across industries.
In the Middle East and Africa, the industrial automation market which includes edge computing and HMIs is expected to grow from $3.67 billion in 2024 to $6.16 billion by 2032, demonstrating clear momentum in the region’s digitalisation agenda.
To ensure these benefits are fully realised, Schneider Electric is investing in training partnerships and engineering support to create an ecosystem of Nigerian experts. The company says its goal is to give local talent the knowledge and tools to sustain and expand the use of industrial automation technologies across sectors.
Examples of this impact are already emerging. In the food processing industry, Nigerian engineers are deploying edge-enabled HMIs to monitor temperature-sensitive production lines, enabling swift intervention when issues arise. In the oil and gas sector, local technicians are using edge computing to keep remote well sites under continuous monitoring and control, even in areas with limited connectivity.
Akindele added, “Edge computing and HMIs are no longer emerging technologies, they are essential tools for industries looking to grow in a volatile and competitive environment. For Nigeria to realise its industrial potential, we must invest in solutions that are both adaptive and resilient. That’s what Schneider Electric brings to the table: technologies that empower local operations without overdependence on global infrastructure.”
Schneider Electric says it will continue to work closely with Nigerian partners, ensuring that the shift to smarter, more efficient operations is not only technology-driven but also built on a strong foundation of local skills and knowledge.
