IBM is leaving Nigeria, Ghana, and some other African countries and handing over its business in these places to MIBB, a company under Midis Group. Starting April 1, 2025, MIBB will take charge of selling IBM’s products, including software, hardware, cloud services, and consulting, across 36 African countries. It will also handle customer support and operations in the region.
IBM has been in Nigeria for over 50 years, helping banks, telecom companies, oil firms, and the government with technology services. However, its market share has dropped because of strong competition from Dell and Huawei, especially in the banking sector. Globally, IBM has also faced challenges, with lower consulting and infrastructure sales in 2024, though its software sales grew. Despite this, the company expects 5% growth in 2025 and plans to make $13.5 billion in free cash flow.
With IBM leaving, many businesses and government agencies that relied on its services will have to adjust to the change. While MIBB’s takeover might bring new growth and support, it is unclear how smooth the transition will be. In the coming months, the African tech industry will have to adapt to this new setup.