- NITDA DG, Others Win Big!
By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West, Nigeria
The Africa Tech Alliance (ATAEx) Awards have, again, lived up to expectations with the honouring of individuals, organizations, and initiatives that made significant impact on Africa’s tech ecosystem, focusing on categories such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, ecommerce, financial inclusion, sustainability, and emerging technologies, Cyber Era NG learns.
For the year 2024, the director-general Nigeria’s National Information Technology Agency [NITDA] Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi received the Digital Transformation Leadership Award. The Digital Transformation Leadership Award, we gather, is a national technology impact award that recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to advancing technology in ways that drive national development and positively impact society.
ATAEx Award screening committee for 2024 nominated Mallam Abdullahi for the award in recognition of his role in transforming Nigeria’s technology landscape, fostering innovation, and supporting inclusive digital progress.
ATAEx Man of the Year – Dr. Ayotunde Coker
Dr. Ayotunde Coker is one of the leading players in the development of the data centre industry in Africa and is the Chairperson of an influential industry group, the Africa Data Centres Association.
Before joining OADC as Chief Executive Officer, Dr Coker led Rack Centre to become a household name in Nigeria and a leading brand in Africa, with global recognition and numerous prestigious international awards. Throughout a distinguished international career as a technology and business leader, Dr Coker has held senior positions in finance, energy, management consulting and UK Government.
His achievements have been recognised by numerous awards, including the Distinguished Manufacturing Alumni Award (Cranfield Institute of Technology) 2020, and in the same year, he was recognised as one of the Global Top 30 Edge Computing Leaders by Data Economy Magazine.
He holds an MSc from Cranfield Institute of Technology and a PhD (Honoris Causa) from ESCAE University.
Other awardees included;
Blockchain Advocate of the Year – Jude Ozinegbe, founder/Convener, Cyberchain; AI Startup of the Year – NeuRaL AI; African Cybersecurity Mastery Award – DIGITAL ENCODE LTD; ATAEx Internet Exchange Point of the Year – Internet Exchange Point Of Nigeria [IXPN]; PR Champion of Africa Award – Newmark Group Ltd; Africa Tech Community of the Year – InnovationBed Africa; ICT Company of the Year – TECOM Concepts Ltd; Best Data Centre Colocation Provider of the Year – DIGITAL REALTY [Nigeria]; Outstanding ICT Solutions & Innovation Personality of the Year – Happiness Obioha, MD/Sales Director, Tecom Concepts Limited; Mobile App Defense Excellence Award – CED TECHNOLOGIES; Most Innovative Digital Bank Award – PALMPAY, and Life Time Achievement Award in Data Centre Management – Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO, OADC.
Other ATAEx 2024 awardees are; ICT Innovation Storyteller Award – Chinenye Anuforo, Head, ICT Desk, Sun Newspaper; Digital Reporting Excellence Award – Martin Ekpeke, Publisher/Editor In-Chief, ITPulse; Trailblazer in Tech Award – Moniade Adeniyi; Global Technology Innovator Award – Ayodeji Ogunmola; Tech Visionary Award – Oluwakayode Durodola; Rising Star in Tech Award – Olaniyi Ibraheem; Business Intelligence Mastery Award – Adedamola Bowale; Blockchain Community of the Year – Lagos Blockchain Week; Champion of Public Tech Infrastructure Award – Galaxy Backbone Limited; Direct Selling Company of the Year – QNET.
In his congratulatory message to the award recipients, ATAEx co-convener Chike Onwuegbuchi said that ATAEx Awards was part of the annual Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH), which brought together tech leaders, policymakers/regulators, industry experts, and key stakeholders to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in Africa’s digital landscape.
“Recipients are celebrated not only for their achievements but also for their vision and commitment to leveraging technology for Africa’s development,” he said.
