Pioneers, innovators, advocates recognised at Nigeria@60 ICT Hall of Fame Awards

techTV www.techtv.net.ng in collaboration with TechEconomy.ng, has recognised pioneers, innovators and advocates and influential organisations in the Nigerian telecoms; information and communication technology (ICT).

The award ceremony was part of activities for this year’s Titans of Tech Conference & Exhibition and in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary (Nigeria@60).

The Hybrid event with Virtual & physical attendance was held on October 08, 2020 at Virgin Rose Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos with outstanding personalities and high achievers leveraging technology across sector also recognized for their positive contributions to the nation’s economy.

The awardees include: Most Innovative AgricTech platform of the Year – Farmcrowdy; Excellent Leadership in digital Training Award -Prof. Engr. Mohammed Ajiya (the President, Digital Bridge Institute) and the Broadband Advocate of the Year – Olusola Teniola (President, ATCON).

Those inducted into the ICT Hall of Fame under TechLegends Award category include;

Engr. Olawale Ige (former Minister of Communications; HRH Engr. Eze Ogbonna Cletus Iromantu (pioneer EVC, NCC); Engr. Vincent Maduka (for contributions towards the establishment of NCC); Engr. Ernest Ndukwe (former EVC of NCC who led the successful auction of GSM licenses in Nigeria); Engr. Titi Omo-ettu (for playing key role in the liberalisation of the Nigerian telecoms industry); Chief Don Etiebet (pioneered the first Nigerian brand in personal computing) and Chima Onyekwere (championing internet revolution in Nigeria);

Others are Chief Leo Stan Ekeh (pioneered the Desktop Publishing, Computer Graphics in Nigeria and the launch of Zinox Technologies – Nigeria’s behemoth in technology sector); Chris Uwaje (contributions in the conceptualisation framework and content strategy for NITDA policy for Nigeria); Funke Opeke (for pioneering private sector-led Submarine Cable system in West Africa); Olarewaju Ayoola (for setting the stage for IoT revolution in West Africa) and Austin Okere (for innovative and investment acumen that birthed CWG Plc, a leading Pan-African systems integrator).

Other individual and corporate awardees are; Tech CEO of the Year – Chijioke Eke (MD, Sidmach Technologies); Best Public Sector Cloud Infrastructure Provider of the Year – Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB); ICT Company of the Year – Sidmach Technologies; Most Innovative Covid-19 e-learning platform of the Year – Luminate; ICT Infrastructure Company of the Year – TranterIT. Broadband Company of the Decade – MainOne; Most Innovative Tech Entrepreneur of the Year – Onyeka Akumah; Corporate Communications Manager of the Year – Hadiza Umar.

Excellence in Leadership Award recipients are Chinenye Mba Uzoukwu (President of ISPON); Engr. Gbenga Adebayo (Chairman of ALTON); Engr. Olusola Teniola (President of ATCON); Amos Emmanuel (President, Programos Software Group and Chief Lead at Innovationbed.Africa); Mohammed Rudman (President of NiRA) and Chijioke Ezeh (National Coordinator of WASPAN).

The organisers also recognised ICT Media Heroes with the award recipients including Aaron Ukudie (Publisher, eWorldnews magazine); Sunny Aragba-Akpore (former Manager at NCC); Okoh Aihe (former NCC staff); Bayero Agabi (President at DigiVation Network); Segun Oruame (Publisher, ITEdge News); Don Pedro Aganbi (Managing Partner at TechTV Networks); Shina Badaru (Founder, Technology Times); Remmy Nweke (Publisher, ITREALMS Group); John Awe (Communications/PR, Globacom Limited).

Speaking at the event, Don Pedro Aganbi said that the story of the growth of Nigeria’s ICT sector is the ‘story of people’. “These are people who saw the potential; people who invested and many more who worked tirelessly for years to see the growth and success of the industry.”

“These leaders”, he continued, “inspired morale, accepted responsibility and pushed the frontiers. They are the pillar behind the success stories. So, we deemed it wise to celebrate them on the occasion of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary”.