Uwaje, Nigeria’s IT Oracle, to Bring Unique Perspective to eWorldForum

Mr. Chris Uwaje, widely acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s foremost voices in Information Technology, is set to bring a unique perspective to the eWorldForum as the forum celebrates 25 years of the GSM Revolution in Nigeria and marks the launch of a new book by Aaron Ukodie.

Uwaje, whose contributions to Nigeria’s technology ecosystem stretch back to the formative years of the country’s ICT development, has remained a prominent voice in conversations around technology policy, digital transformation and the evolution of Nigeria’s technology industry.

His influence dates back to the 1990s and the landmark period around 2001, when he, alongside the late Professor Gabriel Ajayi, was among the voices advocating for the development of Nigeria’s Information Technology policy and the institutional framework that culminated in the establishment of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

A strong advocate for technology driven economic development, Uwaje has consistently championed software development and indigenous technological capacity as strategic tools for diversifying Nigeria’s economy beyond its traditional dependence on oil.

He is also the author of Time Is Running Out, a work reflecting his longstanding perspectives on Nigeria’s technological development and the urgency of building a sustainable digital economy.

At the eWorldForum, Uwaje is expected to bring the depth of his experience and historical perspective to the conversation, “GSM Revolution: 25 Years After.”

His contribution will explore how far Nigeria has travelled since the arrival of GSM, the profound transformation mobile communications triggered across society and the economy, and the challenges and opportunities that now define the country’s next phase of digital development.

From the expansion of mobile connectivity to the rise of fintech, digital commerce, mobile payments, online services and an increasingly connected population, the GSM revolution fundamentally reshaped the Nigerian economy and everyday life.

For Uwaje, the 25-year milestone also provides an opportunity to look beyond the achievements of the past and interrogate what Nigeria must do to build the technological capacity, infrastructure, policies and indigenous innovation required for the next digital era.

His participation adds a significant historical, technology-policy and strategic dimension to the eWorldForum, as industry leaders, policymakers, innovators and stakeholders reflect on 25 years of GSM and the digital transformation it set in motion.

What to Know
Chris Uwaje is a veteran Nigerian technology strategist and longstanding voice in the country’s ICT development.
His technology advocacy spans the formative years of Nigeria’s modern ICT ecosystem.

He was among the voices involved in technology-policy conversations around the development of Nigeria’s IT institutional framework in the early 2000s.
He has consistently advocated indigenous software development and technology capacity as drivers of economic diversification.

He is the author of Time Is Running Out.

At eWorldForum, he will contribute historical and strategic perspectives to the GSM@25 conversation.
Why It Matters
The GSM revolution did more than connect Nigerians by telephone. It helped create the foundation for an expanding digital economy, transforming communication, financial services, commerce, media, entrepreneurship and access to information.

As Nigeria marks 25 years of GSM, the conversation is increasingly shifting from connectivity to capacity how the country can translate digital adoption into stronger indigenous technology, innovation, economic value and global competitiveness.

Uwaje’s participation brings the benefit of historical perspective to that conversation, connecting the lessons of Nigeria’s ICT journey with the choices that will shape its digital future.

eWorldForum, Celebrating GSM@25. Looking Back. Looking Forward. Shaping the Next Digital Chapter.