Pantami, Danbatta, Inuwa, Zoho, Ikenna-Emeka, Others Receive 2022 AfriTECH Awards

The Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH) has conferred special honours on Professor Isa Ibrahim Ali (Pantami), Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Other special honourees at the award ceremony held during AfriTECH 2.0 are; Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, General Manager, Fixed Broadband, MTN Nigeria, and Dr. Ruth Oji, Faculty Member, Institute of Humanities, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos.

Prof. Pantami received Digital Economy Hero of the Year Award in recognition of his resilience and leadership excellence leading to Nigeria’s digital economy progress including the National Identity Database, Commercial 5G Rollout, enactment of the Nigeria Startup Act and the global branding his personality brought to Nigeria as the Chairman of UN-WSIS 2022.

Similarly, Prof. Danbatta bagged 5G Core Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership in the African Telecommunications industry, especially the outstanding performance during the cause of commercial 5G launch in Nigeria.

Digital Economy Ambassador of the Year Award was presented to NITDA boss, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCEI, for his leading role as towards the enactment of Nigeria Startup Act, deepened Government-Tech ecosystem partnerships, international recognitions, amongst others.

L-r: Jude Ozinegbe, Founder and Convener, CyberChain; Chioma Oke-Aguguo (Mrs), Head, NITDA South West Zonal Office, receiving Digital Economy Ambassador award on behalf of DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and Emmanuel Amos, UN World Summit Award National Expert for Nigeria, at AfriTECH Awards 2022.

Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka emerged the AfriTECH 2022 Telecommunication Woman of the Year in recognition of her contributions to the telecommunications industry and leadership in driving transformational change in the sector; evidenced by MTN Nigeria’s innovative and cutting-edge communications, connectivity and collaborative solutions.

While Dr. Ruth Oji, received special Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award as recognition of her contributions toward flawless writing in Media Practice.

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L-r: Uchechukwu Oji, Managing Director/CEO, Build-Well Integrated Services; Louisa Olaniyi, Broadcast Journalist; Dr. Ruth Oji, recipient of AfriTECH Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award; Prof. Abdu-Ja’afaru Bambale, Executive Director, Technical Services, NIGCOMSAT, and Emmanuel Amos, UN World Summit Award National Expert for Nigeria, at AfriTECH Awards 2022.

Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa at Africa Data Centres (ADC), also received Data Centre Influencer of the Year as an influential personality in the West African data centre operations.

Osa Bazuaye of Africa Data Centres (r), receiving Data Centre Influencer of the Year award on behalf of Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa at ADC. The award was presented by Dauda Oyeleye, Galaxy Backbone’s Regional Manager, Lagos & Southwest (l).

PAN-Africa CyberSecurity Excellence Award was conferred on Dr. Adewale Peter Obadare, Co-Founder/Chief Visionary Officer (CVO), Digital Encode Limited, for his exceptional achievements and contributions to the development of cybersecurity in Africa, while Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Digital Encode Limited bagged Blockchain Technology Mastery Personality Award for his outstanding efforts in awareness creation towards the adoption of Blockchain Technology on the Continent.

Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, Co-Founder/CTO, Digital Encode Limited, the recipient of AfriTECH Blockchain Technology Mastery Personality Award 2022.

Galaxy Backbone Limited received ‘Data Centre Company of the Year’ as a company that is contributing to building solid computing power for MDAs of government.

L-r: Prof. Abdu-Ja’afaru Bambale, Executive Director, Technical Services, NIGCOMSAT, presenting Data Centre Company of the Year Award to Galaxy Backbone’s Regional Manager, Lagos & Southwest, Dauda Oyeleye, while Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-convener, AfriTECH Award, observes.

ZOHO Technologies Limited received Africa Digital Enabler Award for technological impact on Africa’s digital economy through various products/solutions you offer; particularly the Zoho Africa Digital Enabler packages that help small businesses take steps towards digital transformation.

Kehinde Ogundare, Country Manager, Zoho Technologies Ltd with Africa Digital Enabler Award presented to Zoho at AfriTECH Awards 2022.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) received ‘Best Digital Economy Project of the Year Award’ for its regulatory excellence and transparent processes leading to commercial 5G launch in Nigeria.

L-R: Peter Oluka and Chike Onwuegbuchi, both Co-Conveners, Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTech); Dr. Austine Nwaulune, Director, Digital Economy, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) receiving 5G Core Leadership Award on behalf of Prof. Umar Danbatta, EVC of NCC; Senator Ihenyen, President, Stakeholders in Blockchain Association of Nigeria (SiBAN) and Mr. Kelechi Nwankwo, Head, Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management, NCC, during the presentation of awards to the Commission at the 2022 AfriTech forum held in Lagos recently.

The Best Crypto Exchange Platform of the Year was presented to TradeFada for distinguishing itself as a top Cryptocurrency exchange offering actionable and easy-to-use digital currency trading platform’.

Seun Dania, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tradefada receives Best Crypto Exchange Platform of the Year award presented by Prof. Abdu-Ja’afaru Bambale, Executive Director, Technical Services, Nigerian Communications Satellites Limited

Medallion Data Centres received Excellence Award in Data Centre Operations for its leading role in building West Africa’s digital transformation with keen interest in the future; cutting across data centre infrastructure deployment, amongst others.

L-r: Peter Oluka, Co-Convener, AfriTECH; Prof. Abdu-Ja’afaru Bambale, Executive Director, Technical Services, NIGCOMSAT, presenting Excellence Award in Data Centre Operations to Medallion Data Centre Ltd’s representative as Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-convener, AfriTECH Awards, observes.

CyberSecurity Company of the Year Award was conferred on ESET. The award screening committee identified ESET for its innovative solutions towards protecting individuals and businesses through robust security products, services, and awareness creation in Africa.

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L-r: Peter Oluka, Co-Convener, AfriTECH; Prof. Abdu-Ja’afaru Bambale, Executive Director, Technical Services, NIGCOMSAT, presentingCybersecurity Company of the Year award to ESET West Africa as received by Olabanji Soledayo, Marketing and Retail Sales Manager, ESET West Africa, and Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-convener, AfriTECH Awards, observes.

Africa Tech Alliance Forum awards ceremony aims to celebrate and reward companies and individuals on the African continent that have demonstrated excellence in the areas of innovative product/service development, policy/regulations, amongst other areas.