Meet the Winners of 2024 Africa Tech Alliance Excellence [ATAEx] Awards

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Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA DG, receives Digital Transformation Leadership Award
Dr. Ayotunde Coker named ATAEx Man of the Year
QNET, GBB, Digital Encode, Tecom, others win

Africa Tech Alliance (ATAEx) Awards 2024 recipients

MTN ADS — Africa Tech Alliance (ATAEx) Awards 2024 recipients

The Africa Tech Alliance (ATAEx) Awards has, again, lived up to expectations by honouring individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have made significant impact on Africa’s tech ecosystem, focusing on categories such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, ecommerce, financial inclusion, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

For the year 2024, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the director-general Nigeria’s National Information Technology Agency [NITDA] received the Digital Transformation Leadership Award.

Kashifu Inuwa, DG NITDA — Kashifu Inuwa of DG NITDA

DG NITDA recipient — DG NITDA honoured at ATAEx Awards

The Digital Transformation Leadership Award 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 Kashifu Inuwa 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, CEO Open Access Data Centres - OADC — Dr Ayotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centres

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 U.K. 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 include;

Direct Selling Company of the Year – QNET.

Best Data Centre Colocation Provider of the Year – DIGITAL REALTY [Nigeria];

Champion of Public Tech Infrastructure Award – GALAXY BACKBONE LIMITED;

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];

IXPN at ATAEx Award — Mr. Muhammed Rudman receiving the IXPN’s award

PR Champion of Africa Award – NEWMARK GROUP LTD;

Lovelyn Okafor - The Newmark Group country Manager at ATAEx Awards — Lovelyn Okafor – country head at Newmark Group (left) receiving the award

Africa Tech Community of the Year – InnovationBed Africa;

ICT Company of the Year – TECOM CONCEPTS LTD;

*Happiness Obiora, MD/Sales Director of TECOM, receiving the award presented by Ebehijie Juliet Momoh, as Managing Director/CEO of AfriGOPay Financial Services Limited.*

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;

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;

Chinenye Anuforo receiving the award presented by Executive Secretary of ALTON

Digital Reporting Excellence Award – MARTIN EKPEKE, Publisher/Editor In-Chief, ITPulse;

Martin Ekpeke at ATAEx Awards — Martin Ekpeke

Trailblazer in Tech Award – MONIADE ADENIYI;

Moniade at ATAEx — Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi (right) presenting the award to Moniade

Global Technology Innovator Award – AYODEJI OGUNMOLA;

Techeconomy Business Series - Ayodeji Ogunmola — Ayodeji Ogunmola

Tech Visionary Award – OLUWAKAYODE DURODOLA;

OLUWAKAYODE DURODOLA - ATAEx Awards — OLUWAKAYODE DURODOLA

Business Intelligence Mastery Award – ADEDAMOLA BOWALE;

Adedamola Bowale - ATAEx Awards — Adedamola Bowale

Rising Star in Tech Award – OLANIYI IBRAHEEM;

Blockchain Community of the Year – LAGOS BLOCKCHAIN WEEK;

Lagos Blockchain Week at ATAEx Awards — Chukwuemeka Enoch Mbaebie – Convener, Lagos Blockchain Week, receiving an award

In his congratulatory message to the award recipients, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, the co-convener, said that ATAEx Awards is part of the annual Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH), which brings 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.