The prestigious ceremony, held in Lagos on May 30, 2026, brought together top stakeholders, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders from across Africa’s technology ecosystem to celebrate excellence, innovation, and impactful contributions to the growth of the ICT industry.

Sunny, who currently serves as regional manager, MENA & Africa (EMEA) at Bitget, was recognized for his outstanding contributions to fintech innovation, blockchain adoption, digital payments, mobility technology, and smart infrastructure development across emerging markets.

Over the years, Sunny has built a reputation for driving large-scale market expansion, product innovation, and ecosystem growth across Africa and the Middle East.

His leadership at Bitget has accelerated P2P ecosystem development, merchant operations, payment optimization, and strategic partnerships across multiple countries, contributing significantly to increased digital financial inclusion and technology adoption.

Prior to joining Bitget, Sunny spent over three and a half years at Binance, where he played a pivotal role in operations and growth across more than 40 African markets. One of his landmark achievements was leading the rollout of the innovative Pay-in-Chat functionality in Africa, enabling users to seamlessly interact and initiate digital transactions through integrated chat experiences.

Earlier in his career at Bolt, Sunny led mobility market expansion across eight Nigerian cities, contributing to more than 10x business growth through strategic execution, operational scaling, and product adoption initiatives.

Beyond fintech and mobility, Sunny is also actively driving smart infrastructure innovation through Arkcess Technology Limited, a technology company focused on transforming estate living through digital access control, smart community management, and connected residential infrastructure.

While presenting the award, Mr. Ken Nwogbo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Communications Week Media, praised Sunny’s visionary leadership, innovation-driven mindset, and his consistent commitment to building technology solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa and emerging markets.

He described Sunny as “a forward-thinking innovator whose work continues to shape the future of digital finance, smart infrastructure, and technology-driven growth on the continent.”

In his acceptance speech, Sunny expressed appreciation to the organizers, industry stakeholders, his teams, and partners who have supported his journey over the years.

“This recognition represents the power of innovation, collaboration, and the limitless potential of technology to transform lives and economies. I remain committed to building solutions that create access, drive inclusion, and shape the future of digital transformation across Africa and beyond,” he said.

The Africa Beacon of ICT Awards, organized annually by Communications Week Media, remains one of the continent’s most respected platforms for recognizing excellence and innovation within the ICT ecosystem.

Sunny Joseph Imohimi’s recognition as ICT Innovator of the Year further reinforces his position as one of Africa’s leading voices in technology innovation, digital transformation, and ecosystem development. His achievements continue to inspire a new generation of innovators committed to building scalable solutions that drive economic growth and technological advancement across the continent.

The sector’s impact on the economy, education, healthcare, and governance has been profound, with numerous organizations and individuals playing key roles in its development.

As the ICT sector continues to evolve, its contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth and development cannot be overstated.

The sector has created new opportunities for businesses, improved access to information and services, and enhanced the overall quality of life for many Nigerians.

To recognize and celebrate the efforts of those who have driven this growth, the Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards (ABoICT) will hold its 16th edition on May 24, 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton.

This special edition, tagged “ICT Growth Edition 2025,” aims to honor organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the ICT sector in Nigeria.

According to Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-Chief of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, the organizers of the event, “Most of these organizations and individuals have consistently been voted by our readers as leaders in their areas of operations, and we have decided to reward them in this special edition.”

The event will feature a keynote lecture by Prof. Adewale Obadare, chief visionary officer, Digital Encode – Cybersecurity and GRC Expert, who will discuss the impact of ICT on Nigeria’s growth and development.

The lecture will highlight the importance of ICT in driving economic growth, improving governance, and enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians.

In his remarks, Nwogbo emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity, noting that AI-powered security tools can detect and respond to threats in real-time.

He also highlighted the need for robust data security, ethical AI development, and collaboration among cybersecurity professionals and AI researchers. “Artificial intelligence transforms cybersecurity by automating responses to risks, detecting unusual activity, and even foreseeing possible dangers before they occur,” he said.

The ABoICT Awards ceremony promises to be a grand affair, recognizing the contributions of key players in the ICT sector and celebrating their achievements.

As the sector continues to evolve, it is essential to acknowledge the efforts of those who have driven its growth and development, paving the way for a more digitally empowered future for Nigeria.