Presented during the “Nigeria: State of the Digital Economy 2025” colloquium and awards ceremony in Lagos, the recognition highlights Lewis’s role in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.

The high-profile event, organized by Knowhow Media (publishers of IT Edge News.Africa), brought together top policymakers, digital innovators, and ecosystem enablers across public and private sectors.

At the center of Lewis’s recognition is his commitment to building Africa’s digital economy through skills and job creation.

Under his leadership, SBTS Group—in collaboration with the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI)—is implementing an ambitious plan to:

• Train 5 million Nigerian youths
• Create 50,000 digital jobs by 2030

This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program.

SBTS Group’s proprietary Intelligent Capacity Building Model (ICBM), developed under Lewis’s leadership, is at the core of this effort.

The model closes the gap between digital training and employment, offering career-focused tracks in:

• Cybersecurity
• Software Development
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
• Digital Entrepreneurship

ICBM is currently being rolled out across DBI campuses nationwide, forming a scalable framework for skills development.

SBTS and DBI will kick off the next phase of their national rollout with new training and BPO centres in Abuja and Enugu, scheduled for launch in June 2025. These centers are expected to create over 5,000 jobs in their first phase, acting as blueprints for replicable, sustainable digital employment hubs nationwide.

Beyond training, SBTS has also built a national unified digital learning and registration platform for DBI. The system integrates national identity tools such as NIN and BVN, supports student sponsorships, facilitates enterprise partnerships, and enables career tracking—laying a foundation for a data-driven, transparent digital skills ecosystem.

“This award reaffirms our commitment to building Africa’s digital economy from within,” said Evelyn Lewis. “At SBTS Group, we believe that human capital is Africa’s greatest asset. By empowering our youth, we’re investing in a future where Africa leads in innovation and competitiveness.”

The 50 Most Valuable Personalities (50MVPs) initiative annually celebrates visionary leaders accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation. The 2025 edition recognized contributors across tech, governance, and entrepreneurship under the theme:
“Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Transformation: Insights on Challenges and Emerging Opportunities.”

Other 2025 honourees include:

• Obadare Peter Adewale, CVO, Digital Encode
• Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs & Poverty Reduction
• Ayọ̀wándé Àdalémọ, CEO, Wave5Wireless
• Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa & Morocco – Africa Data Centres (ADC)
• Ike Nnamani, CEO, Digital Realty
• Daser David, President/CEO, Digital Bridge Institute
• Suleiman Isah, Commissioner for Communications Technology & Digital Economy
• Shuaibu Kabir Bello, CEO, KMDC
• Engr. Olawole Owoeye, Co-founder, Cedarview Communications

This pressing issue took center stage at the recent Hyperscalers Convergence Africa conference, hosted by Africa Hyperscalers Media.

A panel discussion, themed “The Talent Gap – Developing Sustainable Digital Talent for Africa,” featured industry veterans such as Olusola Teniola, Wale Owoeye, Adewale Adeyemi, Dr. Hakeem Onasanya, and Olusegun Maleghemi, who shared their insights on the challenges facing the sector.

Olusola Teniola, director of Strategic Business Initiatives at ipNX, asserted that formal curricula for critical topics such as digital infrastructure and data centers are lacking.

He also stressed that traditional subjects continue to dominate African academic programs, which leaves new graduates unprepared for industry demands.

Dr. Hakeem Onasanya, head of Startups at Lagos Innovates, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund called on the government to take responsibility for educational reform, noting that many banks are establishing their own training programs, raising concerns about the efficacy of traditional university education.

Dr. Onasanya emphasized the widening disconnect between academia and industry, noting that this issue has become increasingly complex over the years.

He advocated for integrating industry insights into academia, emphasizing that academic institutions can be overly protective and often prioritize formal qualifications like PhDs over practical experience.

Dr. Onasanya pointed out that this focus does not necessarily lead to better teaching outcomes. To address this, he urged universities to invite industry experts as adjunct lecturers, enabling students to better understand how theoretical concepts apply in real-world contexts.

This approach helps learners grasp textbook material while also acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their future careers.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide students with a well-rounded education that effectively prepares them for the demands of the industry. He urged for proactive solutions, suggesting that partnerships between universities and the private sector could provide students with real industry experiences.

Adewale Adeyemi, Head of Business Development at Tek Experts, underscored the urgent need to update educational curricula to reflect rapid technological advancements.

Wale Owoeye, CEO of Cedarview Communications, illustrated the gaps between academia and industry by likening them to two cars traveling at the same speed; a gap forms when one accelerates or decelerates.

Reflecting on his experience in San Francisco, Owoeye recounted sharing a hostel with a young Chinese professional who had learned machine learning during his college years, contrasting that with the current situation for African professionals.

He expressed concern about the widening gap between them and their global counterparts, emphasizing the need to equip the current generation to avoid the pitfalls faced by their predecessors.

The conference shed light on the critical need for educational reforms that align closely with industry demands, ensuring the next generation is adequately prepared for the evolving tech landscape in Africa.

He received this prestigious recognition at the recent “50 Most Valuable Personalities in Nigeria’s Digital Economy” event held in Lagos.

Organised by IT Edge News Africa, the event brought together key stakeholders from various sectors, including prominent industry associations such as the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and the Association of Licensed Data Protection Organisations of Nigeria (ALDAPCON).

Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Ike Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty Nigeria, and Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, a distinguished scholar and politician, delivered keynote presentations.

Olatunji emphasized the crucial role of data protection in the digital economy, while Yilwatda outlined essential steps for Nigeria to maximize opportunities in the digital economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Nnamani, whose presentation focused on the “Myths and Realities of the Nigerian Digital Economy,” underscored the accelerated digitization of both consumer and enterprise sectors in Nigeria, driving demand for digital skills and data center capacity.

Gathering recognizes Owoeye’s exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s digital economy

The gathering recognized Owoeye’s exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s digital economy. With a remarkable career in Nigeria’s ICT/telecoms sector, Wale Owoeye has successfully steered Cedarview Communications to expand its presence to Port Harcourt and Abuja, offering a wide range of Value Added Services (VAS) in the telecoms market.

Cedarview has also established strategic alliances in Asia, Europe, and the US to facilitate growth in its operational areas.

Additionally, Owoeye serves as the VAS Coordinator for the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), further solidifying his impact on Nigeria’s digital economy.

Published since 2009, IT Edge News Africa is one of Africa’s leading technology and business publications.