Recalling a similar event last year at NCS SmartEco 2024 where Prof. Stella Chiemeke awarded a cash prize to Michael Edafe for innovative research on Type II Diabetes.

‎ConNovate 2025 was a platform for showcasing cutting-edge innovations in intelligent, secure, and sustainable technologies for a connected world.

The conference brought together researchers, academics, and industry professionals to share insights and advancements in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and more under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, NCS President.

Prof. Adebukola Onashoga, chairman of the Conferences Committee, conveyed the Doctoral Consortium to encourage upcoming research students and supervisors.

Dr. Vivian Nwaocha, served as the Coordinator.

‎This year’s Doctoral Consortium at ConNovate 2025 showcased cutting-edge research in AI-driven disease prediction, cloud task optimization, and explainable malware detection.

Mr. Michael Onoja from Comenius University, Bratislava in Slovakia emerged the winner among all research presenters.

His research topic was “Explainable Malware Detection through Ontology Integration,” under the supervision of Dr. Martin Homola.

Gift Adene was the first runner-up, and Evaristus C. Nwoke was the second runner-up. The ₦1 million naira was distributed to these scholars.

The theme, “Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for a Connected World,” was not just a slogan, it became a call to action.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Kashifu Inuwa, the director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Engr. Salisu Kaka painted a vivid picture of the country’s next frontier.

The DG’s message was clear: Nigeria’s digital transformation must stand on three pillars, intelligence, security, and sustainability.

“In Nigeria, trust is the ultimate currency in our high-stakes digital environment, where scams and cybercrime are prevalent. Security builds and protects this trust,” Inuwa said, warning that “innovation without security is unsustainable, like a high-performance race car without brakes.”

The Case for Convergence

Inuwa highlighted how the world’s most digitally advanced societies weave these elements together. Citing Estonia’s X-Road platform, which powers 99% of government services online, he urged Nigeria to embrace a similar convergence of intelligence and security to unlock opportunities.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data analytics, he argued, are no longer futuristic buzzwords, they are practical tools for solving Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

From AI-powered wealth management to ML-driven remote diagnostics in healthcare, he challenged startups to move beyond digitising old systems to creating new value.

Building Blocks Already in Motion

The NITDA boss reassured the audience that Nigeria is not starting from scratch. He spotlighted initiatives under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), including:

• The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR)
• The Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT)
• The Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023
• The national digital identity programme and interoperable payments infrastructure
• Human capital programmes such as 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) and Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL)

These, he said, are foundations upon which a secure, intelligent, and sustainable digital economy can thrive.

A Global Conversation

The message from the global stage resonated as well. Antony Wong, President of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), stressed the importance of protecting indigenous knowledge in the age of AI. With Nigeria’s cultural heritage, from medicine to ecology, being digitised, Wong commended Nigeria’s role in the recent WIPO treaty protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge, urging clearer legal frameworks on data ownership.

NCS President Sets the Tone

Welcoming participants, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo, NCS President, described the conference as an interdisciplinary platform where IT professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs can tackle challenges facing sectors such as finance, energy, agriculture, education, and national planning.

“This conference will provide a stage to discuss recent innovations, trends, and solutions for improving technological systems,” Sirajo said.

A Week of Innovation and Recognition

Beyond speeches, CONNOVATE 2025 was designed as a week-long festival of ideas and innovation.

The programme features plenary sessions, a doctoral consortium, youth and entrepreneurship forums, Fellows Forum, IT quiz competitions, and an induction ceremony for new members.

It will climax with the election of new national executives, followed by a dinner and awards night honouring individuals and organisations that have shaped Nigeria’s ICT landscape.

As Nigeria seeks to establish itself as Africa’s digital powerhouse, the tone from Kano is unmistakable: the future must be intelligent, secure, and sustainable, or it will not be at all.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, president of the Society, the 2025 International Conference tagged ‘Technology and Computing, themed ConNovate 2025: Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for Connected World, will take place from August 11th to 14th, 2025, at Kano, Nigeria, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.

He said that the conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to deliberate on social, economic, and technological trends, fostering interdisciplinary solutions for a digitally interconnected world.

Professor Adebukola Onashoga, chairman, Conference Committee at NCS, said that ConNovate 2025 will welcome more than 2,500 IT professionals from within and outside Nigeria.

According to her, the hybrid event will feature lots of capacity building activities ranging from pre-conference workshop, to doctoral consortium.

As emphasized by her, the plenary sessions would feature experts from different works of life; policymakers, researchers, government, professionals in the industry and several others.

She said that 2,500+ delegates are to be hosted, which would include professionals, students, and researchers, Partners and Exhibitors presenting innovative technologies.

Others are; Technical Sessions, Workshops, and Exhibitions to explore emerging technologies; AI and Tech Challenges with attractive prizes to inspire innovation, and Networking Opportunities to forge global partnerships and collaborations.

Some of the guests expected at ConNovate 2025, are, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General, National Identity Management Commission to give keynote address; Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, National Information Technology Development Agency; Dr. Aminu Maida – Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC); Prof. Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju – managing director/CEO, Galaxy backbone; Jane (Amadi Nkechi) Egerton-Idehen- Managing Director NIGCOMSAT Limited; Mr John  Huggins President British Computer Society; Bram Fudzulani- President ICT association of Malawi; Dr. Heloisa Candello – ACM/IBM Brazil; Mr Kola Okunola- federal Inland Revenue Service; Stacey Hines- President Jamaica Computer Society; Dr. Waudo Siganga- President Computer Society Kenya; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari- Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, and Anthony Wong- President, International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP).

Others are Fenibo Fubara- Special Adviser on ICT Rviers State; Alh. Mohammed Tajo Othman – Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation Kano State; Dr. Amadi Chimezie – Imo State Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Gevernment; Dr. Vincent Olatunji- National Commissioner/CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NPDB), Sebastine Nzeadibe- Oracle Vice President (Technology Business).

As aptly emphasized by Prof. Onashoga, the significance of a connected world cannot be overstated.

“Enabled by rapid technological advancements and the internet, our world has become increasingly interconnected. Recognizing this trend, our conference theme focuses on the pivotal role of a connected world in shaping our future.

“The benefits are multifaceted – from enhanced global communication and access to information to groundbreaking collaborations in healthcare, education, and beyond. As we continue to innovate and build upon this interconnectedness, it is imperative that we prioritize intelligence, security, and sustainability as the cornerstone of our progress”, she said.

Nodding in agreement, Dr. Charles Onyeukwu, the deputy president, Nigeria Computer Society, emphasized that bringing together industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and tech enthusiasts, ConNovate 2025 serves as a platform to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and chart new paths for a digitally interconnected future”.

“We are calling on IT professionals to rally around NCS for the betterment of our country. ConNovate 2025 underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in tackling complex problems and highlights the pivotal role of technology in creating a resilient and inclusive global ecosystem”, he added.

On Paper Submissions, Dr. Babatunde Olusoji Okunoye, chairman, Innovation, Research and Development Committee at NCS said the hybrid event will feature 40+ Sessions and Workshops led by industry leaders and top researchers; 300+ Paper Submissions from global participants, showcasing cutting-edge research, and 55+ Partners and Exhibitors presenting innovative technologies.

NCS is the umbrella body for all IT professionals, interest groups, and stakeholders in Nigeria, boasting approximately 20,000 members across the nation’s 36 states.

For participation at ConNovate 2025, check the link HERE.

ConNovate 2025 International Conference

Speaking during press briefing on Thursday at NCS’ secretariat in Lagos, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, president of the Society, announced that the 19th International Conference on Technology and Computing, themed ConNovate 2025: Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for Connected World, will take place from August 11th to 14th, 2025, at Kano, Nigeria, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.

“As Nigeria’s premier IT event and a leading platform in Africa, ConNovate 2025 will be a hybrid event, offering both physical and virtual attendance to ensure global accessibility”, he said.

NCS is the umbrella body for all IT professionals, interest groups, and stakeholders in Nigeria, boasting approximately 20,000 members across the nation’s 36 states.

With specialised groups such as ISPON, ITAN, NiWIIT, ITSSP, AITP, NITPCS, and structural organs including the College of Fellows, Chapters, and NACOS, NCS is dedicated to fostering innovation, professional excellence, and sustainable IT development in Nigeria.

“For the past 47 years, NCS has rotated its conference venues across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

“Following the success of SmartEco 2024 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, we are thrilled to host ConNovate 2025 in Kano, a vibrant economic and cultural hub in Northern Nigeria, known for its contributions to industry and agriculture”, Dr. Aliyu said.

He said that the theme, ‘Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for Connected World,’ is strategically chosen to address the pressing need for advanced technological frameworks that prioritise intelligence, security, and sustainability.

In an era of rapid digital transformation, interconnected systems, and global challenges, ConNovate 2025 aims to foster collaboration among industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and tech enthusiasts to develop resilient, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.

Conference Focus and Sub-Themes 

He said that ConNovate 2025 will provide a dynamic platform to explore innovative approaches to global challenges.

Key sub-themes include:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
• Blockchain and Cryptography
• Sustainable and Green Technologies
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Cloud Computing and Big Data Analytics
• Robotics and Automation
• Smart Cities and Digital Transformation

These topics reflect the critical role of technology in building a connected, secure, and sustainable future.

The conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to deliberate on social, economic, and technological trends, fostering interdisciplinary solutions for a digitally interconnected world.

Elaborating on the conference highlights, Professor Adebukola Onashoga, chairman, Conference Committee at NCS, said that ConNovate 2025 will feature 40+ Sessions and Workshops led by industry leaders and top researchers; 300+ Paper Submissions from global participants, showcasing cutting-edge research; 2,500+ Delegates, including professionals, students, and researchers, and 55+ Partners and Exhibitors presenting innovative technologies

Others are; Technical Sessions, Workshops, and Exhibitions to explore emerging technologies; AI and Tech Challenges with attractive prizes to inspire innovation, and Networking Opportunities to forge global partnerships and collaborations.

(Physical) Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu FNCS – the President; Dr. Charles C. Onyeukwu FNCS – the Deputy President; Prof. Adebukola Onashoga FNCS – hairman, Conference Committee; Dr. Olusoji B. Okunoye FNCS -Chairman, Innovation, Research and Development Committee; Mrs. Shulammite A. Ilebiyi FNCS – Chairman, Publicity Event sand Trades Services Committee; Mr. Segun Adekunle- Executive Secretary

(Online): Dr. Stanley Adiele Okolie – Zonal Coordinator South East; Mrs. Margaret John David- Zonal Coordinator North East; Mr. Tunde Ogunremi – Zonal Coordinator South West, and Dr. Mrs. Olukemi Sade Ayodele – President, Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIIT).