Tag: NITMA

NCS Increases NITMA Categories, Sets Date for 2024 Edition
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has added two categories to its flagship National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA), Techeconomy can report.

The two categories are; “Tech Mentor of the Year” and “Cybersecurity Advocate of the Year”.

This was disclosed by Dr Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, president of NCS during a press conference on Tuesday towards the annual NITMA award.

NCS remains the foremost IT professional association in Nigeria and African largest IT Society.

Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, president, Nigeria Computer Society – NCS

The Society has been the voice of Information Technology professionals for the past four decades now.

Presently with over 20,000 members spread across all sectors of the economy, NCS continues to expand and grow in might and relevance.

Dr. Aliyu said that the National Executive Council (NEC) under his leadership is determined to be strategic, innovative, and forward-looking in the running of the affairs of our great society.

“I want to assure you that we have made NCS the only platform for promoting IT development and enhancing corporate relevance.

“Together we shall move the Information Technology profession to desirable heights in Nigeria.

“As the acknowledged professional authority advocating the development of an inclusive, globally competitive, prosperous, and knowledge-based Nigeria, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) annually recognizes, celebrates, and rewards outstanding excellence and contributions of individuals, state governments and institutions, in the acceleration of IT development in Nigeria and the Diaspora through a unique national platform –National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA)”, he said.

The 2024 National Information Technology Merit Awards has been slated for 21^st November, 2024 at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The highlights of the awards to be presented at the 2024 National Information Technology Merit Awards are:
- IT Personality of the Year
- Digital Governor of the Year
- IT Gold Medal Award
- Youth Innovation Award
- IT Company of the Year
- Tech Mentor of the Year
- Cybersecurity Advocate of the Year
- Recognition Awards
“The awards recognize outstanding governors and individuals that are making enormous investments in Information Technology. Many nominations were received for the award categories which will be reviewed by the screening committee following some led down guidelines.

“I wish to state that NCS as an objective Society allows the selection process to be IT driven by opinion poll through online voting. The Planning Committee would only collate polls and put forth the order of scores and announce the winners in each category.

“The NITMA will also witness the conferment of the most prestigious Professional Fellowship on deserving members of NCS who are recognized as authorities and have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the growth of Information Technology. Honourary Fellowship will also be conferred on some individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary service and commitment to IT growth in Nigeria”, the NCS president said.

Commenting, Mrs. Shulammite Ayobami Ilebiyi, chair, Publicity, Events and Trades Services Committee, said the newly introduced categories for NITMA followed thought-out procedures to reflect the changing trends in the IT sector.

According to her, the committee observed that mentorship is key in the It sector hence the potential pioneer winner would be one who ticked all the boxes in view of the criteria set out by the committee.

How to nominate

You can nominate via your choice IT personalities and organisations using the link here.
November 6, 2024
NCS Announces Date, Nominees for NITMA 2023
The 2023 National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) has been slated for 23rd November, 2023 at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, Techeconomy can report.

Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, the president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), speaking during a press brief at the secretariate today, in Lagos, said that NITMA, a flagship event of NCS, the award will also witness the conferment of the most prestigious Professional Fellowship on deserving members of NCS who are recognized as authorities and have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the growth of Information Technology.

“Honourary Fellowship will also be conferred on some individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary service and commitment to IT growth in Nigeria”.

Dr. Aliyu said that the Society remains the foremost and number one IT professional association in Nigeria and African largest IT Society.

“NCS has been the voice of Information Technology professionals for the past four decades now.

“Presently with over 20,000 members spread across all sectors of the economy, NCS continues to expand and grow in might and relevance. The National Executive Council (NEC) under my leadership is determined to be strategic, innovative, and forward-looking in the running of the affairs of our great society. I want to assure you that we have made NCS the only platform for promoting IT development and enhancing corporate relevance. Together we shall move the Information Technology profession to desirable heights in Nigeria”, he said.

The President gave highlights of the awards to be presented at the 2023 National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) as follows:

Digital Governor of the Year Award:

“With this award, NCS wishes to recognize outstanding governors that are making enormous investments in Information Technology. Many nominations were received for this category, after review by the screening committee following some led down guidelines, the following governors were selected to compete for the award.
- His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, Executive Governor of Edo State
- His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, Executive Governor of Kaduna State
NITMA 2023

IT Personality of the Year Award

“This award is for distinguished personalities, who have been adjudged to be champions in the field of Information Technology.

The award has the following as nominees.
- Tunji Gafaar, MD/CEO, Digital Communications Konsult (DCK)
- Markie Idowu, GMD/CEO, Xpress Payment Solutions Ltd
- Robinson Sibe, Co-Founder, Digital Footprints Nig. Ltd
IT Gold Merit of the Year Award

“This award was introduced in 2021. The award is known as the President’s award. It is a special award to a particular individual that deploys IT in economic strategy, workforce development, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, talent attraction & retention and advancement of Information Technology for the development Nigeria and its citizenry”.

Other Awards are:
- IT Company of the Year
- Technology Innovation Award
- Youth Innovator of the Year
He added that NCS as an objective Society allows the selection process to be IT driven by opinion poll through online voting.

“The Planning Committee would only collate polls and put forth the order of scores and announce the winners in each category”.
November 20, 2023
John Obaro, SystemSpecs’ GMD, Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Mr. John Tani Obaro, a well-respected leader in the global financial technology space and the Group Managing Director (GMD), SystemSpecs Holdings, was bestowed the “Lifetime Achievement Special Award” at the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Awards for his decades of outstanding stewardship and selfless contribution to the development of ICT space in Africa.

The event was held on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This follows a similar development two weeks prior, when Mr Obaro also received a “Special Recognition Award” at the Nigeria Fintech Awards for his pioneering leadership in the development of the fintech ecosystem in Nigeria.

A distinguished alumnus of the Ahmadu Bello University, University of Lagos, and the Chief Executive Program (CEP3) of Lagos Business School, John Obaro founded Systemspecs Limited 30 years ago. In the last decade, SystemSpecs has become a trailblazer in the Nigerian e-Payment space with its Remita solution, which enables efficient and easy payments and collections of funds for Individuals and corporates. Other leading solutions from SystemSpecs include HumanManager, an indigenous HR management and payroll solution, and FundACause, a solution developed to address the unique challenges of raising funds, amongst others.

In expressing his appreciation to the organisers of the awards, Mr John Obaro said: “My heartfelt gratitude goes to the organisers of the CIO Awards for the Lifetime Achievement Special Award. I am excited to see that our work is appreciated.

Three decades ago, we started SystemSpecs with the vision of being the software institution of reference in Africa, and so far, the journey has been fruitful.

In collaborating with other stakeholders in the industry, we have been able to accelerate our output and increase our value to customers by offering them simplified and innovative software solutions. Be assured that we will not rest on our oars.”

Obaro is a fellow of the Centre for African Policy Development and Research, Glasgow, Scotland; a fellow of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS); an ex-member of the Governing Council of Computers Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) – the highest industry practice regulatory body; and past 1st Vice President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

Known in many circles as ‘The Consummate Innovator’, John Obaro has previously been recognised with the honour of Leadership in Technology at the 2016 African Achievement Awards in Scotland; Nigeria’s IT Personality of the Year; Software Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Communication Week’s Beacon of Information and Communications Technology (BoICT) Awards; Engineer Simeon Agu Prize for Best Software Entrepreneur at the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA); in addition to other numerous indigenous and international awards over the years.

Photos:

L-r: John Obaro, Founder, SystemSpecs Limited; Mrs. Abiola Laseinde, Convener, The Chief Information Officer (CIO) Awards; Aliyu Aziz, Director General, NIMC, representing Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim, Chairman of the Occasion; Mrs. Juliet Ehimuan, Director, Google, West Africa; and Ade Bajomo, ED, IT & Operations, Access Bank, at The CIO Awards held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

L-R: John Obaro, Founder, SystemSpecs Limited; Mrs. Abiola Laseinde, Convener, The Chief Information Officer (CIO) Awards; Engr Aliyu Aziz, Director General, NIMC, representing Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim, Chairman of the Occasion; and Mrs. Juliet Ehimuan, Director, Google, West Africa, at The CIO Awards held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

John Obaro, Founder, SystemSpecs Limited (L); and Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO, Open Access Data Centres, at the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Awards held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

December 2, 2022
NCS Confers Professional Fellowships on 41 Members, others at NITMA 2022

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has conferred professional fellowship awards on forty-one (41) of its outstanding members, including other categories of awards to deserving Nigerians, at the 2022 National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA), which held in Lagos at the weekend.

NCS is the umbrella body of all Information Technology (IT) professionals in Nigeria.

In his opening address, Prof. Adesina Simon Sodiya, the President of NCS, said: “NCS, through NITMA event, recognises and celebrates excellence and commitment in Information technology (IT) profession.

Prof. Adesina Simon Sodiya, the President of NCS, speaking at NITMA 2022

“The advocacy efforts of NCS, which is geared towards achieving sustainable development in Nigeria, will not be complete without recognising excellence and exceptional professionals who have made significant impact in the industry. Those conferred with different categories of awards, have been carefully selected and unanimously voted for because they deserve it.”

Mr. Muhammad Nami, the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and Chairman, Joint Tax Board (JTB), who was represented by a principal officer of FIRS, said: “The profession of the future is Information Technology, and FIRS has leveraged technology to generate over N7.5 trillion for government in the last few years.”

He encouraged other government agencies to make better use of the opportunities that technology offers.

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who spoke through video conferencing, said Information Technology has contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria as a nation, through various government policy implementations.

He said Nigeria could achieve economy prosperity and become a developed nation, if the country can use technology to develop its citizens.

He assured NCS of NITDA’s collaboration to further enhance economic growth and job creation for Nigerians.

Other categories of awards that were conferred on Nigerians, who have developed the technology space, include the Digital Governor of the Year award that was keenly contested by four nominees: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, won the governor’s award.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu Emerges NITMA 2022 IT Governor of the Year

The IT Personality of the Year Award that was also keenly contested by the CEO of MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke; the Managing Director of Comercio Cloud Computing, Mrs. Aderonke Adeyegbe and the Chief Technology Officer at First Bank, Mr. Adewale Salami, was won by Funke Opeke of MainOne.

Sodiya, who also announced the beneficiaries of the 2022 NCS-Jim Ovia Scholarship Awards, said 35 students had been selected for this year’s award.

“The Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, has been funding NCS scholarship programme since 2015. The scholarship recipients have been promised of automatic employment in any of Jim Ovia’s organisations, provided such beneficiaries graduate with a minimum of second-class upper division in their courses of study,” Sodiya said.

Here are some photographs from NITMA 2022:

NITMA 2022 Photo Credit: Nigeria Computer Society

November 30, 2022
Babajide Sanwo-Olu Emerges NITMA 2022 IT Governor of the Year

Funke Opeke, the MainOne CEO emerged the NITMA Information Technology (IT) Personality of the year

======

Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, has emerged the Information Technology (IT) Governor of the year, at the 2022 Nigeria IT Merit Awards (NITMA).

Similarly, Ms Funke Opeke, the CEO of MainOne, an Equinix company, has been crowned the IT Personality of the year.

Funke Opeke

Their emergence was sequel to the 2022 NITMA hosted by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) at the Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Center, Onikan Lagos on Thursday with creme dele creme of IT industry in attendance.

Ms Opeke was represented at the occasion by Mrs Bamidele Olamiju Bayo-Osibo, the President of Nigeria Women in IT.

Also, the Bluechip Technologies Limited grabbed the IT company of the year, while the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) emerged the IT Gold Merit Award in the corporate category.

This is coming as some 55 fellows were inducted, which is the highest since NCS transform in 2002 from the Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) at foundation in 1978.

According to the President, Prof. Adesina Simon Sodiya, NCS is the national platform for the advancement of Information Technology, science and practice in Nigeria and promises to strive for a greater height.

Another award category, he said the youth innovation award, which was meant for distiguished start-up that has created novel IT product, process and or service.

November 25, 2022
NITMA2022: Nigeria Computer Society to Confer Fellowships on 55 Nigerians

The 2022 edition of the Nigerian Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) is set to conferred fellowship on 55 worthy Nigerians.

NITMA is a flagship event organized by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in recognition of outstanding Nigerians in the Information Technology (IT) industry.

President, NCS, Professor Adesina Sodiya, revealed this at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, said the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu would chair the 2022 NITMA edition slated for November 24 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan-Lagos.

He also said that 50 of the fellowships would be conferred on professionals who are equally members of NCS but have distinguished themselves in the industry to become fellows.

The other five, Prof. Sodiya said, would be drawn from various sectors of the economy of individuals who have shown remarkable contributions to the nation.

He listed them to include the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr, Muhammed Nami; Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Dapo Abiodun; Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr.Prof. M.M.S Haruna; the Managing Director of Alpha Beta, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Sunday Thomas.

In addition, there would be recognition for the Digital Governor of the Year and some governors have been nominated as at the time of going to the press to include the Lagos State governor, Sanwo-Olu, and his counterparts from Rivers, Enugu and Kaduna.

On the IT Personality of the year, he said, there are three women battling for that category alongside the Presidential IT Merit Award, IT Company of the year, and Youth Innovative Award to name a few.

The Local Organising Committee chairperson for 2022 NITMA and chairperson Publicity at NCC, Mrs. Margaret John David further revealed the introduction of the NITMA Queen, anticipated to give a promotional boost to NITMA and market NCS activities.

ALSO READ: British Computer Society to Strengthen Ties with NCS

Prof. Sodiya and Mrs. John David were joined at the hybrid press conference by the visiting International Director of the British Computer Society (BCS), Mr. Stephen Tweed, Head, IT Resources at Access Bank, Mr. Richard Amanfonye, chairman, Research and Innovation Development, Dr. Olusoji Okunoye and Dr. Doyin Talabi as well as the Executive Secretary of NCS, Mr. Adesegun Adekunle among others.

NITMA 2022 IT Personality & IT Company of the Year:
Voting Starts: Monday, October 31, 2022
Vote Ends: Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Click here to vote.

NITMA 2022 Highlights:
– Fellowship Conferment
– Digital Governor of the Year
– IT Personality of the Year
– IT Company of the Year
– IT Gold Merit Award
– Youth Innovation Award

Seat Reservation can be done here.

November 18, 2022

Translate »