Task was among the 42 awardees from a pool of over 4,000 contenders across 100 countries at a ceremony in San Francisco, California. This achievement marks a significant milestone.

More than just a corporate accolade, the award serves as a powerful rebranding moment for the nation, signalling to the global community that Nigeria remains a credible and promising frontier for world-class innovation and strategic investment.

This honour, bestowed annually by Microsoft, celebrates partners who are revolutionizing their industries through groundbreaking solutions, customer-centric innovation, and measurable business impact. Winning in this highly competitive category is no small feat; it is a testament to almost four decades of resilience, ingenuity, and leadership, qualities deeply embedded in Task Systems’ DNA.

Task Systems, an ICT powerhouse and one of the flagship companies founded by serial entrepreneur Leo Stan Ekeh under the Zinox Group, is not new to trailblazing. Founded 38 years ago, Task Systems quickly evolved into the silent engine room powering Nigeria’s largest corporations.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, long before digital infrastructure became a buzzword, Task deployed over 257 highly trained ICT professionals to major conglomerates including Shell, Chevron, Total Plc, and others, ensuring uninterrupted operations at a time when technical expertise was scarce.

Task Systems designed the first-generation enterprise IT architectures in Nigeria, built some of the earliest digital systems for banks and media houses, and has earned a reputation as the go-to systems integrator for mission-critical ICT deployments.

It is no wonder the company has accumulated over 27 global awards, and the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award now becomes another jewel in a crown built on years of trust, innovation, and performance.

The company’s recent rise is inseparable from the visionary leadership of Mrs. Gozy Ijogun, its dynamic CEO whose strategic acumen continues to reposition Task Systems for continental dominance.

Mrs. Ijogun, a scholar of global repute, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from University College London (UCL), and Master of Science degree in Accounting, Organizations, and Institutions from the London School of Economics (LSE)

Her track record speaks volumes. Long before she took the helm at Task Systems, she altered Nigeria’s digital trajectory by launching TD-Mobile, the country’s first structured mobile devices distribution company, a move that reshaped the market and improved nationwide access to smart devices.

On April 1st, 2023, she was appointed CEO of Task Systems Ltd with a bold mandate: transform the company into Africa’s leading technology powerhouse.

Under her leadership, Task Systems has accelerated innovation, strengthened global partnerships, and deepened its digital solutions footprint across industries.

In line with its reputation for excellence, Task Systems recently secured three globally recognized certifications: ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management Systems); ISO/IEC 22301 (Business Continuity Management); SOC 2 Audit Compliance.

These certifications reinforce the company’s commitment to security, reliability, risk management, and operational discipline, standards that global enterprises demand and Task Systems consistently delivers.

Speaking on the award, Mrs Ijogun expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the partners who have been instrumental to Task Systems’ journey:

“This recognition belongs to every partner who trusted our vision. Our gratitude goes to FGN, Access Bank, CBN, MTN, Dangote Group, Fidelity, Zenith, Sterling, GTCO, Stanbic IBTC, Keystone Bank, NLNG, Chi, Bank of Ghana, the Electricity Company Ghana, and many others who continue to walk this path with us. Their belief in our capability to provide innovative solutions has helped shape Task Systems into the global-standard technology company it is today. We are deeply grateful.”

She emphasized that this achievement will further deepen Task’s commitment to delivering transformative solutions that accelerate innovation across Africa.

Winning the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award is not merely about technical competence, it is about impact. It recognizes partners who transform businesses, support digital growth, deliver measurable value, redefine customer experience, and demonstrate unmatched innovation.

From cloud transformation to enterprise solutions, cybersecurity frameworks, and digital workplace modernization, the company has consistently proven that world-class solutions can indeed come from African soil.

This award signals one thing clearly: Task Systems is not just participating in Africa’s digital revolution; it is leading it.

With its decades-long track record as a trusted systems integrator serving Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, Task Systems continues to combine local insight with global expertise. Its commitment to empowering organizations through technology remains unwavering.

From pioneering ICT deployment in Nigeria’s biggest corporations to enabling today’s AI-driven enterprises, Task Systems embodies a culture where innovation meets reliability, where ambition meets execution.

As Task Systems celebrates this milestone, the message is unmistakable: the company is not done; it is only getting started.

Under Gozy Ijogun’s leadership, with Microsoft as a strategic partner, and with a team driven by excellence, Task Systems is setting the pace for the next chapter in Africa’s digital economy.

The acquisition process, which lasted over a year, was initially rejected by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in October 2024 for not meeting regulatory requirements.

However, after securing the necessary approvals, Renaissance was able to finalize the transaction.

Aradel Holdings Plc, one of the consortium members, confirmed the deal’s completion. Renaissance is a consortium comprising Aradel Holdings Plc, ND Western Limited, FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited, the Waltersmith Group, and international energy company Petrolin.

Commenting on the achievement, Adegbite Falade, chief executive officer of Aradel Holdings described it as a huge one for Nigeria’s energy sector:

“This is a landmark moment for Nigeria’s energy sector and heralds a new era for local participation. It highlights the vital role that indigenous energy companies play in Nigeria’s industrialization and development. As the leading integrated indigenous energy company in Nigeria with a proven track record of twenty (20) years, we remain dedicated to upholding global standards and maintaining operational excellence.”

The CEO also appreciated the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri; General Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and the CEO of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), for their contribution to the success of the Renaissance Africa Energy acquisition of the Shell assets.

The visit, aimed at establishing a robust partnership, highlights Seplat’s commitment to equipping its workforce with cutting-edge technology solutions.

The Seplat team, led by Iniabasi Ekpo, IT Site Lead, and Oyebola Chukwunyem, IT Customer Experience Lead, was warmly received by Kelechi Eze-Okonta, managing director of Zinox Technologies, and her team.

During the visit, the Seplat delegation toured Zinox’s state-of-the-art facility, gaining firsthand insight into the company’s innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology offerings.

At the heart of this visit is Seplat’s objective to provide its workforce with high-performance laptops, desktops, and other technological devices designed specifically for performance, security, and efficiency.

This initiative aligns with Seplat’s ongoing efforts to maintain operational excellence in Nigeria’s competitive energy sector.

For over two decades, Zinox Technologies has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital transformation. As an indigenous IT powerhouse, Zinox has consistently delivered cutting-edge technology solutions tailored to the unique needs of businesses, government agencies, and multinational corporations. Needless to say, it emerged as a natural choice for this collaboration.

Zinox’s reputation as a technology titan is well-established. It has successfully partnered with global energy giants, including Chevron, Shell, and NLNG.

These collaborations have empowered major energy corporations with secure, high-performance computing solutions, reinforcing Nigeria’s ability to compete in the global digital economy.

“We are excited about the partnership with Seplat Energy,” said Kelechi Eze-Okonta, managing director of Zinox Technologies. “This collaboration represents the coming together of two industry leaders committed to driving technological advancement in Nigeria. At Zinox, we understand the unique technological needs of the energy sector, and we are positioned to deliver solutions that will enhance Seplat’s operational capabilities.”

With Seplat’s investment in Zinox’s high-end computing solutions, the future of Nigeria’s technology independence looks even brighter. This partnership is a testament to the fact that world-class technology can also be built here in Nigeria.

As more corporations follow in Seplat’s footsteps, Nigeria is well on its way to becoming a self-reliant technology powerhouse, driven by indigenous innovation, cutting-edge solutions, and a commitment to excellence on a global scale.

He succeeds Mrs Nkem Oni-Egboma, the outgoing CFO, who is stepping down to explore new opportunities outside of 9mobile.

Idowu’s appointment is part of a significant leadership change initiated by the board of the telco in its determined efforts at business transformation which has so far seen the appointment of a new CEO to drive this process.

Idowu joins 9mobile with over 20 years of experience having led finance transformation and delivering ambitious growth for global giants, such as Vodafone, Telefonica O2, MTN Nigeria, Starcomms PLC, Shell, Barclays, PepsiCo International, British Gas, Johnson & Johnson, Norgine Pharmaceutical and Vivo Energy.

He has held senior positions in various organizations across Europe and Africa raising finance, transforming organizations, championing growth, delivering significant cost saving and efficiency, optimizing asset utilization, reorganizing and streamlining companies, and preparing entities for new markets.

His work has seen him traverse several markets including the United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Belgium, and the UAE

In his comments on the new CFO appointment, Obafemi Banigbe, 9mobile’s CEO said, Idowu is a valuable addition to the high-performance team we are building at 9mobile, with his cross-sector experience and the diverse working backgrounds and experiences.

He brings valuable perspectives and skill sets that can drive strategic financial decision-making, foster innovation, and enhance risk management.

He continued, “I am looking forward to working with him to accelerate delivery on the exciting 9mobile transformation strategy. Idowu has a proven track record and experience in helping to lead high-performance organizations that improve business resilience, drive operational excellence, and deliver accelerated strategic growth.”

Speaking on his appointment, Idowu pledged to leverage his rich experience to impact the finance and operations of the company positively. “I am very excited to be a part of this new phase of business transformation. I look forward to working closely with the management team led by the CEO, staff, and other stakeholders and collaborating with the board to achieve our shared goals,” he said.

As Chief Financial Officer, Idowu will provide strategic leadership for the Finance team, and take ownership of financial decisions in line with current trends and EMTS strategic vision.

Idowu holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and has a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious Manchester Business School. He is a Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA), a Certified Financial Analyst (FMVA), and a Certified Business Coach.

He is a guest on many radio and television programmes and speaks on many stages in Europe & Africa.

Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, has been ranked among an exclusive list of 25 companies rated as the best place to work in Nigeria for 2023.

The list, released by professional networking platform, LinkedIn, saw the Konga Group placed in rarefied company with the likes of Ernst & Young, MTN Nigeria and Sterling Bank, among others.

In arriving at the list of companies that made the list, LinkedIn disclosed that it had relied on eight criteria that have been shown to lead to career progression, which include: ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity, educational background and employee presence in the country.

Equally important, it had revealed that the selected companies all stood out for offering their employees the right environment to grow their careers.

Furthermore, LinkedIn said the methodology factored in key components like how employees are advancing both within a company and when they leave, how they are upskilling while employed there and more, which reveal companies that help set people up to get ahead in their careers. Crucially, it had also considered factors like attrition and layoffs.

“Companies that have laid off 10% or more of their workforce between Jan. 1, 2022, and the list launch, based on public announcements — or that have attrition greater than 10%, based on LinkedIn data — are ineligible to rank,” it said.

The development comes against a backdrop of significant headcount actions among global tech companies and other top brands, with the likes of Google, Meta (Facebook), Amazon, Microsoft, Accenture, Twitter, Netflix, Shopify, Lyft, Apple, Tesla and Zoom, among others, laying off thousands in the face of uncertain economic conditions.

A leader in the Nigerian e-commerce space, Konga was identified by LinkedIn as a company offering a wide range of products, including electronics, fashion, beauty and personal care, home and kitchen appliances, and more.

Acquired by the Zinox Group in early 2018, Konga has risen to the pinnacle of the e-commerce space, carving a niche for itself with its customer-centric approach, pocket-friendly pricing, status as a reliable source of genuine products and its growing ecosystem of thriving verticals which include KongaPay, a CBN-licensed mobile money wallet, Konga Travels & Tours, an online travel booking agency and Konga Health, a digital healthcare distribution company, among several others.

The company has also received regular rave reviews from shoppers and industry experts alike, with the most recent coming via a consumer-focused survey which projected Konga as the most admired and innovative e-commerce company on the African continent.

The survey was published on March 15, 2023, coinciding with this year’s anniversary of the World Consumer Rights Day.

In addition to Konga, other companies ranked in the 2023 LinkedIn report include Interswitch Group, First Bank of Nigeria, Standard Chartered Bank, NNPC Limited, Eko Electricity Distribution, British American Tobacco (BAT), Ikeja Electric, Nestlé, ExxonMobil, AB InBev, UBA Group, IHS Towers, SLB, Halliburton, Shell, TotalEnergies, Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, Huawei, Wema Bank, Deutsche Post DHL Group and 9mobile.

According to a recent study, Shell (LSE: SHEL) is Nigeria’s most searched UK stock, with over 670 monthly searches.

There are over an estimated 4,700 monthly searches for UK stocks in Nigeria.

The study, by UK financial services provider CMC Markets, analysed Google search data for over 250 top UK stocks in the most populated countries and found that Shell, Ashtead and GlobalData were the top three searches in Nigeria.

One in five Nigeria-based searches for UK stocks is for oil and gas companies, twice greater than the global average of one in 12.

Oil and gas company Shell, which recently announced record profits of $40 billion, is the most popular stock in Nigeria, with 670 monthly searches. Searches for Shell make up over 1 in 50 average monthly global searches for UK stocks.

Shell announced record-breaking profits last week as fuel prices soar amid a cost of living crisis driven by several global and domestic factors.

Industrial equipment company Ashtead is the second most Googled UK stock in Nigeria, receiving over 500 monthly searches.

Data analytics company GlobalData (LSE: DATA) is Nigeria’s second most Googled UK stock. The majority of searches are to buy DATA stock.

BP, which recently announced record profits of $28 billion, is the fourth most popular UK stock in Nigeria with over 350 monthly searches.

The multinational oil and gas company is the most searched globally, including countries such as Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Iraq, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Turkey, and Vietnam.

BP (LSE: BP) is also the most popular in the United Kingdom and the United States and has the highest monthly search volume out of any UK stock, over 994,000. Search volume is primarily driven by the United Kingdom and the United States traffic, making up nearly nine in ten (88%) global searches for BP stock.

Anglo American (LSE: AAL), a mining company, is Nigeria’s fifth most searched UK stock. The country has an estimated 230 monthly searches for Anglo American stock.

The study reveals over 4,700 estimated monthly searches for UK stocks in Nigeria.

A spokesman from CMC Markets commented:

“There are over 16.6 million estimated monthly searches for UK stocks worldwide, with just over one in four searches coming from outside the UK.

These findings highlight Shell’s global reach and popularity as a publicly traded company. The high search volume for these stocks indicates strong consumer interest in oil and gas companies and their financial performance.

It is also worth noting that the average monthly search volume for these stocks indicates consumer sentiment toward the stock. Investors should take note of the high search volume for the top five stocks in Nigeria, as this may indicate strong potential for growth in these companies.

The study provides valuable insight into consumer sentiment toward UK stocks internationally. The findings of the study can help investors make more informed decisions when it comes to investing in UK stocks”.

This study was conducted by CMC Markets, a UK-based financial services company that offers online trading in shares, spread betting, contracts for difference and foreign exchange across world markets.

World Bank data suggests more than 230 million jobs in Africa will require digital skills by the end of the decade, while a recent IFC report found that demand for digital skills will grow faster in Africa than in other global markets.

In Nigeria’s highly competitive oil and gas sector, a partnership between one of the largest oil and gas exploration and production companies and SAP on its Young Professionals Program is producing a steady supply of work-ready digital skills that can support vital digital transformation efforts.

“As a business, we are deeply committed to sustainable development and actively support development within our communities,” says Adeolu Okanlawon, ERP Product Manager at SDPC. “Partnership with SAP on Young Professionals Program contributes to our sustainable development program and helps fulfil our corporate agenda to develop local capability for the oil and gas industry and beyond.”

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) is the pioneer and leader of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. It has the largest acreage in the country from which it produces some 39 per cent of the nation’s oil.

“We learnt about the program through active partnership with SAP that plays a vital role in providing technology support needed for our business to run optimally,” says Okanlawon. “Since 2018, twenty graduates from the Young Professionals Program have been offered industrial placement in Shell companies in Nigeria to support our digital transformation activities and drive attainment of intelligent enterprise capabilities.”

The SAP Young Professionals Program is a two-to-three months enablement opportunity for recent university graduates that teaches technical and functional knowledge of key SAP technologies.

The program includes training aimed at developing soft skills to ease the graduates’ integration into their workplaces. Successful candidates graduate as SAP Associate Consultants and are placed within key SAP partner and customer businesses, where they have the opportunity to make an immediate positive contribution.

“It’s really a good program that SPDC would love to see sustained,” adds Adeolu Okanlawon. “It provides a welcome short cut for developing highly skilled SAP consultants that positively contribute to the SAP ecosystem and help establish a vibrant network of skilled SAP experts across Nigeria. A standout is how the program imbue graduates with business-relevant skills above academic work, making entry into the workplace much easier.”

Pedro Guerreiro, managing director for Central Africa at SAP, adds: “Shell is a key customer for SAP in Nigeria and one of the leaders in deploying SAP technologies to improve operations, drive innovation and build greater long-term sustainability. By partnering with the Shell team and providing a steady stream of trained SAP consultants, we help ensure Shell gains maximum benefit from their SAP deployment and can realise its ambitions of becoming an intelligent enterprise whilst helping young African talents to thrive in the Digital Era.”