In what was tagged Cyber Africa at 10 Forum/Cyber Africa Digital Economy Awards, the management of Cyber Africa, one of African converged legacy Information and Technology news platform, last week in Lagos celebrated digital innovations across all sectors of the African continent.
The event was called together by the organizer to celebrate the huge digital transformation that has taken place across Africa, where virtually every sector of the economy is being driven by digital tools.
Thus, many organisations and individuals, who are transforming Africa in their own class in the areas of cyber security, eGovernance, startups, innovation, policy, infrastructure, finance and administration were singled out for honour.
Among those honoured are Precise Financial Systems Limited as Outstanding Indigenous Financial Software Company; Phase3 Telecoms as Best Fiber Optic Infrastructure Service Provider; Medallion Data Centres Limited as Outstanding Data Centre Service Provider; Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited as Excellence in Digital Economy Development Strategy and Galaxy Backbone Limited as Outstanding Public Digital Infrastructure Service Provider.
Others are Tranter IT Infrastructure Services Limited as Excellence in IOT Innovation; AVM Consults Limited as Best Enterprise Architecture Provider and Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) as Excellence in Domestication of Data Traffic.
Individuals, who were honored include Biyi Fashoyin, who was given Outstanding Industry Service Award; Prince Osuagwu who received Media Excellence in Digital Economy Reportage (Print Media); Shina Badaru, who received Outstanding Industry Service Award and Ken Nwogbo, who received Media Excellence in Promotion of Digital Impact.
Others in this category are Babajide Kolade- Otitoju as Outstanding Media Researcher; DCP Adegoke Mustapha Ayoade, who received Outstanding Investigative Police Officer; Rock Adote as Outstanding Cyber Security Awareness Advocate and Zeb Ejiro, who received Entertainment Digital Content Icon.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Mal. Kashifu Inuwa was given the Impactful Leadership in Digital Economy.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Editor of Cyber Africa, Mr. Hillary Damissah, said the celebration of Cyber Africa’s 10th anniversary is geared towards the continent and Nigeria’s achievements in digital jobs creation, governance, infrastructure, digital evolution, e-System adoption and a digitally driven economy.
“As we celebrate 10 years of shaping views, reporting issues, influencing policies, setting agenda, today we have also instituted the Cyber Africa Digital Economy Awards to celebrate individuals, institutions, organizations and outstanding contributions to the growth of the industry,” he said.
While calling on the relevant government agencies and apparatus to deliberately and urgently review the nation’s educational curriculum to aggressively cater for the growing demands for new skills set that will drive the Nigeria’s Future nay Africa in the Emerging Technology Ecosystem, Mr. Hillary argued that doing so, will allow Nigeria to continue to have organisations such as Medallion, MainOne and Flutterwave that have attracted huge Foreign Direct Investment and equity from outside the shores of Africa.
Also, of great importance at the event was the recognition of the media for its pioneering role at building, shaping and sustaining the growth of the ICT industry, which has become the poster boy of Nigeria’s economy today.
The Director of Business and Strategy at CECAD, Ms. Mojisola Alabi, highlighted the role of the pioneer media chronicled the story of Cyber Africa, evolving from magazine, TV and then radio and also now online. She presented what she referred to as most priced edition which is the very first edition of the publication and the very latest edition which talked about the Third World War.
The president of CECAD, Dr. Bayero Agabi spoke briefly about the essence of the award and its evolution from African information society merit award in 2009 to Cyber Africa Digital Economy Award, which he noted is in line with the industry evolution and development.
Cyber Africa is published by the Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD), a non for profit and non-governmental organization with focus for promoting cyber responsibility through advocacy, training and innovation.
