Nigeria’s Elegbe, Musa, others bag 2023 CIO awards

Mr Mitchell Elegbe, Founder, Interswitch, has bagged a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2023 Chief Information Officer(CIO) awards, with other notable Africans winning in other categories.

Mr Idris Musa, General Manager, Information Technology and Assets Integrity, Oando Group, emerged overall winner of the 2023 CIO Awards.

Mrs Abiola Laseinde, Convener, CIO Awards, said at the 4th edition of the CIO awards on Saturday night in Lagos, that the awards aimed to inspire unknown heroes of the Information and Technology (IT) ecosystem.

According to her, celebrating the excellence exhibited by the awardees in their fields of endeavour will inspire younger managers and foster a culture of giving back to the ecosystem.

“As we celebrate the fourth edition of the CIO Awards in Africa and welcome the participation of our fellow African nations, let us remember that this is more than just an awards ceremony.

“This year marks a significant milestone as we expand our horizon from Nigeria to Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal, transcending borders and boundaries to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of tech leaders and visionaries from across the continent of Africa.

“It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of innovation, collaboration, and progress that defines our continent region.

“Together, we can continue to push the boundaries of technology, drive economic growth, and inspire future generations to reach even greater heights in the world,” she said.

Laseinde advocated a balanced approach to foster innovation in technology while maintaining cybersecurity and data privacy.

She said implementing robust cybersecurity protocols, continuous training, adopting encryption techniques, and leveraging secure development practices were essential.

She urged aspiring tech leaders to prioritise continuous learning, staying updated on emerging technologies, and understanding their business domain deeply.

“Cultivating a culture that encourages experimentation, open communication, and risk-taking is crucial.

“Also, to foster diversity and inclusion in tech leadership roles, organisations should prioritise inclusive hiring practices, create mentorship programmes, and provide equal opportunities for carcer advancement.

“Networking with industry experts, seeking mentorship, and embracing failure as a learning opportunity are invaluable in driving innovation,” she said.

Dr Ayotunde Coker, Chairman of the Jury, CIO Awards 2023, stated that the independence and openness of the award was absolute and done in due diligence.

Coker said businesses transformed by technology would outperform others, noting that 10 per cent broadband growth could translate to 2. 5 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Supreme News reports that Mr Dare Okoudjou, Founder, Onafriq, also bagged Lifetime Achievement award, while Nkemdilim Begho, Founder, Future Software Resources Ltd., won best female in digital and technology award winner for Nigeria.

Lilian Barnard, President, Microsoft Africa, emerged best female in digital and technology award winner for other African countries, while Mr Myke Koledoye of Premium Trust Bank won in the banking category.

Also, Mr Adeyemi Ayoade of Arise Global Media Ltd., emerged winner in the media category, Mr Shoyinka Shodunke of MTN won the technology and telecoms award, among other notable awardees.

Winners from other African countries included: Mr Badara Diouf of Sama Web Sunu Web, Mr Mohammed Ahmed, Ceramica Platino Group Egypt, Mr Nicholas Bortey, Liranz Ltd. Ghana, Maurice Juma, Mediapal, Kenya, and Renaldo Dr Jagger, Dealersonline of South Africa.