Don Pedro Aganbi, a pioneer Nigerian ICT Broadcaster and convener of the hugely popular annual Titans of Tech Conference and Expo has been inducted into the ICT Hall of Fame at an award ceremony for ICT icons organised recently by Titans of Tech Conference and expo in Lagos, Nigeria.
Dr. Aganbi was honoured for being among the pioneering technology broadcasters on television in Nigeria spanning two decades and for his passion and consistently in the forefront of innovative programmes that gives value to the industry, including hosting the longest running and hugely popular Titans of Tech Conference and Awards (16 Years) and for early insight into the transformational potential of ICT and subsequently spearheading efforts through quality broadcasting and event management, documentary and promoting the developments in the sector.
The 60 individuals have played various roles in stimulating growth in the Information and Communications Technology sector of the country especially in the last 20 years during which the sector has experienced unprecedented growth following the award of GSM licences to telecom operators by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Don Pedro Aganbi started his broadcasting career at Channels Television in 1998. To satisfy his curiosity and to track updates about all the issues and developments around the millennium bug, he left Channels Television to Join the Programmes department of Murhi International Television (MITV) to start a programme titled “Millennium Trend” designed to report updates about the millennium bug including hosting a live phone-in- show from 10pm to 3am (the longest LIVE show on TV and one of its kind at that time) basically the show was to get updates from Nigerians about what has happened to their computers. The Millennium Trend show was a record breaker.
In the year 2000, Don Pedro Aganbi pioneered a computer programme called “Technology Today” LIVE on Murhi International Television (MITV). He was one of the few reporters that covered the famous GSM Auction in Nigeria in 2001. Don Pedro Aganbi was 1st prize winner, TV Category, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Africa Information Society Initiative (UNECA/AISI) Media Awards and a recipient of the global IT Champion awards courtesy of World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA)
Other inductees at the Nigeria @60 ICT Hall of Fame were Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), now Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Current EVC of NCC, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, President of ALTON, Engr. Olawale Ige, Engr. Vincent Maduka, HRH Eze (Engr.) Ogbonna Cletus Iromantu, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu, Chief Chris Uwaje, Tim Akano, Dr. Yele Okeremi, Collins Onuegbu, Abiodun Omoniyi, Lare Ayoola of Tranter IT group, Stanley Jegede, Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr.,
Others were Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor, Country Head, Google, Nkemdilim Begho, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh of Zinox Technologies, Chief Chima Onyekwere, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Muhammed Rudman of IXPN, Emmanuel Amos of Programos, Olusola Teniola, Immediate past president of ATCON, Prof. Engr. Mohammed Ajiya of Digital Bridge Institute, and Prof. Charles Uwadia of Computer Professionals Registrations Council.
Additional inductees were Engr. Ike Nnamani of Medallion, Chijioke Eke, Mkpe Abang, Aaron Ukodie, Ufuoma Daro, Dr. Bayero Agabi, Shina Badaru, Abimbola Tooki, Don Pedro Aganbi, Ken Nwogbo, Remmy Nweke, Segun Oruame, Okoh Aihe, Sonny Aragba-Akpore and Hajia Hadiza Umar of NITDA among others.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Don Pedro Aganbi congratulated the inductees, saying they were being recognised in their own right based on various contributions they made to the ICT industry.
He said that the recognition was part of the commemoration of Nigeria’s diamond independence anniversary.
“It is beyond dispute that the work that you all do is essential to enhancing our quality of life as a nation and individual members of the Nigerian nation,” he said, noting that Titans of Tech is a flagship industry event that annually celebrates excellence in the Nigerian ICT space.
The Nigeria @60: ICT Hall of Fame Awards was the highpoint of the annual Titans of Tech Conference and expo. An initiative of TechTV in collaboration with Techeconomy.ng