The second edition of the TechPulse Awards Nigeria lit up the Admiralty Conference Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, as over 300 professionals, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders gathered to celebrate excellence in Africa’s growing tech industry.
The award ceremony was held on August 14, 2021, with the theme “Powering Africa’s Growth through Innovative Technology”, emphasising how digital innovation is transforming industries and driving sustainable growth across the continent. The ceremony was supported by partnerships with Femma, Rite Foods, and other technology companies.
Two thought-provoking keynote addresses set the tone for the evening. Mr. Oladele Samuel spoke on “Leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive financial growth in Africa,” highlighting the role of fintech in expanding economic opportunities, while Mrs. Ibirotimi Sanni delivered a session on “Building experiences for everyday technology,” stressing the need to create human-centred solutions that improve daily life.
Honouring the Winners
Kunle Akinniran, MD/CEO of Vatebra Limited, received the prestigious Tech Company CEO of the Year award, recognised for leading Vatebra to new heights in software innovation and delivering client-centric solutions.
DCG KI Adeola, Deputy Comptroller-General (ICT-Modernisation) of the Nigeria Customs Service, was awarded Tech Personality of the Year (Federal Agency – Public Service) for spearheading digital transformation within Nigeria’s customs and trade facilitation operations.
Charles Ayere, CTO of AI MarketGenie LLC, took home Emerging AI & ML Innovator of the Year for developing AI solutions that are reshaping marketing intelligence and enabling automation for African businesses.
Gideon Adeyemi, UX Lead at Advansio Interactive, was honoured as FinTech UX Innovator of the Year for his pivotal role in designing the product and experience of COVr, the first ever Agency Banking white-label service in Nigeria, setting new standards in financial inclusion and in how Nigerians perform financial operations.
Precious Adesina-Ola, Head of Growth at Suplias Technologies, emerged as Tech Product Sales & Growth Personality of the Year in recognition of her groundbreaking work in product expansion and digital retail penetration across the continent.
Temitope Godwin Orilua, Founder and CMO of Digital Business Nigeria, received the Emerging Tech Entrepreneur of the Year award for his visionary efforts in building digital marketing and online business growth platforms.
Oke Umurhohwo, Head of Marketing at Zap Africa, was named Most Enterprising Tech Marketing Personality of the Year for his creativity in driving user engagement and strengthening branding within the fintech ecosystem.
Rex Mafiana, MD/CEO of FPG Technologies & Solutions Ltd, clinched the title of Most Exceptional Tech Personality of the Year for his continued excellence in delivering enterprise technology solutions and advancing cybersecurity leadership.
Adewale Adeyipo, Group MD/CEO of CWG PLC, was recognised as Core Banking Software Development Company CEO of the Year for his leadership in providing robust technology infrastructure for financial institutions.
Godfrey Inyama, Machine Learning Researcher at Argtech Ltd, was honoured as Tech Machine Learning Personality of the Year for his groundbreaking work in predictive AI and machine learning innovations.
Bisola Oyekan, Product Designer at Brimble, received the Young Promising Female Design Personality of the Year for her unique approach and impact in designing supply chain, and shipping, and products, improving the experience of daily business operations.
Ilerioluwa Bamidele, Visual Designer at Fourth Canvas, was named Young Promising Male Design Personality of the Year for his role in building visual identities for top technology companies in Nigeria, strengthening and setting new standards in Nigeria’s digital brand visualisation.
Dr. Adebola Ismail Akindele, GMD of Courteville Business Solutions, was celebrated as Most Distinguished Tech Personality of the Year, reflecting a lifetime of leadership and transformation in Nigeria’s tech service delivery.
Luther Kington Nwobodo, Founder of Zeugnis International Limited, was recognised as Most Exceptional Data Analytics Professional of the Year for his contributions to advancing the field of analytics in Nigeria.
Oghoghozino Otefia, MD/CEO of Aggital Works, received the Most Innovative Web Development Company CEO of the Year award for his groundbreaking work in pushing the boundaries of web design and digital innovation in Nigeria’s digital space.
Beyond the glitz of the awards night, the TechPulse Awards Nigeria stands as a reminder of what’s possible when innovation meets determination. By spotlighting leaders who are solving real problems, from clean energy and artificial intelligence to public service transformation and financial inclusion, the platform is helping shape a narrative of technology as a force for impact, not just profit.
For the winners, these recognitions go beyond trophies; they validate years of effort, inspire teams, and set new benchmarks for others in the ecosystem. And for the industry at large, the awards reinforce an important message: Africa’s future will be written not only by policymakers or investors, but by the innovators who dare to rethink how technology can serve people in everyday life.