The Africa Tech Alliance Forum has recognized Jacob Abu as the 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award Winner in International Accounting, Auditing, and Business Compliance. This honor was conferred to him at the Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards, held on November 7, 2024, at Oriental Hotels in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
The ATAEx Awards are among Africa’s most distinguished honors, reserved for a select few professionals who demonstrate extraordinary ability, international impact, and groundbreaking contributions to their fields.
Ten nominees were shortlisted for this award in 2024. Each were evaluated for their roles in transforming technology landscapes, fostering accounting innovation, and supporting inclusive digital progress. Jacob’s award followed a rigorous multi-stage nomination and peer-review process conducted by this distinguished panel. The eligibility and selection process for the ATAEx Awards is both competitive and elite. Candidates are nominated on the basis of impactful work within their industries, with nominations screened by a multi-stage peer review committee of policymakers, academics, and industry leaders.
Jacob was selected as the winner based on:
- His depth, relevance, and measurable impact of his work in financial auditing and compliance.
- His reputation as a visionary leader using innovative accounting principles to solve real-world problems and drive social and industrial progress.
- His ability to inspire a generation of future innovators by combining financial expertise with technological foresight.
The committee ultimately concluded that Jacob is excellent in his field of extraordinary ability, a professional whose achievements are not only nationally recognized but also of international significance.
The ATAEx Awards consistently recognize Africa’s most influential figures in technology and governance. In 2024, alongside Jacob’s recognition, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director-General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), received the Digital Transformation Leadership Award for his pioneering work in e-governance and digital inclusion. Similarly, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, Chairperson of the Africa Data Centres Association, was honored as ATAEx Man of the Year for his transformative role in expanding Africa’s digital infrastructure.
Jacob’s selection for the Excellence Award in International Accounting, Auditing, and Business Compliance places him in the company of such internationally acclaimed leaders, underscoring the prestige and international visibility of the recognition. Jacob Abu is a chartered accountant whose expertise bridges Nigeria and the United States. His career demonstrates a consistent pattern of driving systemic improvements, safeguarding financial transparency, and enabling innovation in regulated financial systems.
Jacob’s recognition by ATAEx builds on earlier awards, including Third Overall Best Qualifying Candidate – ICAN Professional Exam (2019). He has also contributed thought leadership through publications such as:
- The Role of Financial Education in Preventing Credit Card Debt
- Empowering Vulnerable Populations and Fostering Entrepreneurship through Financial Literacy
- The Role of Machine Learning in Enhancing Corporate Financial Planning
The Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH) is a premier platform uniting industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to shape Africa’s digital future. Each year, AfriTECH convenes its flagship conference, AfriTECH Forum, addressing urgent themes in technology, sustainability, digital transformation, and innovation. Its annual ATAEx Awards celebrate professionals and institutions transforming Africa’s technological and economic landscape.
AfriTECH enjoys continental and global recognition, with sponsorship from top organizations such as Zoho, Palmpay, and Qnet, and partnerships with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). Media coverage by outlets such as TechAfrica News, TechTrends Africa, and Independent Nigeria affirms the prestige and public resonance of the awards.
The ATAEx Award affirms Jacob Abu’s international acclaim and establishes him among professionals of extraordinary ability whose contributions carry cross-border significance. His expertise in auditing, compliance, digital finance, and financial governance directly aligns with U.S. national interests from safeguarding financial markets to strengthening institutional trust and promoting financial innovation.
The rigorous and elite process behind this award, combined with the ATAEx Awards’ international reputation, provides clear evidence that Jacob’s achievement is nationally or internationally recognized as a prize for excellence in the field of accounting.
Congratulations to Jacob Kehinde Abu on this landmark recognition.