The digital transformation of a nation rarely happens in sudden leaps, it takes sustained vision, user-aware execution, and the ability to scale with relevance. In this spirit, the National Technology Innovation Honors (NTIH) continues its tradition of recognizing forward-thinking leaders through the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year, a category reserved for those reshaping Nigeria’s technology landscape with measurable outcomes and long-term value.
This annual distinction is awarded to individuals whose work has driven digital adoption at scale, strengthened tech-enabled infrastructure, and contributed to system-level reform across key sectors. It is not awarded for visibility, but for building platforms that move with purpose from enterprise software and digital identity systems to government digitization and consumer technology that reaches the last mile.
The latest honoree was selected following a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process conducted by experts in product strategy, governance, infrastructure, and digital service delivery. Criteria centered on execution at scale, practical innovation, and the ability to close persistent access and operational gaps across Nigeria’s digital economy.
This category has become one of NTIH’s most influential recognitions, highlighting professionals whose platforms go beyond functionality to deliver structural change. Past recipients have driven progress in areas such as public sector automation, inclusive financial technology, education access, and supply-side digitization. What links them all is their ability to translate advanced tools into systems that work and last in high-friction environments.
Past recipients include:
- Yusuf Akinbola (2024)
- Michael Ekon (2023)
- Peace Adewale (2022)
- Joshua Chukwuma (2021)
- Samuel Ogunleye (2020)
- Collins Nwachukwu (2019)
- Ibrahim Danladi (2018)
The Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year affirms a fundamental reality: that digital progress requires more than innovation, it requires endurance, adaptability, and systems thinking.
For many recipients, this award becomes a turning point, opening the door to regional collaborations, capital support, and expanded influence in shaping Nigeria’s policy and innovation frameworks. As the country deepens its push toward a fully digital economy, this category will remain a vital spotlight, celebrating the architects who are building what the future needs today.
