Every thriving economy relies on individuals who see structure where others see struggle, leaders who can turn inefficiency into order and uncertainty into opportunity. That principle defines the Tech Startup Founder of the Year Award, presented annually by the National Entrepreneurship Honors (NEH) to recognize business leaders who have advanced stability, innovation, and long-term functionality within Nigeria’s enterprise space.

This award honors entrepreneurs whose impact goes beyond visibility. It celebrates those who build the frameworks that hold businesses together; leaders who approach entrepreneurship not as a race for recognition, but as a craft rooted in systems thinking, execution, and endurance. Unlike awards that celebrate rapid expansion or media presence, this category recognizes the discipline of building enterprises that last.

The award represents execution under pressure: honoring professionals who have turned fragmented systems into organized frameworks, clarified complex workflows, and strengthened the foundations of commerce. Winners are selected through a rigorous evaluation by a panel of business development experts, innovation researchers, and policy advisors. Their work is assessed not on potential but on performance, its relevance, its durability, and its ability to influence how businesses function over time.

The Tech Startup Founder of the Year distinction has quickly become one of NEH’s most respected honors. It reflects a shift in what leadership means, away from individual achievement and toward collective progress. From enterprise financing and digital transformation to SME enablement and operational systems design, honorees have consistently worked to make Nigeria’s business environment more coherent, inclusive, and resilient.

Past honorees include:                                         

• Zainab Agboola (2024)
• Tolu Adebajo (2023)
• Chibueze Nwokorie (2022)
• Hauwa Lawal (2021)
• Emmanuel Fashakin (2020)
• Remi Olayinka (2019)
• Adebola Fadare (2018)

The Tech Startup Founder of the Year Award stands as a national recognition of those who understand that real success lies in what sustains. It honors individuals who build not just profitable ventures, but systems strong enough to support others. These are the entrepreneurs reshaping how Nigeria’s economy grows and with purpose that endures.