NCS to Confer Fellowship on SGF, 19 Others

Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has confirmed that Engineer Babachir David Lawal, secretary to government of the Federation is among the twenty approved for confirmation with the professional fellowship of the Society.

The conferment of the prestigious fellowship on the awardees will be part of highpoints during this year’s National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) slated for November 26 in Lagos.

According to Professor Adesola Aderounmu, NCS President who said during a press conference on Thursday that computer society members will shape the future of IT in Nigeria; Lawal and nineteen others were approved for fellowship by the Council out of 29 names previously submitted.

He added that this shows the would-be fellows commitment to the growth of NCS and IT in Nigeria, adding that the process followed NCS principles, particularly in promoting professionalism and standardization.

Aderounmu said that the society’s members are committed to shaping the future of Informational Technology (IT) and to drive positive change.

He said that NITMA was an annual event of the society where deserving people are honoured for their outstanding contributions to the IT industry.

“It is a night of award to celebrate the best of Nigerian IT creativity and innovation that has fundamentally changed and is still changing the Nigerian nation.

“Award winners are recognised for being inspiring symbols of the IT community and the nation has moved forward because of their contributions,’’ he said.

Aderounmu added that NITMA reinforced the unique values NCS promoted by combining this prestigious long-standing award ceremony with paralleled networking opportunities in a highly celebratory manner.

He said that IT professionals, innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs as well as policy and decision makers in the private and public sectors of the economy would grace the occasion.

The NCS president categorised the awards into IT personality of the Year Award, Fellowships, Special Recognition Awards and the Honorary Fellowship Awards.

Aderounmu listed some of the nominees to the IT personality award which he termed the NCS President's award as; Ms Funke Opeke, CEO MainOne Cables and Mrs Florence Seriki, CEO, Omateck.

He said that even though the criteria for the awards varied in categories it would be based on demonstrated excellence, local and international recognition.

Others he listed are the persons having a significant contribution to the development if IT, national impact and innovation.

He added that they had software online which members that had voting rights were urged to vote, saying that voting would start on Nov. 22.

The Man- Lawal
Lawal was appointed Secretary General of the Federation (SGF) on August 27, 2015; has been an active member of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), according to the President.

He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before establishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990.

He is also a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria