CommunicationsWeek Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek online and print editions, last weekend, rolled out the drums to celebrate individuals, private and public organisations, as well as, startups, that have distinguished themselves in the Nigeria’s ICT space or different industries they represent.
The Beacon of ICT Awards are annual ICT awards recognizing organizations’ or individuals’ contributions to ICT development in Nigeria, and the world at large.
The award was established in March 2009 by Ken Nwogbo, a Nigerian columnist and founder of Communication Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, a leading Nigerian information and communications technology newspaper headquartered in Lagos State.
The award ceremony was proceeded by a distinguished lecture delivered by Mr. Ayotunde Coker, managing director of Rack Centre, on the theme: “Data Centre as Kiln of Industrialization and Transformation”.
Coker stressed the importance of data centres to the growth of any modern economy and the need for local businesses to store sensitive data locally. He was of the opinion that this will have massive and positive effect on the GDP of the country.
With the Nigerian Army Band mesmerizing the guests with blends of highlife and classical music, the roll of honours were called, with Ayotunde Coker awarded the Nigeria CommunicationsWeek Man-Of-The-Year award; Engineer Lanre Ajayi, the ever vocal president of the Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (ATCON), receiving “Life Time Achievement Award”; ICT Software Personality of the year went to John Obaro, MD, SystemSpecs; ICT Journalist of the year went to Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr. “CFA” presenter, Tech Trends on Channels TV and Mr. Biodun Omoniyi was named the “ICT Personality Of The Year.
On Corporate categories, VDT Communications received “Bandwidth Company of The year Award”; as the “Internet Company Of The Year” award went to Globacom (Nigeria); Rack Centre received the “ICT Infrastructure Of The Year (Data Centre)” award; Vodacom Business Nigeria scored double, emerging “Cloud Services provider of The Year” and “Enterprise Solutions provider Of the Year”. Interestingly, “Software Company of the Year” and “IT Implementation & Support Company of The Year” awards went to FinTrak Software (Limited); Computer Warehouse Group Plc, took home, “Banking Application Of The Year (Finacle)” award.
Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, with a knack for education based software, they smiled home, “Indigenous Software Company of the Year” and the “ICT Innovator Of the Year” awards. Spectranet, offering smart internet for the home and office, emerged, “Broadband Company of the Year”, Business Connexion received the “ICT Solutions Provider of the Year”.
Digital Encode, a leading consulting and integration firm founded in 2003 that specializes in the design, management, and security of business-critical networks, telecommunications environments and other information technology infrastructure, emerged “Cyber-Security Company of the Year”; in same vein, Global Accelerex bagged, “ePayment Innovative/Value Added Services provider Of The Year; “ICT Clearinghouse of the Year” award went to Medallion Communications Limited; Path Solutions received, “Islamic Banking Solution Provider Of The Year”. While CNSSL Call Centre Limted was named the “BPO Operator Of The Year”, OLX Nigeria was named the “Classified Ad Website Of The Year”.
The Logistics Company for the World, DHL received, “Courier Operator Of The Year”; Dataflex are the receivers of “ICT Company of the Year” and McAfree and SSL received the “Information Security Product of the Year”.
Oradian, a Fintech company behind Instafin, the multi-award winning core-banking platform that built a solution to the challenges faced by Microfinance Institutions around the globe, was named the “Most Innovative Core-Microfinance Banking Platform Of The Year”; Zenith Bank received the “eBank Of The Year”; Internet Solutions- “Internet Service Provider Of The Year”; 21St Century Technologies- “Technology Company Of The Year”; Sophos Group Plc, which tackles IT security challenges with clarity and confidence, emerged, “Information Security (Hardware) Provider Of The Year”; Wi-Pay Technologies won the “ePayment Solutions Provider Of The Year”; Resourcery emerged the “ICT Business Integrator Of The Year”; while Phase3 Telecoms won the “Fibre Optic Company of The Year”.
Wakanow.com won the “Travelers Portal Of The Year”; Infinix Mobility smiled home with the “Mobile Phone Of The Year” following the achievements in Nigerian smartphone market since launch in 2013 and the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTbank) emerged the “Mobile Money Operating Bank Of The Year”.
Speaking on the awards, Mr. Ken Nwogbo, publisher/editor in-chief, CommunicationsWeek Media, said that the Beacon of ICT Distinguished Lecture and awards was designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global information and communications technologies map.
He said that the awardees have demonstrated some levels of expertise, and distinguished themselves in the industries they represent, “as reflected in the online voting process. Even those that were given special awards was because they lived above competitions. We are very proud of the awardees”.
He added that CommunicationsWeek Media Limited will continue to support the development enterprises and human capital in Nigeria.