CIO & C-Suite Awards Africa Expands to 11 Countries

The organisers of the CIO & C-Suite Awards Africa, Edniesal Consulting, announced on Tuesday the expansion of their prestigious awards to include 11 countries, aiming to honour and celebrate executive leaders who are driving technological innovation across Africa.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Oluwakayode Adigun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CIO & C-Suite Awards and CIO Club Africa, declared that the latest edition of the awards would surpass previous iterations. This 5th edition will now encompass Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Zambia, and Nigeria.

The awards aim to recognise the achievements of CIOs, CTOs, CDOs, CISOs, and IT heads who are delivering exceptional results in their industries. “Last year, we visited five African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Senegal. After receiving feedback from various quarters, we decided to expand to more African countries this year. So, this year, we are including 11 countries along with Nigeria,” Adigun stated.

The awards ceremony is set for November 30, 2024, at the Civic Centre in Lagos. It will feature a conference and two sessions with industry leaders and innovators from across the continent. Awards will be presented in various categories, reflecting different aspects of technological innovation and leadership excellence.

Adigun emphasized that the 5th edition would go beyond recognising traditional technical leaders. “We are highlighting leaders who have significantly contributed to their industries by leveraging technology for extraordinary business outcomes and fostering innovation,” he explained. “We are focusing on various executive positions involved in implementing technological innovations. Our objective is to create a niche and ecosystem for the African community that can compete with global companies like Microsoft and Cisco.”

Regarding partnerships, Adigun remarked, “It’s been a journey. We didn’t do this alone; we have partners, sponsors, and collaborators across diverse sectors of society. We have banks, fintechs, and manufacturing companies in and out of Nigeria working with us.”

Abiola Laseinde, the Convener of the CIO & C-Suite Awards and CIO Club Africa, noted that the expansion underscores Edniesal Consulting’s commitment to promoting technological advancement and leadership excellence across Africa. The event will include networking opportunities, entertainment, business partnerships, and prospects.

Laseinde emphasized the global recognition of digital technology leaders’ transformative impact across different industries. Winners at the event will gain exclusive membership to The CIO Club Africa (TCCA), which focuses on upholding ethical standards, fostering growth, and facilitating knowledge sharing. “TCCA actively organizes round table meetings, seminars, and conferences to educate the public and sustain industry excellence,” she stated.

Laseinde highlighted the integrity and professionalism embedded in the selection process. “Everything we do in terms of selection is incredibly laced with integrity and professionalism. If you are going to project your winners, you expect them to compete favourably with others from other parts of the world. As we speak, ours is entrenched in a fantastic governance structure. We have processes and standards that guide the selection, which has given us the confidence to expand. We are not the ones who select the winners; we have incredible judges with high expertise who assess every submission,” she added.

Dele Adeyinka, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Polaris Bank, asserted that the programme has propelled participants to be more innovative.