[Press Release] Former Secretary to the Government of Akwa-Ibom State, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, together with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Chief Executive Officer of Condata Systems Limited, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Eng. Gbenga Adebayo, Chief Executive Officer of Wizzyhub Technologies, Mr. Francis Uzor led the awardees at the inaugural DigitalSENSE Africa Awards ceremony.
Other awardees include the Managing Director of Digital Realty Nigeria, Eng. Ikechukwu Nnamani, the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Mr. Gbenga Sesan, and the Managing Director of Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Mr. Muhammed Rudman, among others.
Confirming this over the weekend, DigitalSENSE Africa’s Lead Consulting Strategist and ITREALMS Media Group’s Group Executive Editor, Sir Remmy Nweke, said that the recognitions in the corporate category included Upland College, Digital Realty Nigeria, Welcome Centre Hotels and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
He stated that Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem emerged as the DigitalSENSE Africa Broadband Advocate of the decade; Ms. Ibukun Odusote was recognized as the DigitalSENSE Africa Empowerment Advocate of the Decade; the doctor Chris Nwannenna as DigitalSENSE Africa IG4D Advocate of the Decade; the engineer Gbenga Adebayo was awarded DigitalSENSE Africa Telecoms Advocate of the Decade; and Mr. Muhammed Rudman has been named DigitalSENSE Africa Internet Personality of the Decade.
Additionally, Eng. Ike Nnamani emerged as the DigitalSENSE Africa Connectivity Enabler of the Decade; Mr. Francis Uzor was honored as the DigitalSENSE Africa IG4D Ambassador of the Decade; Mr. Gbenga Sesan came first as the DigitalSENSE Africa IG4D Influencer of the Decade, while the Chairman, NDSF@15, Mr. Edetaen Ojo was honored as the DigitalSENSE Africa Freedom of Information (FoI) Champion of the Decade.
The Dr. Ekuwem, he said, was represented at the NDSF@15 by the Chief Technical Officer, Teledom Group, Eng. Joseph Enyia, and Mrs. Odusote, similarly Mr. Rudman was represented by the President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) Mr . Sola Akinsanya, while DNS WomenNG legal counsel, Barr. Mrs Amaka Onumonu and Mrs Peculiar Showale replaced Engr respectively. Ike Nnamani and Mr Gbenga Sesan.
In the corporate category, he said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emerged as the DigitalSENSE Africa Telecoms Regulator of the Decade; Digital Realty Nigeria (formerly Medallion) named DigitalSENSE Africa Data Center of the Decade; Upland College presents itself as the most supportive school of the decade for DigitalSENSE Africa; and Welcome Center Hotels have returned home with the DigitalSENSE Africa Valuable Partner of the Decade.
He also said the recognition was part of the agenda to mark the 15th anniversary of the organization of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development, chaired by the award-winning Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, with the theme: “IG4D: Innovative Digital Economy and Safer Civic Space in Nigeria.”
According to Nweke, NDSF@15, held at the prestigious Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos, attracted civil societies, non-state actors, community-based organisations, youths, students, media, men and women as well as Internet and telecom enthusiasts of the country.
A panel session led by Nweke had panelists comprising industry experts including the NDSF@15 Chairman, Mr. Ojo, Engr. Adebayo; The Executive Director, Mr. Sesan, represented by Mrs. Peculiar Showale and the Data Protection Officer, Upperlink Limited, Mrs. Francisca Iloezumma, while the open mic session was sponsored by the Domain Name System Women Foundation in Nigeria (DNS WomenNG) .
Nweke recalled that in 2009, the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) series of meetings on Internet Governance for Development debuted at the Golden Gate Restaurant in Ikoyi-Lagos and has since remained steadfast in mobilizing stakeholders to discuss Internet access, openness, affordability, connectivity and ICT infrastructure, among others.
“These awards are our way of appreciating the individual and corporate support over the years. It has not been easy, but with God by our side and the support of most of these people and organizations in deepening and sustaining our contribution to internet penetration, improving access, affordability, technological adaptation driving forward digital sense in Nigeria So, here we are today,” Nweke said.
The NDSF series on IG4D provided by ITREALMS Media Group is hosted by DigitalSENSE Africa, an At-Large Facility (ALS) certified by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), in collaboration with relevant stakeholders not limited to the Internet Society ( ISOC), Nigeria Chapter, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Digital Realty Nigeria, NNPC Limited, NLNG, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) among others.
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