2019 WINNERS
2019 National Technology Innovation Honors
Below are the lists of our 2019 National Technology Innovation Honors awards winners based on categories
Dr. Emeka Ogbonna
Dr. Ogbonna is a leading AI systems researcher credited with designing Nigerias first open-source neural network library. He has contributed to over 15 innovation patents in intelligent computing.
- Designed Nigerias first open-source neural network library
- Contributed to over 15 innovation patents in intelligent computing
Zainab Bello
Zainab is a cloud infrastructure specialist whose enterprise-grade solutions are now used by three African governments to secure and scale public services.
- Built enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure
- Solutions adopted by three African governments
Chinedu Orji
Chinedu is a telecom engineer turned executive who led a 5G pilot deployment across West Africa, streamlining connectivity across over 40 underserved communities.
- Led 5G pilot deployment across West Africa
- Connected 40+ underserved communities
Ijeoma Okafor
Ijeoma developed a drone-based analytics system to support precision agriculture, increasing yield forecasting accuracy for over 10,000 rural farmers.
- Developed drone-based analytics for precision agriculture
- Improved forecasting accuracy for 10,000+ rural farmers
Obinna Uche
Obinna pioneered a solar-powered smart grid in Jos, providing uninterrupted electricity to 3 schools and 2 hospitals previously off the grid.
- Pioneered solar-powered smart grid in Jos
- Powered 3 schools and 2 hospitals off the grid
Grace Etim
Grace built one of the continents largest AI learning communities, bridging the tech education gap for over 20,000 young Africans in under 3 years.
- Founded continent-scale AI learning network
- Trained 20,000+ young Africans
Usman Tijjani
Usman led the redesign of a health-tech platform that reduced emergency room wait times by 60% across 12 hospitals in Northern Nigeria.
- Redesigned national health-tech platform
- Reduced ER wait times by 60% in 12 hospitals
Eniola Adekanye
Eniola is the brain behind Alertrack, a real-time vehicle diagnostic app adopted by four leading logistics companies for fleet health management.
- Developed Alertrack, a real-time diagnostics app
- Used by 4 major logistics firms
David Nwankwo
David created a blockchain-based document verification tool used by major universities and HR firms to combat credential fraud.
- Built blockchain credential verification tool
- Deployed in universities and HR systems
BrightEarth
BrightEarth is a Lagos-based climate-tech startup building smart sensors that track water waste and optimize consumption in commercial buildings.
- Built smart water-use tracking sensors
- Focused on sustainable commercial buildings
Yetunde Martins
Yetunde founded a digital support firm that handles backend operations for over 120 SMEs, including IT maintenance, hosting, and data storage.
- Founded backend IT service firm for SMEs
- Supports 120+ businesses with IT infrastructure
Anthony Eze
Anthony developed a hybrid AI model that supports early disease detection through automated blood test interpretation, now used in regional clinics.
- Created AI model for early disease detection
- Deployed in regional blood testing centers.
Linda Agbo
Linda built a real-time data visualization dashboard for public health tracking, now used in 7 state ministries to monitor disease outbreaks.
- Built health-focused data dashboards
- Adopted by 7 state health departments
Femi Adebanjo
Femi is celebrated for building Africas first voice-command coding assistant, simplifying learning for students with disabilities.
- Built voice-command coding assistant
- Supports disabled learners in tech.
Miriam Lawal
Miriam developed an emergency crisis response app for IDP camps, improving coordination between aid agencies and affected families in Borno State.
- Built emergency response app for IDP camps
- Improved coordination between aid workers and families.
Kelechi Dike
Kelechis real-time inventory tracking system reduced food waste across retail chains by 30%, helping supermarkets optimize perishables.
- Developed real-time supply tracking system
- Reduced food waste by 30% in supermarkets.
Omolara Fashola
Omolara is a full-stack engineer and founder of CodeSisterhood, a mentorship network empowering over 5,000 young women in tech.
- Founded CodeSisterhood mentorship network
- Empowered 5,000+ women in tech.
Tosin Adebayo
Tosin created MuseLab, a digital music learning platform that adapts teaching pace to learners rhythm using audio AI.
- Created MuseLab for adaptive music learning
- Uses audio AI for rhythm-based teaching.
Rita Onuoha
Rita led the creation of a biometric firewall authentication protocol now deployed in two major Nigerian banks for fraud detection.
- Led biometric firewall project
- Deployed in top Nigerian banks.
Seyi Adigun
Seyi runs TechHandz, a B2B IT repair and installation company that services over 300 business locations annually with smart automation tools.
- Founded TechHandz for IT servicing
- Supports 300+ business locations yearly
