By Elizabeth Osayande

The prestigious 2023 BAT Innovation Awards, hosted by Bridge Africa Technologies Ltd., took place on June 24 at the Admiralty Conference Centre, bringing together a distinguished gathering of individuals committed to advancing technology and innovation across Africa. This internationally recognized event celebrated the remarkable achievements of Nigerians and Africans who have made significant contributions both locally and globally.

The visionary behind the BAT Innovation Awards, Dr. Chinelo Umeh, delivered an inspiring speech emphasising the importance of recognising African ingenuity. “Innovation is the heartbeat of progress,” she stated. “These individuals and organizations are not just advancing innovation; they are redefining Africa’s role on the global stage.”

The BAT Innovation Awards aim to bridge the gap between technological advancements and real-world applications, promoting the adoption of state-of-the-art solutions across various industries. This year’s event highlighted achievements in fintech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and social impact, with notable winners including: Taiwo Oyewole, won the Visionary Technology Leaders Award; Lateef Olawale Fatai, the Data Science and Public Health Innovation Award; Adekunle Hassan, the Cybersecurity Excellence Award; and Chinwe Okafor got the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Award and Abdulrahman Danjuma, FinTech Excellence Award.

While Dr. Ihunaya Meejay Kanu, Dr Ernest, and Dr. Hassan Malgwi Saidu cart home the Healthcare Innovation Award; Ayobami Ayeni , Kayode Ojedele , and Rodney Ovbiye Technology Innovation; Tope Oladele Jooda, Cybersecurity Innovation; Oluwayemisi Owoade, the data Innovation; Ediri Erigbese, the Engineering Technology Excellence.

Winning a BAT Innovation Award according to the organisers offers a wealth of benefits, including increased visibility, recognition for national development contributions, networking opportunities, access to funding, and enhanced media coverage to support career and business growth.

The rigorous judging process, led by a panel of esteemed national and international experts, evaluated nominees on various criteria such as creative innovation, real-world impact, and market readiness.

The success of the event was supported by major sponsors including Tixafest, Workforce, Quickteller, Interswitch, Wakanow, Flutterwave, and Silicon African Technologies, all of whom share a commitment to advancing the technological landscape in Africa.