By Adesina Wahab

The Association of Nigerian Software Testers (ANST) has conferred the Quality Advocate of the Year Award on Kappo Samuel Olawale, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Student Union Affairs – Tertiary Education, at its 8th Annual National Software Testing Conference held in Lagos.

The honour, according to the association, was in recognition of Olawale’s role in facilitating the training of 600 students from tertiary institutions in Lagos State in software quality assurance and basic testing skills, through a strategic collaboration with KorrectTech, a technology company founded by Ridwan Abdulazeez.

Presenting the award, ANST President Demola Adesina said Olawale’s intervention has strengthened the bridge between government and the technology ecosystem, adding that the programme has expanded access to practical digital skills and created new career pathways for young Nigerians.

Also honoured at the event was Ridwan Abdulazeez, who received the Outstanding Mentor and Trainer Award for his contributions to youth capacity development and hands-on technology training across the country.

Other recipients at the conference included: The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who received the National Digital Trust Champion Award, represented by Mr. Oladejo Olawunmi, Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions; Mr. Peter Omoh Dunia, CEO, Oceanwave Group, who was honoured with the ANST Impact Philanthropy and Tech Empowerment Award, represented by Hon. Abibat Yakubu, Commissioner, Edo State Lottery Board, and Mr. Okoro Chukwudi; MTN Nigeria, awarded as Employer of Excellence in Quality; and Temitope Onakoya, who received the Excellence in Quality Assurance Leadership Award.

This year’s conference featured notable keynote speakers including:
Olayinka Oni, ED/COO, Sterling Financial Holdings Company; Soji Ononuga, Director, Testing Academy Nigeria; Demola Adesina, President, ANST; Oladipo Olasemo, CTO, Synkron Solutions; and Kailash Pathak, Senior QA Lead Manager, 3Pillar Global (India).

The conference, held in Lagos on December 6, 2025, attracted software testers, developers, policymakers, and technology leaders from across the country, with panel sessions led by industry experts including Godspower Osayomwanbor (ANST Vice President, Partnerships & Funding), Chibuzor Obilom, Opeyemi Gbadamosi, Adenike Olapetan, and Temitope Adekunle.

The event was supported by major sponsors including MTN Nigeria, Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank, Scandium, and Moniepoint, etc.