The National Technology Icon Award stands as one of the most distinguished honors at the National Technology Innovation Honors (NTIH), a recognition reserved for individuals whose work has redefined excellence, leadership, and progress in Nigeria’s fast-evolving technology landscape. This award celebrates professionals who have not only contributed to innovation but have built the frameworks that make technological advancement sustainable, inclusive, and nationally relevant.
As NTIH continues to grow as one of the country’s most credible and respected platforms for celebrating achievement in science, innovation, and technology, the National Technology Icon Award remains its most revered category. It acknowledges those whose impact extends beyond their immediate field, influencing policy, shaping ecosystems, and inspiring collaboration across industries.
Nominees for the award are evaluated through a meticulous selection process led by a diverse panel of experts. The key evaluation benchmarks include:
- Demonstrated leadership in advancing technology-driven transformation across key sectors;
- Proven record of contribution to national development through research, digital innovation, or large-scale implementation;
- Long-term commitment to capacity building, mentorship, and ecosystem development;
- Influence on digital inclusion, technological education, and sustainable innovation practices within Nigeria and beyond.
The National Technology Icon Award is not merely a recognition of success — it represents the acknowledgment of service, vision, and the discipline to turn ideas into enduring impact. Recipients embody what it means to lead with purpose, setting standards that inspire not only peers but the next generation of technology professionals.
Past recipients of this award and related honors include:
- Ogochukwu Ndibe (2024)
- Bashir Lawani (2023)
- Ifeoma Adekunle (2022)
- David Nwankwo (2021)
- Amina Yusuf (2020)
- Tunde Iroanya (2019)
- Kelechi Agbaje (2018)
Each honoree represents a distinct chapter in Nigeria’s innovation journey, individuals whose ideas and execution have built credibility for the country’s technology ecosystem on the global stage.
To be named a National Technology Icon is to join an elite circle of professionals whose work extends beyond invention to influence, beyond recognition to relevance. It is an acknowledgment of the ability to bridge vision with responsibility and a reminder that true leadership in technology is measured not by what one creates, but by the lasting change it brings to people, industries, and nations.
