Nigerian Innovator Among Winners as Africa’s Leading Tech Minds Honoured in Cape Town

A glittering ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, has once again put the spotlight on the individuals and organisations driving Africa’s technology sector, with a Nigerian entrepreneur among the winners recognised during the evening. The 6th Annual Africa Tech Week Awards, held on Thursday, 16 May 2024, at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape […]

A glittering ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, has once again put the spotlight on the individuals and organisations driving Africa’s technology sector, with a Nigerian entrepreneur among the winners recognised during the evening.

The 6th Annual Africa Tech Week Awards, held on Thursday, 16 May 2024, at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, brought together founders, investors, corporate technology executives, policymakers and industry stakeholders from across the continent.

Organised by Topco Media under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Ralf Fletcher, the ceremony recognised achievement across twelve categories spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, digital transformation, education technology, e-commerce and public sector innovation.

Among the recipients was Seun Paul Olatunji, founder of MediAID Plus and Efiko NG, who received the Africa Tech: Digital Tech Founder Award. The category recognises founders who have demonstrated leadership and impact in digital technology entrepreneurship across Africa. Olatunji was named among a group of innovators and organisations recognised for their contributions to the continent’s technology ecosystem during the 2024 awards ceremony.

The keynote address of the evening was delivered by Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani, Director-General of South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, who encouraged African innovators to protect and retain ownership of their intellectual property.

“Tonight is about celebrating excellence; celebrating African excellence,” Jordan-Dyani told attendees. “Make sure that we keep that talent within the continent. If anything, please make sure that you register your IP and own it.”

Beverly Basson, lead journey designer and facilitator at Level Up and a member of the judging panel, highlighted the quality of entries submitted for consideration.

“There is wonderful evidence of good growth in so many of the businesses that I had a chance to look at,” Basson said. “I think that growth wouldn’t be possible without a strong sense of optimism and huge ambition.”

Opening the ceremony, Topco Media project manager Clay Tsapi emphasised the role of innovation and collaboration in shaping Africa’s future technology landscape.

“Innovation and collaboration are the cornerstones of progress,” Tsapi said. “Tonight, we have a unique opportunity to unite and ignite the flames of inspiration, paving the way for a future filled with innovation, progress, and prosperity.”

Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, congratulated the winners and highly commended recipients.

“I am delighted to announce the winners and highly commended of the 6th Annual Africa Tech Week Awards. These exceptional individuals and organisations have demonstrated exemplary vision, leadership, and innovation, setting a benchmark for excellence in the tech industry,” Fletcher said.

The complete list of 2024 winners included: Digital Tech Founder Award – Seun Paul Olatunji (MediAID Plus & Efiko NG); Tech Founder Award – Jonathan Elcock (Rather.Chat); Women in Tech Award – Rashika Ramlal (Amazon Web Services); Leader of the Year – Carel du Toit (Mint Group); AI Technology of the Year – Swordfish Software; Innovation of the Year – Jumo; Fintech of the Year – Easy Debit; Digital Transformation Award – Absa Bank Limited; Technology Company of the Year – Nutun Management Services (Pty) Ltd; Edtech Award – Sand Technologies; Startup Award (sponsored by Sentech) – ECD Connect; Retail & E-Commerce Award – Loot.co.za; Public Sector Digital Innovation Award – Revenue & Utility Management Solutions (Rumas).

Africa Tech Week has developed into a significant event on the continent’s technology calendar, bringing together industry leaders, innovators and policymakers to discuss emerging trends and recognise achievement across Africa’s digital economy. The awards are determined by an independent judging panel and acknowledge contributions made by individuals and organisations across a range of technology sectors.

The ceremony was held on 16 May 2024 at the Century City Conference Centre, Cape Town, South Africa. Award categories and winners were confirmed by Topco Media and Africa Tech Week Awards 2024 official records.