OUR JUDGE
COUNCIL
We are inviting technology experts, thought leaders and business leaders to participate in the selection process and help shape the industry’s most prestigious exhibition program. As a judge, you’ll have the opportunity to evaluate and recognize exceptional innovations, which will help identify deserving winners. Your expertise and industry insights will help shape the innovation landscape, ensuring that only the best are celebrated. Don’t pass up this opportunity to participate in an industry-driven process and make a long-term impact. Sign up now and contribute to the Nigeria Future Tech Excellence Awards judging council!
Blessing Azubike
Senior Programme Manager, Creative Economy Practice, CcHUB
Blessing Bee Azubike is a seasoned creative economy professional with over 15 years of experience in arts management and cultural consulting. Currently serving as Senior Programme Manager at CcHUB, she leads the Creative Economy Practice, where she designs and implements impactful programs to support the growth of the creative economy in Africa. As the founder of Art for a Reason Africa and Director of TALK Residency, Blessing is deeply committed to nurturing talent, producing high-quality arts events, and driving economic growth through cultural initiatives. Her expertise spans program design, stakeholder engagement, and creative mentorship.
Douglas Kendyson
Founder, Selar | Software Engineer | Fintech Expert
Douglas Kendyson is the founder of Selar, the largest creator platform in Africa, enabling over 80,000 creators to sell digital products and services globally. A skilled software engineer with expertise in fintech and payments, Douglas has worked with industry leaders like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Sarwa. With a broad technical stack in PHP, Node.js, Python, and React, he is currently developing payment infrastructure at Dapi. His entrepreneurial ventures also include Tanaly.com, further showcasing his passion for digital innovation and creator empowerment across Africa.
Chisom Nwokwu
Software Engineer (Data) | Published Author | Global Speaker | ex-Microsoft
Chisom Nwokwu is a highly skilled software engineer focused on big data and cloud technologies. With experience at global firms like Microsoft, where she worked on the Windows Engineering team, and Bank of America, she has built scalable data platforms that support sustainability and business goals. Passionate about empowering others, she authored “A Techie’s Guide into Big Tech Companies”, which helps aspiring engineers secure roles in top tech firms. Chisom is also a global speaker, having presented at over 100 events, and a digital creator, sharing valuable insights on tech and career development through her growing YouTube channel.
Benjamin Oyemonlan
Co-Founder/CEO, - Platnova Technologies Ltd
Benjamin Oyemonlan is a technology leader and serial entrepreneur, known for driving innovation in fintech, blockchain, and real estate technology. As the CEO and co-founder of Platnova, he has overseen its growth into a leading fintech platform, with 100k+ downloads and 12k+ monthly active users. He is also the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Zap Africa, a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange. As an ECOWAS Youth Ambassador, Benjamin is dedicated to advancing digital transformation in Africa and has been recognized for his global contributions, including leading Platnova to the Startup World Cup finals.
Hillary Omitogun
Founder & CXO, HerSynergy Tribe | UX Research Consultant & Product Strategist
Hillary Omitogun is a seasoned UX researcher and product strategist with over four years of expertise in qualitative research, data analysis, and product design. She has worked with a variety of firms, including Nestcoin and WhatsApp, where she spearheaded research programs that greatly enhanced user experiences. Hillary is also the founder of HerSynergy Tribe, a network that aims to encourage mid-career women in technology throughout EMEA. Her work is on user-centric tactics, with a passion for improving operational growth through insights-driven research and mentoring for women in technology.
Tobiloba Dorbra Asu-Johnson
CEO, Zap Africa | Blockchain Innovator
Tobiloba Asu-Johnson is the CEO of Zap Africa, a pioneering blockchain platform aimed at revolutionizing cryptocurrency exchanges across Africa. With a mission to break barriers and foster financial freedom, Tobiloba leads his team in building accessible, secure solutions for global transactions. Under his leadership, Zap Africa has launched innovative features, including a non-custodial exchange for Web3 users. Tobiloba’s passion for innovation and his vision for Africa’s digital revolution have positioned him as a key player in the blockchain ecosystem, actively shaping the future of finance on the continent.
Tarebi Alebiosu
Founder, QShop Tech, Inc. | Google-Backed Entrepreneur
Tarebi Alebiosu is a Google-backed entrepreneur and founder of QShop Tech, Inc., a leading eCommerce SaaS platform designed to support and scale African SMEs. With over 15 years of experience in technology, Tarebi has expertise spanning startups, product development, consulting, and software rollouts. She is also the creator of Sugar.ng, a highly successful “wed-tech” platform with over 10,000 event professional listings. Passionate about leveraging technology to drive growth, Tarebi is committed to transforming Africa’s digital economy and empowering small businesses through innovative solutions tailored for the African market.
Chancy Ng'oma
Head of Global Operations, Payaza Africa Limited | FinTech Expert | Product Management Professional
Taiwo Adeeko is a seasoned product operations expert with over 9 years of experience in FinTech, remittances, process automation, and product management. Currently, he serves as the Head of Global Operations at Payaza Africa Limited, where he oversees operational efficiency and service optimization. Taiwo has played a key role in managing card programs at Flutterwave, handling $50M+ in transactions, and leading remittance products like SEND by Flutterwave. His expertise spans operations management, resource optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to drive business success.
Matini Janepher
Software Engineer & Project Manager, BananaCrystal
Eloghene Otiede is a seasoned software engineer and project manager at BananaCrystal, leading teams in developing robust web applications. With over 50 successful website launches, Eloghene’s expertise spans front-end technologies like JavaScript, React, and Ruby on Rails, alongside a solid back-end foundation in Ruby and API integration. His journey began in 2015 at Eloti Designs, progressing through advanced training at ALX Africa and Microverse. As a mentor and leader, Eloghene focuses on building strong teams and fostering innovation while empowering junior developers through mentorship at Females in Tech Institute.
Nseghe Essiet
Tech Lead, Chess.com | Software Engineer | Broadcast & Events Expert
Nseghe Essiet is a highly skilled software engineer and the Tech Lead at Chess.com, where he leads the Broadcast & Events team, building real-time streaming systems for millions of users. With a passion for engineering and technology, Nseghe has significantly improved system performance and user engagement by reducing latency and scaling architecture. His technical expertise spans NodeJS, Redis, Kafka, Docker, and more. Nseghe is also deeply involved in chess, music, and writing, reflecting his multifaceted interests and contributions to the tech ecosystem.
Uzoamaka Madueke
Senior Software Engineer | Java | Spring Boot | .NET
Uzoamaka Madueke is an accomplished Senior Software Engineer at Interswitch Group, with expertise in Java, C#, Spring Boot, .NET, Apache Kafka, and MongoDB. With over five years of experience, she plays a pivotal role in designing, developing, and implementing scalable software solutions while mentoring junior developers. Her passion for solving complex technical challenges and driving innovation through collaborative efforts has made her an invaluable asset in delivering high-quality, maintainable code. Prior to Interswitch, she held key roles at FirstBank Nigeria.
Ifeanyi Nnamdi-Okagbue
Engineering Manager, Cavista | Tech Blogger
Ifeanyi Nnamdi-Okagbue is an Engineering Manager at Cavista, leading a team of over 30 engineers, where he drives growth, productivity, and technical excellence. His leadership has resulted in a 150% increase in ticket completion and a reduction in QA bugs by more than 11%. He also contributes to the tech community through his blog, where he shares valuable insights on software development, digital transformation, and AI productivity tools. With over 13 years of experience in IT, Ifeanyi is dedicated to nurturing talent and driving innovation.
Grace Itiung
Software Developer | Data Science Enthusiast
Grace Itiung is a skilled software developer with expertise in JavaScript, TypeScript, Vue.js, and React.js. She currently works at Sterling Bank, where she develops front-end solutions and collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver engaging user interfaces. With a passion for problem-solving and innovation, Grace also has experience in backend development and full-stack projects. Her enthusiasm for continuous learning and adapting to new technologies makes her a valuable contributor in the tech space.
Tumi Akinade
Associate Director & Tech Alliances Lead, Africa at KPMG Nigeria
Tumi Akinade is an accomplished technology leader with extensive experience in IT-enabled business transformation and digital transformation across Africa. As Associate Director at KPMG, he leads strategic partnerships and tech alliances, driving innovation for clients across various sectors. Before joining KPMG, he held senior positions at Microsoft and IBM, focusing on cloud solutions, application modernization, and business development. With a strong background in solution architecture, process automation, and stakeholder management, Tumi has been pivotal in advancing digital initiatives across Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco.
Bukola (Rachael) Olatunji
Software Engineer | Java | Spring Boot | Microservices
Bukola Olatunji is a dedicated Software Engineer with expertise in building scalable and innovative solutions across industries such as finance and AI. Currently at Decagon, she has successfully led a team of engineers, delivering products that improved operational efficiency. She specializes in Java, Spring Boot, PostgreSQL, and Microservices, and has experience deploying robust web servers. Passionate about mentoring and continuous learning, Bukola is committed to creating impactful applications that solve real-world challenges.
Chinedu Ike
Founder & Product Lead | Travel Tech Expert
Chinedu Ike is a seasoned product leader passionate about revolutionizing the travel industry through innovative SaaS solutions. As the Founder and Product Lead at Intraverse Africa, he has successfully developed and launched a travel-selling platform, enabling businesses to integrate and distribute travel services efficiently. With over a decade of experience in travel technology, Chinedu excels in product development, strategic partnerships, and delivering user-centric solutions. His background includes key roles at Odiopay and Touchcore Africa, where he led successful product launches across various verticals.
Telma Aneke
Software Developer | Automation and Security Systems
Telma Aneke is a skilled backend software engineer with a focus on solving complex problems using technology. She has a passion for security and automation systems, bringing innovative solutions to life through collaboration. With experience in Python, backend development, and product management, she is currently a Software Developer at Digital Oxygen Hub. Telma is driven by a desire to leverage her expertise in building impactful, secure, and scalable systems while continuing her journey of professional growth and innovation.
Habibat Yinusa
Software Engineer | Angular, TailwindCSS, NodeJS
Habibat Yinusa is a passionate software engineer with expertise in technologies such as Angular, TailwindCSS, NodeJS, and MySQL. With a strong foundation in backend development, Habibat thrives on solving complex technical problems and building scalable solutions. During her time at COMSOFT LIMITED, she gained significant experience in JavaScript and CSS, contributing to various software projects. A student at the Federal University of Technology Minna, Habibat is dedicated to continuous learning and exploring new technologies to further enhance her development skills.
Ogunyemi Olamiposi
Software Engineer Team Lead @Scelloo
Ogunyemi Olamiposi is a highly skilled software engineer with a proven track record of developing scalable, functional, and user-friendly enterprise applications. As a Team Lead at Scelloo, he brings deep expertise in JavaScript, Python, PHP, SQL, and cloud technologies like AWS and Azure. He is passionate about providing technical leadership, mentoring team members, and driving projects from concept to completion. His role includes collaborating with cross-functional teams, ensuring successful project delivery, and fostering continuous improvement within his team.
Folasade Femi-Lawal (FCA, FCIT, MBA)
Country Manager & Area Business Head, Mastercard
Folasade Femi-Lawal is a recognized leader in digital payments and business transformation, currently serving as Country Manager and Area Business Head at Mastercard for West Africa. With over 25 years of experience across financial services, telecommunications, and management consulting, she has overseen large-scale projects, including managing Nigeria’s largest card base. Femi-Lawal sits on various boards, including Anglo African and the Financial Services Innovators, and is known for her commitment to women’s empowerment and community projects.
Oluwatobi Femi Awoyomi
Software Engineer (Java | Typescript | Python) at SEAMFIX
Oluwatobi Femi Awoyomi is a skilled software engineer with over four years of experience in software development. At SEAMFIX, he is part of the engineering team that develops data and analytic solutions. Oluwatobi has expertise in Java, TypeScript, and Python, with proficiency in tools like SpringBoot, Django, and Docker. His experience includes system maintenance, feature development, and database management with MongoDB and Postgres. He is adept at debugging, testing, and agile methodologies, consistently enhancing existing platforms for clients.
Munirat Olayiwola
Software Engineer | Bitcoin and Lightning Fellow at Qala
Munirat Olayiwola is a full-stack software engineer who transitioned from microbiology to tech. She started in front-end development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before moving into back-end development with Python and Django. Passionate about cloud technology, she manages scalable, secure applications in Google Cloud. Currently a Bitcoin and Lightning Fellow at Qala, Munirat was selected from over 800 applicants. Her prior experience includes roles at Vertex Software Corp. and Decagon, with a strong focus on unit testing and cloud engineering.
Ikenna Ezeani
Senior Frontend Engineer | React | TypeScript
Ikenna Ezeani is a skilled Senior Frontend Engineer at Kuda, where he utilizes React.js and TypeScript to create high-quality web applications. With over four years of experience, he is passionate about delivering intuitive user experiences and has worked across various sectors. Prior to Kuda, Ikenna held roles at Scelloo as a Backend and Frontend Developer, contributing to the development of e-commerce platforms. His background in accounting further enhances his understanding of business-oriented software solutions.
Adunola Lawal
Software Engineer | Frontend Developer
Adunola Lawal is a passionate software engineer with experience in developing responsive, mobile-friendly websites. She has expertise in creating user-friendly interfaces, using modern web technologies like Next.js, React.js, and Node.js. Adunola is always eager to stay updated with the latest web development trends and thrives in collaborative environments. She currently works at Credit Direct Limited as a Software Engineer, having previously worked at several startups and internship programs, where she contributed to developing full-stack applications.
Emmanuel Popoola
Software Engineer | Full Stack Developer (React.js | Vue.js | Node.js | TypeScript)
Emmanuel Popoola is a highly skilled software engineer with over five years of experience in backend and frontend development. Proficient in React.js, Vue.js, Node.js, and Laravel, he excels at building and maintaining web applications, implementing secure user authentication, and managing databases like PostgreSQL and MongoDB. His work spans various industries, with notable contributions to scalable API architecture, cloud solutions, and complex systems using technologies such as Nest.js, Docker, and Prisma ORM. Emmanuel values teamwork, mentorship, and continuous improvement in his work.