Beacon of ICT Awards | |
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Awarded for | Outstanding contributions to ICT development in Nigeria |
Country | Nigeria |
Presented by | Nigeria CommunicationsWeek |
First awarded | March 2009 |
The Beacon of ICT Awards also known as BoICT Awards are annual ICT awards recognizing organizations' or individuals' contributions to ICT development in Nigeria. The award is organized by Ken Nwogbo, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek , a leading [1] Nigerian ICT newspaper published in Lagos State, Nigeria. [2] [3]
The award was established in March 2009 by Ken Nwogbo, a Nigerian columnist and founder of Communication Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, a leading [4] Nigerian information and communications technology newspaper, headquartered in Okota, Lagos State. [5] The 4th edition of the award was held on 20 April 2013 at Eko Hotels and Suites, [6] with Ernest Ndukwe, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, as the guest of honour. The theme of the 6th edition, held on Saturday 25 April 2015 again at Eko Hotel, was “Mobile Money & Financial Inclusion: Fueling IT with Telecommunications”. [7] [8]
Nigeria is Africa's largest ICT market, accounting for 82% of the continent's telecoms subscribers and 29% of internet usage. Globally, Nigeria ranks 11th in the absolute number of internet users and 7th in the absolute number of mobile phones.
Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and the third most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 following the government's decision to move their capital to Abuja in the center of the country. The Lagos metropolitan area has a total population of roughly 23.5 million as of 2018, making it the largest metropolitan area in Africa. Lagos is a major African financial center and is the economic hub of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. The city has been described as the cultural, financial, and entertainment capital of Africa, and is a significant influence on commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and fashion. Lagos is also among the top ten of the world's fastest-growing cities and urban areas. The megacity has the fourth-highest GDP in Africa and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent. The Lagos metropolitan area is a major educational and cultural centre in Sub Saharan Africa. Due to the large urban population and port traffic volumes, Lagos is classified as a Medium-Port Megacity.
Lagos Island is the principal and central local government area (LGA) in Lagos, it was the capital of Lagos State until 1957. It is part of the Lagos Division. As of the preliminary 2006 Nigerian census, the LGA had a population of 209,437 in an area of 8.7 km2. The LGA only covers the western half of Lagos Island; the eastern half is simply referred to as Lagos Island East LCDA.
The Headies is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to viewers across Nigeria. The 1st and 2nd editions of The Headies were held at the Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos State. Between 2010 and 2012, the awards were held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. Several media personalities in Nigeria have hosted the annual ceremony, including Darey Art Alade, D'banj, Dakore Egbuson, Banky W., Rita Dominic, M.I, Tiwa Savage and Dr SID.
Eko Hotels and Suites is a five-star conference centre hotel in Lagos. 09161518010
Ernest Ndukwe is a Nigerian electrical engineer and former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
Obi Asika is a Nigerian creative industries entrepreneur. He is known for his involvement in the growth of Nigeria's music industry, as the founder and CEO of Storm 360 - an indigenous music label. Storm 360 has spawned a lot of Nigerian entertainers including Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, General Pype, L.O.S., Ms Jaie, Tosin Martins, and Yung 6ix.
The Silverbird Group is a diversified multi-media company with holdings in Radio, Television, Real Estate, and Cinemas headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. The company was established in 1980 by Ben Murray-Bruce and counts Silverbird Cinemas and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) and Mr Nigeria pageants amongst its holdings. Its businesses divisions are Silverbird Properties, Silverbird Film Distribution, Silverbird Communications, Silverbird Cinemas, Silverbird Production, and Dream Magic Studios.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek is a Nigerian online and print newspaper that reports on information technology. The editor-in-chief is Ken Nwogbo. The newspaper is located in Lagos State, Nigeria.Nigeria communicationsweek said that they have been reporting and publishing since 2007.
Ken Nwogbo is a Nigerian business journalist, ICT journalist, contributing writer at The Guardian and founder of Communication Week Media Limited, the publisher of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, a Nigeria information and communications technology newspaper.
Nigeria ICT Fest (NIF) is an initiative to engender economic development in Nigeria by leveraging Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The event's goal is to help Nigeria brace up with emerging cutting edge technologies.
Funke Opeke is a Nigerian electrical engineer, founder of Main Street Technologies and Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable Company, a communications services company based in Lagos State, south-western Nigeria. Her company called MainOne is West Africa's leading communications services and network solutions provider.
John Tanimola Obaro is a Nigerian technology entrepreneur, public speaker, and founder of SystemSpecs Nigeria Limited.
WFM 91.7 MHz is a Nigerian gender sensitive and specialized radio station licensed by Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to broadcast programs for women and their family. It is the first female-oriented radio station in Sub-Saharan Africa. The station is owned by the duo of Dr. Babatunde Okewale and Toun Okewale Sonaiya and operated by Ive's communication. It is headquartered at Arepo community, Ogun State, South West, Nigeria. The broadcasting equipments were supplied by Clyde Broadcast, Glasgow, Scotland.
Nkiru Balonwu is an entrepreneur and activist based in Lagos, Nigeria. She is known for her staunch views of women as the solution to Africa's problems and is the founder and chair of African Women on Board, an independent, African women-led non-profit organisation focused on advancing narratives to improve realities for women and girls of African heritage. She is also founder and managing partner of RDF Strategies, a consultancy firm that provides advice on strategic communication and stakeholder engagement. In 2016, during her time at the helm of Spinlet, Balonwu was featured in YNaija as one of "Nigeria's 100 Most Inspiring Women". In October 2019, Balonwu was awarded the 2020 Powerlist International Award by the Powerlist UK.
Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr. also known as CFA is a Nigerian journalist, technology entrepreneur, business coach, public speaker and television presenter at Channels TV where he hosts the show Tech Trends. He is also a columnist for The Punch called ICT clinic. He is the co-founder of godo.ng, director of Innovation Support Network Hubs and Director of Founder Institute Lagos, and the founder of CFAtech.ng.
Florence Seriki MFR was the founder and CEO of Omatek Ventures Plc., the first Nigerian ICT company in Africa to assemble and manufacture computers and computer parts like computer cases, speakers, keyboards, mouse.
Hamza Idris is a journalist and editor of Nigeria's Daily Trust Newspapers, one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria. He oversees the three titles on its stable: Daily Trust, Daily Trust Saturday and Daily Trust on Sunday.