Nigeria’s leading digital awards organized to recognize, promote, and reward digital personalities and brands on a global platform, the GAGE Awards have announced nominees for this year and opened their voting portals for the public.
The company also announced its partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for the Co-Create Africa International Exhibition. The Annual Co-Create Africa International Tech Expo will now be themed ‘’NITDA Co-Create West Africa Tech Exhibition’’.
The NITDA Co-Create West Africa Tech Expo is a 2-day technology exhibition with over 10,000 visitors and 150 exhibitors expected. It is a showcase of innovative Startups and the latest tech solutions locally and across the continent.
According to the Director General of NITDA, KASHIFU INUWA ABDULLAHI, “Partnership in the tech ecosystem drives job creation and fuels economic growth. Together, we can unleash innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and ignite prosperity.” The strategic partnership between these companies is a major initiative and a major step toward placing Nigeria as a front-runner for fostering favorable startup policies and enabling innovation across the continent.
The CEO of the GAGE Company, Mr. Johnson Anorh, stated that “together, NITDA and Co-Create West Africa will create an unprecedented platform for showcasing cutting-edge advancements, fostering collaboration, and amplifying the impact of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem within Africa and particularly the ECOWAS region. This partnership signals a powerful commitment to nurturing local talent, unlocking opportunities for growth, and positioning Nigeria at the forefront of global technological excellence.
Meanwhile, voting for the several categories of the Gage Awards begins on December 14, 2023, and will span a total of 25 categories.
Earlier this year, the organizers made public the various categories that were open for nomination before their partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
“The call for votes is open to the public and is an opportunity to select and promote your favourite digital personalities and brands on a globally recognized platform, centred on the conversations around tech and the innovative solutions put out daily in the ecosystem, along with its many applications in Africa,” the organizers said.
This year’s GAGE Awards, slated to be held on March 2, 2024, will feature nominees in 25 categories. Some of them include:
EDTECH COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Get Bundi
ALX
Utiva
ULesson
Nexford University
FINTECH COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Opay
Kuda
CredPal
Moniepoint
Piggyvest
ONLINE NEWS PLATFORM OF THE YEAR
Nairametrics
Legit.ng
Daily post
Channels
Arise Tv
Punch
The award will be held on March 2, 2024, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on the voting process, the Convener of the GAGE Awards, Johnson Anorh, said, “We are thrilled to announce the nominees for this year’s prestigious GAGE Awards and to also open the portals for votes. Everyone is encouraged to vote for their preferred nominee and lend their voice to the many more that will join to celebrate the good of digital innovation in Nigeria.”
Mr. Anorh added, “The Nigerian tech space is evolving at a rapid pace, and the exciting innovations currently attracting global interest are a testament to the youthful vibrancy and ingenuity of Nigerians. And with the process we have put in place, you can be sure we will put only the best in the spotlight to recognize excellence and inspire other tech innovators.”
It would be recalled that on May 8, 2023, the GAGE Awards officially closed public nominations of candidates to be considered for the prestigious honour of joining the ranks of past winners. The announcement of the judges’ panel, which now formally forms the academy tasked with choosing the most creative tech companies and figures in Nigeria for the previous year, came just after this.
According to the organizers, the highly eminent roster of the Panel of Judges comprises the following personalities: Chizor Malize: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Adewale Yussuf: CEO, Alt School Africa, Sola Oke: Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria & West Africa; UgoDre Obi-Chukwu: Founder, Nairametrics; Daniel Solomon: Founder, HeroGo; Lucy Pearson: Country Director, British Council Nigeria, among others.
The GAGE Awards are a comprehensive promotion and celebration of digital personalities and brands in Nigeria, with strong government backing through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The 2024 event will feature the biggest brands and personalities in Fintech, Climatetech, Edtech, Healthtech, Insurtech, Logistics and Supply, Content and Media, etc. Booths are already on sale.