Governors, CEOs, engineers, and innovators among 40+ honourees to be celebrated at the gala awards night on June 24
Womenovate, in partnership with Tech Revolution Africa, has announced the official list of award honourees for the 5th edition of the Women in Technology and Engineering Summit and Awards, WITESA 5.0, taking place in Lagos on June 23 and 24, 2026. This marks the first time the summit, now in its fifth year, will be hosted in Lagos, positioning the city as the centre of one of Africa’s most consequential gatherings of women and allies driving change in technology and engineering.
The WITESA 2026 Awards recognise an outstanding group of leaders, innovators, founders, engineers, researchers, and organisations whose work continues to shape the future of Africa’s technology and engineering ecosystem. Honourees span four categories: Leadership Awards, Innovation and Excellence Awards, Social Impact and Advocacy Awards, and Rising Stars and Emerging Leader Awards, alongside Corporate and Institutional Recognition Awards honouring organisations setting the standard for inclusion in the sector.
Among this year’s honourees are senior government officials, corporate executives, founders, and engineers whose contributions span banking, telecommunications, healthcare technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and infrastructure. The list includes His Excellency Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, recognised as Public Sector Technology and Engineering Leader of the Year, and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairperson of Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group, honoured as Private Sector Technology and Innovation Leader of the Year.
The gala awards ceremony will take place on the evening of June 24, 2026, bringing together more than 2,000 participants across nine tracks covering artificial intelligence, green technology, infrastructure, and equitable scaling.
The full list of WITESA 2026 award honourees is as follows:
LEADERSHIP AWARDS
- Engineering Stateswoman of the Federation Award | Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala FNSE (MD/CEO, BAMSAT Nig. Ltd)
- The National Engineering Legacy and Enterprise Award | Engr. Nnoli Akpedeye FNSE (Independent Non-Executive Director, Aradel Holdings Plc)
- Technology Leadership Award | Bukola Ajayi (Chief Information Officer, MTN Nigeria)
- Female Chief Information Officer of the Year Award | Rachel Adeshina (Chief Information Officer, First Bank of Nigeria)
- Digital Transformation Leader of the Year Award | Ude Enebeli (Acting Chief Information Officer, MTN Cameroon)
- Women in Government Technology Leadership Award | Engr. Olayinka Abdul, FNSE, FNICE (General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency)
- Women in Product Leadership Award | Yarmirama Grace (Associate VP, Product Management, Cowrywise Financial Technology Limited)
- Engineering Ecosystem Architect of the Year Award | Engr. Felicia Agubata, PhD, FNSE (Deputy General Manager Terrestrial Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency)
- FinTech Leader of the Year Award | Ife Durosinmi-Etti (CEO, Herconomy)
- Master Engineer and Builder Award | Engr. Comfort Afella FNSE (Constructions Supervisor, Chevron)
INNOVATION & EXCELLENCE AWARDS
- Research Excellence Award in STEM | Professor Folashade Ogunsola (Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos)
- Product Innovation of the Year Award | Oluwatobi Otokiti (VP, Product at Raenest | Founder, ProductDive)
- Female Innovator of the Year | Oluwatosin Olaseinde (CEO, Money Africa and Ladda)
- FinTech Innovation Award | Odunayo Eweniyi (Co-founder/COO, PiggyVest)
- EdTech Innovation Award | Bisola Alabi (Founder, Heels and Tech)
- AI Innovation Award | Dr. Success Ojo (Co-founder and CEO, GMIND AI)
- The National Engineering Infrastructure Award | Equinix (Organisation)
- Best Tech Startup Founder | Damilola Olokesusi (Co-Founder and CEO, Shuttlers)
- Cybersecurity Excellence Award | Confidence Staveley (Founder and Executive Director, Cybersafe Foundation)
- Women in Robotics and Automation Award | Kemisola Bolarinwa (Founder/CEO, Nextwear Technologies)
- Women in Cloud and Emerging Technologies Award | Adora Nwodo (Engineering Leader and Multi-Published Author)
Social impact & advocacy awards
- Public Sector Technology and Engineering Leader of the Year (Male) | His Excellency Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (Engineer | Deputy Governor, Lagos State)
- Public Sector Digital Transformation Leadership Award | Folasade Ambrose-Medebem (Honourable Commissioner, Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State Government)
- Women in Engineering Mentor of the Year Award | Engr. Zansi Adebowale, MNSE (Senior Manager, Trane Middle East and Africa)
- Private Sector Technology and Innovation Leader of the Year (Male) | Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (Chairperson, Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group)
- Male Ally for Women in Technology Award | Dr. Vincent O. Olatunji (National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission)
- Male Ally for Women in Technology Award | Atef Fawaz (Executive Director, eHealth Africa)
- Women in Tech Mentor of the Year Award | Nkemdilim Begho (CEO, Future Software Resources Ltd)
RISING STAR & EMERGING LEADERS AWARDS
- Emerging Tech Entrepreneur Award | Elizabeth Anuoluwapo Ogunseye (Co-founder and CMO, Subify Technologies)
- Next-Gen Startup Founder Award | Omolara Sanni (Co-founder, Middleman Technologies Limited)
- Female Engineer Star of the Year | Engr. Ejeh Faith (Founder and CEO, EFA.ai | Creator, AI and Us)
- Young Engineering Innovator Award | Angel A. I. Chukwudi-Denis (Software Developer and Technology Advocate)
- Young Female Engineer of the Year Award | Eunice Adepoju (Engineer)
- Rising Star in AI Award | Abidemi Borishade (CEO, Unboxie)
- Female Student in STEM Excellence Award | Elizabeth Boluwatife Olurotimi (First Class Student in STEM | Founder, Tech Forge Accelerator)
- Young Female Engineer of the Year Award | Eunice Adepoju (Renewable Energy Engineer & Sustainability Leader))
CORPORATE & INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
- Organisation of the Year for Women in Engineering | Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN)
- The National Engineering Infrastructure Award | Equnix
- Inclusive Workplace of the Year (Technology) | eHealth Africa
- Best Company for Women in Engineering | Shell
- Employer of Choice for Women in Technology | KPMG
“These changemakers are not only building remarkable solutions and driving industry growth, they are creating opportunities, influencing policy, advancing inclusion, strengthening communities, and inspiring the next generation of talent across the continent,” the organisers said in announcing the list. “Congratulations to all our distinguished honourees for the impact you have made and the future you continue to build.”
The WITESA 2026 awards are independently selected to recognise impact, leadership, and contribution to the advancement of women in technology and engineering across Africa. Honourees represent a diverse range of sectors, career stages, and regions, reflecting the breadth and depth of talent shaping the continent’s future.
WITESA 5.0 will take place across two days in Lagos. The summit and exhibition holds on June 23rd 2026 at Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos, from 9:00am, featuring keynote addresses, panel sessions, fireside chats, and an exhibition floor. The gala awards ceremony holds on June 24, 2026 at J.K Randle Event Center, Onikan, Lagos, beginning at 4:30pm with a red carpet reception ahead of the awards presentation.
Tickets for WITESA 5.0 are available now at womenovate.com/2026witesa, with multiple tiers available including Standard, Business, Executive, Premium, and Gala access.
ABOUT WOMENOVATE
Womenovate is an award-winning organisation dedicated to eliminating barriers to innovation for women across Africa. Named Africa’s Startup of the Year, Womenovate runs programmes spanning education, mentorship, and industry events designed to increase the participation and visibility of women in technology, engineering, and related fields. Through its flagship WITESA summit, its Cosmic Girls initiative, and its growing academy, Womenovate has built one of the continent’s most active communities for women in STEAM. The organisation is headquartered in Nigeria and operates across the African continent.
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