Honoring Past Pioneers of Product Innovation Shaping Nigeria’s Industry

In the heart of Nigeria’s dynamic technological landscape, product innovation is driving transformative change across industries. The Product Innovation Excellence Award has emerged as one of the country’s most prestigious honors, presented annually to a single outstanding individual whose bold ideas and visionary leadership redefine markets and set new standards for innovation.

This award stands as a benchmark for excellence, not only in product management and development, but in the ability to lead, inspire, and deliver results that are tangible, measurable, and transformative.

Each year, competition for this recognition grows fiercer, with nominations consistently exceeding 300 candidates from across Nigeria’s industries. The rigorous judging process ensures that only the most deserving innovator is selected. A distinguished panel of industry leaders, including global tech executives, product strategists, and academic thought leaders, evaluates nominees based on four core criteria: innovation, market disruption, leadership, and measurable impact.

As Dr. Nneka Oba, Chief Judge and Head of Product Innovation at Digital Innovation Nigeria, notes that “We don’t just look for great products. We look for innovators who can demonstrate clear results, whether through market adoption, customer engagement, or industry-wide disruption. These winners have shaped Nigeria’s tech industry and will continue to influence its direction for years to come.”
 
Past Winners of the Product Innovation Excellence Award (2015–2021)

Olubukola Ashley (2021) — Olubukola transformed accessibility into a central principle of Nigerian product design. By embedding assistive technologies and inclusive frameworks into mainstream product cycles, she elevated accessibility from an afterthought to a standard. Her leadership influenced government platforms and corporate ecosystems alike, reshaping digital adoption for millions of users across Nigeria and inspiring cross-border adoption in Kenya and Uganda.

Ayodeji Babalola (2020) — Ayodeji reimagined mobile-first financial services, pioneering strategies that scaled payments access for underserved communities. His frameworks balanced innovation with regulatory compliance, influencing how fintech ecosystems across West Africa design for both inclusion and growth. His impact extended beyond Nigeria, serving as a model for emerging fintech standards in multiple African markets.

Bamidele Akinyemi (2019) — Bamidele’s pioneering work in comprehensive digital banking platforms directly advanced Nigeria’s financial technology agenda. By designing customer onboarding and automated loan processing solutions, she drove a 25% increase in digital transactions within six months. Her work influenced Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) frameworks and inspired similar initiatives across West Africa, positioning her as a continental figure in fintech platform innovation.

Emmanuel Okoli (2018) — Emmanuel created user engagement frameworks that became the blueprint for how digital platforms interact with customers. His strategies reshaped how telecoms, banks, and startups designed their interfaces, increasing digital literacy nationwide and influencing training curricula in product management bootcamps.

Olajide Aina (2017) — Olajide’s biometric recognition innovations secured enterprise systems and informed protocols later adopted by Nigeria’s national ID and voter verification projects. His pioneering work laid the foundation for trust and identity in digital ecosystems.

Caleb Oluwatobi (2016) — Caleb introduced Nigeria’s first standardized data science curriculum, now adopted by 17 universities nationwide. His framework built a talent pipeline that fueled the country’s rise as a regional hub for analytics, AI, and policy innovation.

Tomide Adesewa (2015) — Tomide’s data visualization models bridged the gap between raw data and governance. His dashboards turned unused national datasets into actionable insights for health, education, and economic policy, influencing evidence-based decision-making at the highest levels.
 
The Judging Panels (2017–2021): A Council of Industry Titans

Each year, the Product Innovation Excellence Award assembles a panel of 15 distinguished experts, including product managers, CEOs, strategists, and academics, to ensure the highest standards of evaluation. Judges have included:

* Dr. Fatima Ogunbiyi — Vice President of Product Strategy, Oracle West Africa
* Tunde Aladejana — Former Head of Digital Transformation, MTN Nigeria
* Prof. Chinelo Daramola — Chair of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Lagos Business School
* Kenechi Udeze — Director of Product Experience, Flutterwave
* Maryam Lawal — Senior Product Strategist, Google Sub-Saharan Africa
* Roland Ayodeji — Managing Partner, Apex Ventures
* Aisha Bello — Head of Technology Partnerships, Microsoft Nigeria
* Julius Effiong — Group Product Manager, Andela
* Vivian Eze — Lead UX Researcher, Interswitch Group
* Dr. Lanre Oyewole — Innovation Consultant, Carnegie Mellon Africa
* Khalid Mustapha — Chief Operating Officer, Paystack
* Tola Onabanjo — Product Leadership Coach & Author, Designing for Impact
* Ngozi Okeke — Chief Product Officer, OnePipe
* Yusuf Nwachukwu — Data Strategy Director, Sterling Bank
* Funke Ijaiya — Head of Growth & Product, Kobo360

As Dr. Oba emphasizes, “The panel is deliberately diverse. It reflects perspectives from startups to global corporations, ensuring that winners are not only innovators in their own fields but also leaders whose work advances Nigeria’s place in global product innovation.”

From pioneering fintech breakthroughs to redefining accessibility and creating national curricula, the past winners of the Product Innovation Excellence Award have shaped the direction of Nigeria’s digital economy. The addition of leaders like Olubukola Ashley (2021), Ayodeji Babalola (2020), and Bamidele Akinyemi (2019) highlights how product managers have become central to innovation, inclusion, and economic transformation.

As the award continues to grow in prestige, it cements Nigeria’s reputation as a breeding ground for global product leaders, innovators who not only shape local markets but also influence practices across Africa and beyond.