In the heart of Nigeria’s dynamic technological landscape, product innovation is driving transformative change across industries. The Product Innovation Excellence Award is one of the country’s most prestigious honors, recognizing a single exceptional individual each year whose bold ideas and visionary leadership are shaping the future of product innovation in Nigeria and beyond. This award stands as a symbol of excellence, not just in product management and development, but in the capacity to lead, innovate, and create products that push boundaries and redefine markets.
The competition for this award is intense and growing each year. Nominations consistently exceed 300 candidates, representing a broad spectrum of industries across Nigeria. The rigorous judging process ensures that only the most deserving innovator is selected annually. A panel of respected industry leaders including senior executives from global tech companies and esteemed thought leaders in product management, carefully evaluates each nominee. Their criteria include the level of innovation behind the product, the market disruption it has caused, the leadership demonstrated in its creation, management, and implementation, and the measurable impact the product has made on its respective industry. This ensures that the award honors those who have not only contributed exceptional products but also delivered results that are both tangible and transformative for the market.
The Product Innovation Excellence Award has quickly become a benchmark of achievement within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. Its history has garnered the attention and respect of the wider business community, including investors, policymakers, and international tech organizations. A panel of 15 industry experts, including product managers, CEOs, and business strategists, evaluates the nominees based on four key criteria: innovation, market disruption, leadership, and measurable impact. This thorough and transparent evaluation process ensures that the one annual award recipient is a standout leader whose product has made a far-reaching difference.
“We don’t just look for great products,” says Dr. Nneka Oba, Head of Product Innovation at Digital Innovation Nigeria and the Chief Judge of the Product Innovation Excellence Award. “We look for innovators who can demonstrate clear results, whether it’s increasing user engagement, improving operational efficiency, or disrupting existing business models. These winners are leaders who have shaped the industry and will continue to do so for years to come.”
As the competition continues to grow, the Product Innovation Excellence Award remains a critical platform for recognizing and elevating Nigeria’s brightest innovators. Honoring those who have made a profound impact contributes to the country’s growing reputation as a leader in global product innovation. The award not only recognizes excellence but also provides a spotlight for further innovation, encouraging others to follow in the footsteps of these trailblazers.
Here’s a look at the standout product innovators who have earned the Product Innovation Excellence Award over the past six years:
• Olawale Osineye (2020) – Olawale’s pioneering work in digital wallet innovation directly advanced Nigeria’s national financial inclusion agenda. By designing solutions that enabled rural communities to transact without internet access, he significantly expanded access to banking in underserved areas. His contributions have since influenced Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy frameworks and inspired similar initiatives in Ghana and Uganda, making him a national figure in inclusive fintech innovation.
• Olushola Babalola (2019) – As a Senior Product Manager at PwC Nigeria, Olushola led the nationwide adoption of enterprise automation through ServiceNow, elevating digital standards across financial services and public sector institutions. His implementation models have been used in national IT modernization efforts, making him a catalyst for Nigeria’s shift toward digital governance and operational efficiency at scale.
• Emmanuel Okoli (2018) – Emmanuel’s user engagement frameworks became the blueprint for how digital platforms across Nigeria connect with customers. His strategies adopted by telecoms, banks, and media tech startups, reshaped how millions interact with digital products, increasing digital literacy and usability across the country. His influence has also shaped curriculum design in local product management bootcamps.
• Olajide Aina (2017) – Olajide’s innovations in biometric pattern recognition not only strengthened enterprise security but also shaped the biometric protocols now used in Nigeria’s national ID program and voter verification systems. His work laid the foundation for trust and identity management in digital systems used by government and fintech ecosystems alike.
• Caleb Oluwatobi (2016) – Caleb’s introduction of Nigeria’s first standardized data science curriculum transformed the nation’s talent pipeline. Now deployed across 17 universities, his framework has elevated the country’s data competency and fueled the emergence of Nigeria as a regional hub for analytics, AI, and data-driven policy innovation.
• Tomide Adesewa (2015) – Tomide’s data visualization models bridged the gap between raw data and national decision-making. His dashboards were adopted by agencies working on health, education, and economic development, turning previously unused datasets into strategic policy tools. His work continues to guide evidence-based governance across multiple sectors in Nigeria.
2020 Judging Panel: A Council of Industry Titans
Each year, the Product Innovation Excellence Award assembles a world-class judging panel composed of the most respected minds in product management, technology leadership, and business strategy. This group ensures a fair, competitive, and high-standard selection process, embodying the award’s core mission: to recognize only the very best in product innovation.
The 2020 panel was no exception. Carefully selected for their deep expertise, strategic vision, and influence across global markets, these judges brought unparalleled rigor and insight to the evaluation process. Their collective experience spans top-tier global tech firms, venture capital, academia, and corporate innovation.
Judges for the 2020 Product Innovation Excellence Award 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 & Faculty Member, 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. Nneka Oba emphasized, “We always ensure the judging panel is composed of the best of the best people who understand what great looks like, and who can spot transformative potential that goes beyond the surface.”
and then