NITDA Honours Uwaje with National IT Leadership Award

Emma Okonji

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the government agency responsible for Information Technology (IT) development in Nigeria, has recognised Mr. Chris Uwaje, an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) expert that has mentored several Nigerians in the ICT and digital ecosystem both at home and abroad. 

Uwaje, who is acclaimed as the pioneer of National Information Technology  Development Policy and Strategic framework for Nigeria, was honoured with the ‘National IT Leadership Award’ during the just concluded eNigeria Conference in Abuja.

The NITDA Award, which was presented to Uwaje by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, represents the fundamental knowledge architecture, noteworthy influencer and dynamic accelerator for sustainable digital development and creation of wealth. 

During the presentation, the Minister said: “Indeed it was a historic day for Nigeria and assurances of the attainment of the digital promise for Africa and the world.”

Uwaje is acclaimed as the Pioneer of the National Information Technology Policy for Nigeria (2000-2002) which created NITDA. He is a founding member and Fellow of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). He is also a Co-founder, past President and Fellow of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).  Uwaje is a founding Member of Africa Emergency Technology Response Forum. (AETRF), and he was appointed Africa Chair for IEEE-Global Forum on  IoTs in  2016, a position he currently holds.

He is the founder, Chief Software Architect and Chairman of Mobile Software Solutions and Connect Technologies Limited, respectively. He was Lead Consultant and conceptualized one of the foremost Nigerian Science and  Information Technology Park (SIT Park) and State IT Policy for Akwa Ibom State in 2003-2005.