NCS to host 2020 National Information Technology Merit Awards Nov 26 in Lagos
- Pantami to chair NITMA 2020
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella association of IT professionals, interest groups and stakeholders in Nigeria’s tech sector, towards advancing and accelerating IT development in Nigeria is now set for the 2020 National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) to be chaired by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy (MoCDE), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, next week Thursday, November 26 in Lagos.
National President of NCS, Prof. Adesina Sodiya who was also accompanied by NCS Deputy President, Dr. Mohammad Sirajo Aliyu and chairman of organizing committee for NITMA 2020, Mr. Femi Williams in choosing the awards slated for Thursday, November 26, this year, stated during the International Press briefing held at the NCS Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, that the key areas and issues affecting growth in the sector and society are addressed, adding that for all awards, key criteria include IT specialisations, NCS standards and global best practices were taking into consideration.
Prof. Sodiya disclosed to gentechnews that annually the society recognizes, celebrates and rewards outstanding excellence and exceptional contributions in the Information Technology field through the unique national platform NITMA provides.
“Our focus as a society is progress for the sector in particular and for the nation as a whole. As the acknowledged professional authority facilitating the development of an inclusive, globally competitive, prosperous and knowledge-based digital economy in Nigeria, NCS is committed to recognizing and rewarding outstanding hard work and excellence in accelerating IT development.
According to him, there will be professional fellowship, honourary fellowship, IT Gold Merit prize, as well as digital governor of the year awards, among others.
Prof Sodiya hinted that the professional fellowships will be conferred on members of NCS who are recognized as authorities in their field of computing and have distinguished themselves through significant contribution to the growth of Information Technology through their professional expertise among other activities.
He disclosed that the Honourary Fellowship, would be conferred on distinguished personalities for their dedication and exemplary service to IT growth and development in Nigeria.
He listed the honourary fellowship awardees, for instance to include Engineer Abdullahi Sule, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Bello Mohammad Matawalle, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, CEO First Bank of Nigeria Ltd and Subsidiaries, and Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
On his part, the chairman of the organizing committee, Mr. William, announced that plans are on top gear to comply with the COVID-19 protocols, hence, an estimated 200 participants would be accommodated at the venue while others would be joined online through various streaming options such as Zoom, Facebook live among others.