Information and Communication Technologies enthusiasts and pioneers from across the African continent were rewarded for their contributions to the industry at the 9th African ICT achievers awards in Johannesburg, South Africa last weekend.
The event organizers, ForgeAhead in partnership with the Department of Communications, said the winners were nominated and rewarded for their commitment to digital inclusion and African unity and prosperity through the use of technology.
“The competition was really tough this year because of the myriad of innovative and substantial entries we received from across the entire continent,” said a ForgeAhead press communiqué.
The winners include nine individual awards and seven organisational awards. Amongst the successors were HighWay Africa News Agency correspondent from Seychelles, Gervais Henrie who was awarded Excellence in ICT Journalism in Africa and the Mauritian Minister Etienne Sinatambou was the winner of the overall individual award and also the Top Minister in Africa with an ICT Portfolio.
The Rwandan President Paul Kagame, was presented with a the Lifetime Achievers Award for his dedication to the proliferation of the ICT industry in South Africa and across the continent as well as the promotion of the use of technology within governments for better service delivery to citizens and for her support of making use of African experts.
Feedback from the judges was that “These individuals and organisations are doing such great work to embrace ICTs and make this a truly ‘African Century’,” said ForgeAhead.
