By Taiwo Babatunde
The National Entrepreneurship Honors (NEH) has announced Nneoma Njoku as the 2024 recipient of its coveted Pioneer in Technology Innovation Award, recognizing her trail-blazing contributions to Nigeria’s digital economy and her leadership in delivering breakthrough technology solutions that address critical societal challenges.
Founded to spotlight Nigeria’s most impactful entrepreneurs, the NEH selects only one winner per category each year, following a rigorous, three-phase evaluation led by an independent jury of investors, academics, and industry veterans. Nominees are scored on the novelty of their innovation, demonstrable results, measurable social or market impact, and alignment with national development goals.
The honor was presented by none other than Dr. Chuka Ezeani, National Entrepreneurship Research Institute – Director General in the presence of an elite audience that included tech entrepreneurs, policymakers, and international development partners.
Dr. Ezeani, while delivering his remarks, described Nneoma’s contributions as all-encompassing, deeply transformative, and critical to the architecture of Nigeria’s digital future.
“Nneoma Njoku has not only pioneered technological innovation – she has fundamentally reshaped the way we design, deploy, and democratize technology in Nigeria,” noted the Director General. He emphasized how her work spans logistics infrastructure, intelligent data systems, entrepreneurial enablement, and inclusive tech accessibility, consistently empowering both ecosystems and everyday citizens.
An impact-driven entrepreneur, Njoku is widely recognized for her role in driving technology-enabled solutions that bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility. From cloud-based platforms that empower ecommerce to AI-driven fraud detection tools, her ventures have consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in technology innovation.
The ceremony was punctuated by tributes from his colleagues and collaborators, including global venture partners, civic tech leaders, and academia.
As Nigeria continues its pursuit of a digitally inclusive and globally competitive economy, the recognition of Nneoma Njoku as Pioneer in Technology Innovation serves as a powerful reminder: digital solution is not only about innovation, but about vision, access, and impact that reaches every layer of society.