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By Kareem Islamiyat
The Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA), organised by Betamedia, marked its 10th anniversary on December 8th with a ceremony at the Naval Dockyard, Lagos.
The event recognised individuals and organisations contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s technology sector.
Obinna Chukwujioke, Co-Founder of Maplerad, received the Most Exceptional Tech Start-up Founder/CEO Award for his role in building financial infrastructure that enables businesses to create, launch, and scale financial products across Africa and other markets.
Maplerad, which Obinna co-founded, supports businesses by simplifying banking systems and has processed more than $100 million in transactions. The company works with businesses in Africa, the UK, and the US, and has expanded its operations to markets including Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Speaking at the event, Felix C. Nnuji, Event Director and Advisory Board Member, said, “As we celebrate this 10th anniversary, we look back at the innovators, startups, companies, and industry leaders who have left their mark on Nigeria’s tech landscape. NiTA has grown in both scope and prestige, providing a platform for recognizing outstanding achievements.”
Obinna’s work with Maplerad includes co-leading one of Africa’s largest seed rounds, securing $6 million from global investors, and guiding the company’s product development in areas such as cross-border payments, virtual cards, and embedded finance infrastructure. He also works with compliance teams and regulators to meet financial licensing and security standards.
Through his leadership, Maplerad has built API-driven systems that reduce barriers for fintech businesses in emerging markets. He has assembled and managed teams across multiple regions to develop products and infrastructure that meet the needs of businesses and consumers.
The 10th edition of NiTA also introduced the Nigeria Academic Excellence Awards (NAEA), an initiative to recognise individuals, institutions, and projects advancing education, research, and academic innovation.
Felix C. Nnuji added, “Through this initiative, we aim to spotlight individuals, institutions, and projects driving academic excellence in Nigeria. It is a step towards encouraging innovation and fostering growth in education and research.”
The event reaffirmed NiTA’s role as a platform for recognising innovation and collaboration in Nigeria’s technology space.
