NIWIIT Honours Aribidesi and Others

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIIT), the foremost national platform championing female excellence in tech, drew curtains on its 10th National Conference and 11th Annual General Meeting with a stirring Gala and Awards Night in Abuja. The event, themed InnovativeHer ‘25, brought together iconic women across generations who have pioneered, mentored, and revolutionised Nigeria’s digital landscape.

The evening was not just a culmination of three days of deliberation and knowledge-sharing, but also a luminous celebration of leadership, innovation, and resilience among women in tech. In her opening presidential remarks, Dr. Ayodele Oluwakemi Sade, FNCS, welcomed guests with heartfelt appreciation, describing the event as “a significant moment, not just for my race, but for every woman and girl who dares to innovate and transform the digital space.”

“Tonight, we celebrate excellence, leadership, resilience, and innovation,” she said. “At the heart of our mission lies a remarkable year of growth, digital skill-building, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Let this night inspire each of us to do more to mentor, to support, and to work hand in hand. Because together, we are building a tech ecosystem where no woman is left behind.”

Among those honoured in the prestigious Investiture of New Iconic Women in IT was Alhaja Asiwaju Muibat Folashade Aribidesi, a retired Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria and matron of PEACE Magazine. With over three decades of experience in internal audit, IT governance, and enterprise learning development, Aribidesi is widely respected for her legacy in technology regulation and advocacy. A Certified Information Systems Auditor and Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), she currently serves on the Nigeria Blockchain Policy Implementation Committee.

The awards also celebrated Dr. Moyin Florence Babalola, a Chief Lecturer in Computer Science at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, known for her remarkable dedication to computing education over a 20-year career. She was lauded for shaping academic excellence and professional preparedness among young Nigerians in tech.

Also honoured was Bamidele Bayo-Osibo, a past president of NIWIIT and international IT consultant, whose career spans over 25 years. As the founder of the Initiative for Information Technology Capacity Building, she has worked extensively to strengthen IT footprints in Nigeria through training and development. Her international consulting experience, including a decade with IBM clients in Europe’s telecom sector, has set benchmarks in tech management and mentorship.

Professor Virginia Ebere Ejiofor, a First-Class Computer Science graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and a long-serving academic in the same institution, was recognised for her scholarly contributions and mentorship. With over 20 PhD and 40 MSc students supervised, she continues to inspire generations of researchers and digital innovators.

Another beacon celebrated was Dr. Amina Sambo-Magaji, a renowned AI expert, policy strategist, and founder of a tech empowerment foundation. With over 21 years of building Nigeria’s startup and innovation ecosystem, she has been pivotal in advocating for inclusive technology adoption, particularly for women and girls across Nigeria.

The event, marked by elegance and impact, saw an outpouring of support from stakeholders, industry leaders, and advocates of gender inclusion in technology. It served not only as a recognition of past achievements but a clarion call to deepen mentorship and expand digital frontiers for the next generation of Nigerian women in IT.

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