Software Innovation Excellence Award by Tech Trailblazer Visionary Prize Honors New Era of Engineering Leadership

By: Adeoye Adewale
 
The Software Innovation Excellence Award by Tech Trailblazer Visionary Prize stands as one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms of recognition for groundbreaking achievements in software engineering and digital innovation. The 2021 edition celebrated the country’s foremost technology minds—individuals whose vision and ingenuity continue to reshape Africa’s technological future.

Since its inception, the award has championed excellence, recognizing both achievement and potential among engineers who are redefining the limits of what technology can accomplish. Each year, the event attracts distinguished guests from government, academia, and industry, uniting leaders whose collective work drives the nation’s progress in automation, infrastructure modernization, and AI-driven innovation.

The selection committee, composed of some of the most respected figures in technology, ensures a rigorous and transparent review process that reflects the highest standards of professional excellence. Among its members are:

● Dr. Adaobi Eze, Chief Technology Officer, Center for Software Engineering Innovative Solutions

● Prof. Ibrahim Lawal, Director, Institute of Standards and Technology

● Engr. Fatima Bello, Chairperson, Software Design and Development Initiative

● Dr. Yusuf Mohammed, Director of Research and Development, Lagos Innovations Board

● Dr. Zainab Ibrahim, Head of Software Engineering Innovation Research, Nigerian Institute of Technology and Design (NITD)

This distinguished panel evaluates each nominee on measurable innovation, scalability, impact on the national economy, and global competitiveness. Their deliberations culminate in the recognition of one individual whose work represents the highest expression of engineering excellence.

In 2021, Jesutoba Lopez was selected as the recipient of the Software Innovation Excellence Award for his pioneering development of Agentic AI, an intelligent automation and orchestration framework that has become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s financial technology infrastructure. Through Agentic AI, Lopez introduced self-learning microservices, predictive recovery systems, and adaptive fraud detection mechanisms that have achieved a near 100% uptime across national payment platforms.

“Jesutoba Lopez has redefined the future of software reliability in Africa,” remarked Dr. Adaobi Eze, head of the award committee. “His contributions through Agentic AI have positioned Nigeria among the world’s leading nations in intelligent system design.”

Unlike traditional recognition programs that focus on niche sectors, the Software Innovation Excellence Award celebrates innovations with cross-industry impact. Lopez’s framework has been adopted by financial institutions, telecom providers, and government agencies, each benefiting from enhanced scalability, automation, and security. The success of Agentic AI has since inspired partnerships across Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda, marking the framework as one of Africa’s most influential indigenous technologies.

“Innovation is not just about invention, it is about responsibility,” Lopez stated in his acceptance remarks. “Agentic AI was built on the principle that automation must be accountable, transparent, and human-centered.”

Over the years, past winners of the Tech Trailblazer Visionary Prize have included innovators who transformed digital identity systems, smart energy infrastructure, and AI-driven health technologies. Lopez’s addition to this distinguished list signifies a new chapter in Nigeria’s technological evolution, one defined by self-reliant intelligence, ethical automation, and sustainable engineering practices.