Distinguished Fellow: How NiTA 2023 Honoured Aisha Abdullahi’s Technology Leadership

By Tiwa Dave

When the Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA) Advisory Board revealed in October 2023 that Aisha Abdullahi had been chosen as the Most Outstanding IT Management Professional of the Year, the announcement was welcomed with praise across the field. For many, it was not unexpected but instead a long-awaited acknowledgement of a career shaped by clear vision, steady strength, and a firm dedication to quality. The prize will be officially handed over on 9 December 2023 at the Lagos Oriental Resorts, Victoria Island, in what is expected to be one of the most looked-forward-to meetings of Nigeria’s technology community.

The NiTA Awards, now in its ninth edition, has become a standard for quality in the ICT industry. It honours people and groups that have not only accepted new ideas but also shown real results in pushing Nigeria’s digital economy forward. Among its categories, the “Most Outstanding IT Management Professional” prize is seen as one of the toughest, kept for leaders who have shown technical skill, smart planning, and the power to change organisations through technology.

Abdullahi’s road to this honour has been far from ordinary. With more than ten years of practice in IT service support, system management, and business solutions, she has always shown her skill in linking technology with company goals. Through her consultancy, A&A Surf Networks Ltd., she has led projects that strengthened the company’s digital systems, improved online security strength, and made IT processes smoother for better speed and growth. Her leadership has made sure that technology is not just a helper role but a main driver of progress and creativity.

An awards official explained, “This honour is not about everyday IT management; it is about praising those who have reshaped the role of technology in business planning, strength, and progress. Leadership that connects new ideas with real action is what makes this prize different.”

Her colleagues describe her as a leader who builds trust and gives clear direction. One of her colleagues noted, “Working with her has changed the team for the better. She leads with care and accuracy, and she knows how to turn hard problems into chances for growth. This honour at NiTA is no shock to those who see her effect daily.”

But Abdullahi’s story is not only about company success. It is also about teaching and support. Over the years, she has put effort into building skills within her teams, pushing for new ideas, and creating a space where younger workers can succeed. Many of her team members say she gave them the courage to take on leadership roles themselves. Her global experience, having worked in both the UK and Nigeria, has also helped her bring worldwide best methods into local use, making sure her organisations stay strong in a fast-changing digital world.

Looking back on her journey, Abdullahi said, “Technology has always been about more than machines; it is about giving people power, building strong organisations, and opening doors that change communities.”

The coming NiTA Awards event is expected to bring together top names from across Nigeria’s technology space, including inventors, decision-makers, and company leaders. The event will not only honour personal wins but also show the rising importance of IT control, digital change, and new ideas in shaping Nigeria’s financial future.

An industry watcher noted that the honour is important because it shows the agreement of the technology community. “When someone like this is honoured, it is not only for results but also for the trust co-workers place in judgement and leadership. That is a strong approval at the national level.”

For Abdullahi, the prize is both a mark of past results and a call to greater leadership. Her story shows that quality in IT management is not only about keeping systems running but about building strong structures, lifting teams, and driving new ideas that change industries.

This new honour adds to Abdullahi’s growing record as a pioneer in IT leadership. It strengthens her place as one of the experts shaping the present and future of Nigeria’s technology industry, and it makes sure her voice will keep being heard in national talks about digital change, control, and the role of technology in financial growth.

As she gets ready to step onto the stage at the Lagos Oriental Resorts this December, Abdullahi’s journey stands as a source of encouragement to many in the field. Her honour at NiTA 2023 is not only a personal success but also a reminder of the key role that forward-looking leadership plays in building a stronger, more creative Nigeria.