Telecommunications Engineer Ajayi Olanrewaju Wins Dratech Telecommunications Innovation Excellence Award 2024

By Steven

The atmosphere at the Dratech International Conference in Lagos shifted last night when the Telecommunications Innovation Excellence Award 2024 was announced. The hall had already celebrated several category winners, but there was a noticeable rise in energy when the name Ajayi Olanrewaju appeared on the giant LED screen. His win did not surprise those who have followed his work closely.

It simply confirmed what many in the sector have observed for years. His career sits at the point where deep technical knowledge, global experience, and practical engineering solutions come together in a way that moves the industry forward.

The Telecommunications Innovation Excellence Award is one of Dratech’s most respected honours. It recognises individuals who shape the future of Africa’s digital infrastructure through sustained technical leadership, research depth, and results that translate into real network improvements for businesses and communities.

Ajayi’s win reflects the core of that mission. His journey has consistently demonstrated a commitment to improving how people connect, communicate, and interact with digital systems across modern cities.

Ayaji’s foundation in telecommunications began with a degree in Computer Science, followed by a master’s degree in Information Technology. This academic path gave him a strong understanding of computing systems and the network technologies that support them. Today, he is a PhD researcher in Information Technology at the University of the Cumberlands, focusing on the relationship between 5G, IoT, and industrial automation. His research examines how low latency communication, intelligent networks, and data driven processes can transform modern manufacturing. He studies how factories can make decisions faster and maintain better quality control by using real time insights from connected machines. It is work that blends theoretical modelling with practical engineering knowledge, and it is the type of research that will define how Industry 4.0 evolves in the coming years.

Before his academic pursuits became a central part of his work, Ajayi built more than a decade of experience in telecommunications across Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This international exposure shaped his ability to work in different regulatory environments, understand diverse user behaviours, and adapt engineering solutions to match each region’s unique network challenges. His early career placed him directly in the field as a radio frequency engineer working on 3G networks. From there, he advanced into LTE and 5G roles, supporting large mobile operators and equipment vendors.

His portfolio includes roles as a radio frequency engineer, an optimization consultant, and a 5G subject matter expert. In these positions he addressed the daily realities that customers face on mobile networks, such as call drops, low throughput during peak hours, or coverage gaps in growing cities. He worked on large scale swap projects, where network equipment from one vendor is replaced with another, and he supported early 5G trials when operators across Europe and Africa were taking their first steps into the next generation of mobile broadband. His work on open RAN deployments in the United States forms part of the ongoing effort to make mobile networks more flexible and cost efficient.

These experiences were not just operational. They built the foundation for research questions that now define his academic work. Ajayi’s publications explore topics such as AI based radio resource management, safe and transparent decision making in autonomous systems, data governance, cloud analytics, and the use of 5G IoT frameworks in smart manufacturing. His writing has appeared in journals covering telecommunications engineering, robotics, cybersecurity, cloud systems, and industrial automation. The consistency across his work is clear. Whether he is evaluating a live radio network or designing a predictive model for smart factories, he focuses on how technology can support real users and real businesses.

Ajayi’s career also reflects the type of versatility that modern network engineering demands. It is not enough to understand antennas or parameters. Today’s telecommunications environment requires familiarity with cloud architecture, automation, cybersecurity, and large scale data processing. His professional certifications in project management, cloud architecture, IT service management, and business strategy give him this broader view. They allow him to bring structure, risk awareness, and long term thinking into technical discussions. That approach has earned him recognition from employers and international organisations. His endorsement from the United Kingdom for entrepreneurship is one example of how his work is valued beyond project results.

The award committee noted that Ajayi’s work consistently bridges research and real world application. His research on 5G slicing, industrial IoT devices, and low latency communication is grounded in what he has seen on the field. His engineering background keeps the research practical, while his academic work brings depth to the technical decisions he makes in industry roles. This blend is increasingly important as telecoms systems evolve into intelligent, distributed networks. It is no longer enough to design for peak traffic or average load. Networks must now support autonomous systems, robotics, smart cities, and critical industrial operations.

The committee highlighted that Ajayi’s work speaks to this future.
Beyond the technical details, his colleagues often describe him as someone who sees telecommunications as a tool for progress. His contributions support digital transformation in factories, reduce operational costs for network providers, and create better experiences for everyday users. In a continent where connectivity shapes economic growth, individuals who understand both the engineering challenges and the strategic implications of modern networks play an important role.

Ajayi’s win at the Dratech International Conference signals more than personal success. It reinforces the direction the industry is heading. Africa is entering a phase where expertise in advanced wireless systems, automation, and data driven engineering is key to remaining competitive. The Dratech Telecommunications Innovation Excellence Award celebrates professionals who are not only keeping pace with this shift, but helping to set the standard.
As the ceremony closed, the organisers used the moment to encourage engineers, researchers, and innovators to prepare for the 2025 edition of the conference.

They emphasised that the next wave of submissions should reflect a deep understanding of Africa’s digital future. Ajayi’s work provides a clear example of what that standard looks like. It is grounded in research, shaped by global experience, and focused on solutions that create real impact.

For now, the spotlight rests on Ajayi Olanrewaju. His career illustrates what is possible when technical skill is matched with curiosity, discipline, and purpose. His award is a well earned mark of distinction, and it positions him among the voices shaping the next chapter of telecommunications in Africa.