Olorundare Receives 2026 eGovernment Advocate Award

Emma Okonji

President of the Internet Society (ISOC) Nigeria Chapter, Kunle Olorundare, has been honored with the eGovernment Advocate of the Year Award 2026 at the Nigeria eGovernment Excellence Awards held in Lagos recently.

The award, presented by the Chairman of the Nigeria eGovernment Summit, Lanre Ajayi, recognises Olorundare’s outstanding contributions to advancing digital governance and his sustained advocacy on internet safety, and for governments at all levels to adopt digital technologies for more transparent, efficient, and inclusive governance.

The honor was presented during the Nigeria eGovernment Summit, themed: ‘Mainstreaming Technologies in Nigeria Election Management’, which brought together technology leaders, policymakers, government representatives, and digital advocates from across Nigeria.

Speaking after receiving the award, Olorundare stated that the recognition underscored his core belief that digital governance must empower every citizen, from urban professionals to underserved grassroots communities. Describing the award as a call to greater action, he pledged to expand his impact across Nigeria, Africa, and the global digital ecosystem.

He dedicated the award to his mother and to the memory of his late father, who passed away in February 2026, acknowledging the values of service, dedication, and advocacy he inherited from them.

As President of ISOC Nigeria, Olorundare has championed digital inclusion, digital literacy, and online safety, paying particular attention to underserved groups, indigenous women, young people, and small business owners. Through targeted programs, entrepreneurs receive practical training in cybersecurity, digital safety, and e-commerce to strengthen their participation in the digital economy.

His leadership has also driven nationwide initiatives, including Safer Internet Day, which has expanded into a movement across all 36 states—empowering young people with digital literacy skills and supporting educators in creating safer online environments. Other key initiatives include Empowering Girls in ICT, which encourages secondary school girls to pursue STEM careers, and Celebrating Women in Technology, which highlights women leaders and innovators across the tech sector.

Beyond digital literacy, Olorundare actively contributes to national policy development, multistakeholder engagement, and capacity building. He represents ISOC Nigeria on the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group (NIGF-MAG) and has coordinated the Nigerian School on Internet Governance (NSIG) for multiple consecutive editions, providing a crucial learning platform for policymakers, academics, and emerging leaders.

Additionally, he is leading the establishment of the Nigerian School on Data and AI Governance, the first initiative of its kind on the African continent, aimed at building capacity and leadership in emerging technologies and data governance.