The founder &CEO Op3n Labs, David Jonathan has been presented with Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Award as the Innovator of the Year. The award was presented to him in recognition of his contributions towards the development of tech ecosystem in Nigeria.

He is a graduate of Applied Information Technology and has made a significant foray in the tech space. His 16 years in the industry transverse across various organisations with hands-on solid experience, even as a technology training instructor at the formative years of his journey.

Aside being a software engineer, David is a dedicated cloud and cybersecurity professional with a passion for ensuring the digital safety of organizations and individuals. His keen interest in the cloud and cybersecurity drives him to innovate and adapt, ensuring that organizations not only meet but exceed their security objectives, fostering trust and resilience in an ever-evolving digital landscape. He is also a co-founder of a few tech companies in Nigeria where he has assisted young Nigerians in actualizing their dreams.

Prior to this award, he was also nominated and awarded the “TECH EDUCATION INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR” due to his numerous contributions to the education space, one of which is His online course marketplace site Paideya.

The “LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARDS is Africa’s number one online media awards organised by lgbereTV and endorsed by the African Union, African Film Institute.The awards are typically given based on a range of criteria that highlight the individual’s or recipient’s achievements, contributions, and impact in their fields.

According to the founder and director Emeh Anyalekwa James, some of the criteria used for the awards are

1. Innovation and Creativity: This criterion evaluates the uniqueness, originality, and creativity of the technology or solution developed by the individual or team. It assesses how the innovation has pushed boundaries in the ICT field.

2. Impact and Relevance: This criterion looks at the significance of the innovation in terms of its impact on society, industry, or specific sectors. It considers how the technology has improved processes, solved critical problems, or enhanced the quality of life.

3. Technical Excellence: This measures the technical sophistication and complexity of the innovation. It includes an assessment of the design, development, and implementation processes.

4. Sustainability and Scalability: This criterion examines how sustainable the innovation is in terms of environmental, economic, and social factors. It also considers the potential for scaling the innovation for broader application or use.

5. Commercial Viability and Business Value: This focuses on the economic impact of the innovation, including its market potential, revenue generation, and overall business value.

6. User Adoption and Experience: This assesses the level of adoption of the innovation by its intended users and the user experience it provides. It includes factors like ease of use, accessibility, and user satisfaction.

7. Contribution to Advancing ICT: This evaluates how the innovation contributes to the advancement of the ICT field, including fostering new research, developing new methodologies, or setting new industry standards.

8. Ethical Considerations and Social Responsibility: This looks at how the innovation aligns with ethical standards and promotes social responsibility, including considerations of privacy, security, and digital inclusion.

9. Collaboration and Teamwork: For team recipients, this assesses the effectiveness of collaboration and teamwork in the development and execution of the innovation.

10. Leadership and Vision: This criterion is often used for individual recipients, focusing on their leadership skills, vision for the future of ICT, and ability to inspire others in the field.

“Some of the past recipients are Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Ngozi Okonjolweala, Godwin Maduka, Orji Uzor Kalu”, a letter signed by Emeh James Anya and Prof. B. I Babafemi the LOC secretary and Chairman respectively.

The recipient, David Jonathan expressed gratitude to the organisers for finding him worthy of the award and pledged to contribute more to the development of tech sector in Nigeria and beyond.