Rukayat Balogun has been selected to receive the 2025 Excellence in Leadership Award at the Limitless Without Borders (LWB) Awards UK, a globally recognised honour that celebrates transformative leadership, impact-driven innovation, and outstanding service across diverse sectors. The nomination phase concluded earlier this year, and the award is set to be formally announced after the upcoming LWB Awards ceremony.

As the Founder of Lunddr Services, Rukayat has carved a distinctive path as one of Nigeria’s most impactful data professionals. Her journey blends data analytics, machine learning, and education advocacy, resulting in real-world change that has affected lives across Nigeria and beyond. She is widely regarded as a leader who exemplifies vision, consistency, and values-led innovation.

“Being confirmed for this award is a powerful reminder that you do not have to raise your voice to lead. You simply have to stay committed, stay visible, and stay rooted in service,” Rukayat said following the announcement of her selection.

She is best known for her work on the AI Global Manual, a landmark educational resource she co-authored. The manual was adopted by four Nigerian universities during the Cross River Campus Tech Campaign 2025, bringing accessible and practical AI knowledge to students in underserved regions. Her work continues to help bridge the gap between academic theory and technological application.

In addition to her technical work, Rukayat has championed inclusive leadership and mentorship. She previously served as Chair of the IEEE Student Branch, where she facilitated industry-academia collaborations and promoted technology for the public good. In 2021, she was recognised as the Best Innovator of Ogun State, highlighting her early commitment to using data as a force for social advancement.

“Leadership, to me, is about showing up when it is least convenient. It is about building systems that elevate others and then stepping back to let them shine,” she added. “This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs to the people and teams who trusted me to lead.”

Rukayat holds a Master’s in Data Analytics and Technology from the University of Greater Manchester and a first degree in Mathematics Education. This academic grounding fuels her work at Lunddr Services, where she leads efforts to design data-driven tools for smarter decision-making in the public and private sectors.

Through her mentorship in the Ogun Tech Community, Rukayat supports the growth of emerging talent, particularly young women who are often underrepresented in the tech industry. Her leadership is both strategic and human, anchored in the belief that innovation must be inclusive to be effective.

As the LWB Awards UK prepares to honour global changemakers, Rukayat Balogun’s recognition signals the growing impact of African women in tech leadership. Her story reflects what happens when data, vision, and heart come together to transform not just systems, but lives.