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Mike Olajide Bags ISPON Best Software Entrepreneurship Award 2017
Mr.Michael Olajide, has received the “Dr. Chijioke Agu’s Cup for Software Excellence”, for the Best Software Entrepreneurship of the Year 2017.
Mr. Oljaide, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration at Sidmach Technologies, was crowned the winner at the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) NITMA Award 2017, held at Muson Center, Lagos.
Presenting the cash award in his office on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, the ISPON President, James Emadoye, said that the recipient has distinguished himself and fulfilled the expectations from winners of the award by showing software leadership passion; investment in IT human resources capacity building; creative contributions to IT industry strategies; youth innovation mentoring; information analysis and data sharing; customer satisfaction and continuing education and training.
ISPON, in collaboration with the Late Simon Agu’s family, established the Simon Agu Prize for Software Excellence, an annual award for the ‘Best Software Entrepreneur of the year’ in a bid to keep alive the excellent contributions of Engineer Simon Agu, to the software profession and industry in general.
ISPON presented the award initiative to NCS, the umbrella body, and it received the blessing and approval for inclusion into the annual NITMA award.
ISPON President said, “It is a great testament, being what you are doing and the entire Sidmach team.
“You are building software experts that will keep the industry thriving after we leave.
“It is therefore, on behalf of the National Executive Council of the Institute (ISPON) that we present to you the awards as the winner of Dr. Chijioke Agu prize for Best Software Entrepreneur 2017 which was awarded to you at NITMA 2017.”
Mr. Olajide, in responding, said that the late software sage, Dr. Agu was a great and visionary man who championed the course for indigenous software development.
“He was a great example to us in the software industry”.
He ceased the time to admonish the government to adopt indigenous software as means to grow the economy.
In his words, “Nigeria’s survivability revolves around the practitioners in the software industry.
“Therefore, ISPON has become a very important Institute. Not because it is ISPON rather we in the software industry have the talents to take this nation to the next level. If we fail, Nigeria is going no where.
“The earlier our Government recognises this, the better for the economy.
“Today, the aural is around artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data, cybersecurity, et cetera.
“Today, if you give me your farm’s longitude and latitude, I can stay in my office and predict your yield. What makes that possible is software.
“Today, people’s longevity can be predicted. We just have to wake up to the realities and the Government has to wake up to it responsibility by giving the indigenous software practitioners priority.
“It is confusing that Government maintains the penchant for foreign software; something that indigenous companies can handle very well.
“Today, government is crying that those projects are failing. Whose fault is it? Adaptability is important in software development; Nigeria is a peculiar place. So, software must be designed to solve the local needs.
He also called on software practitioners to rally round ISPON as a formidable platform to move the industry forward.
“We have a capable President, who knows his onus. He needs our support to move the industry to a whole new level.
On that note, the awardee donated the cash award to the Institute for the continuation of its advocacy programmes in the country.
“The man who started this showed enough interest and for the good of the industry, young people and software practice in general.
“So, I like to also donate this cheque to ISPON so that it can carry on the good works of advocacy.”
Receiving the cheque, the President appreciated the donor for his magnanimity and support towards the growth of ISPON.
“This is what we talk about: commitment to your nation. We are not working for what to eat today rather for the generations unborn to be proud of us.”
He promised that the donation will be utilised for the purpose it was donated.
“Again, we shall leverage this for the interest of our people, industry and country at large.
“We will keep appealing to the conscience of our people who are ignorant of the damages they are doing to the country for not patronising indigenous companies, especially in the technology space.
“Our technologies are far advanced than what is obtainable in many countries.
“It is a matter of having confidence in our own. It is a pity that our people are using the Condit pipe to siphon money from the treasury.
Well, we will keep fighting for the common good of our country”, Emadoye said.
Simon Agu was the founder and chairman of Computer Industry Systems Associates (Nigeria) Limited which metamorphosed to Neptune Software, a foremost international software company growing from 3 to 100 professional staff, among other contributions he made to bring the Nigerian software industry to the limelight.
The ISPON President was accompanied by the Institute’s Treasurer, Bimbo Abioye; the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Mr. Iyiola Ayoola and the Administrative Secretary of ISPON, Paul Uzoechina.
Google and UpSkill Universe, Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading AI and business skills training partner, have announced a major redesign of the Google Hustle Academy programme.
For the first time, the free training initiative is open to everyone, not just business owners. The new curriculum is focused on equipping individuals and entrepreneurs with practical AI skills.
Small businesses are the engine of Africa’s economy, creating over 80% of jobs on the continent. To help them grow, the Hustle Academy was launched in 2022, providing bootcamp-style training on business strategy, digital skills, AI, and leadership. The program has since trained over 18,000 SMEs, with many reporting increased revenue and job creation.
Now, as AI reshapes the job market, the program is evolving. The 2026 edition is built for anyone in Sub-Saharan Africa, including employees, students, and jobseekers, who wants to use AI to advance their career.
To meet the needs of a diverse audience, the new format includes short, 60-minute webinars and more immersive, high-impact bootcamps. These sessions are laser-focused on putting AI to work immediately in areas like digital commerce, marketing, and growth strategy.
Speaking about the academy, Gori Yahaya, Founder & CEO UpSkill Universe said “The 2026 Hustle Academy is designed to close the AI Skills gap with hands-on training that is short, focused, and immediately useful. AI is reshaping how businesses win and how careers are built, right across this continent.
“We’re excited to renew our partnership, now in its fifth year with Google, combining their global AI leadership with our deep regional AI expertise. The next wave of AI leaders will come from this continent. We are making sure they are ready.”
The Hustle Academy initiative has strengthened digital competitiveness across emerging African economies by enabling SMEs to move beyond AI awareness to practical implementation, positioning them for sustained growth in an increasingly AI-driven business environment.
“We believe that the future of Africa’s digital economy lies in the hands of individuals and entrepreneurs alike. Our new strategy focuses on scaling reach by training individuals in the latest AI-centered tools and techniques,” said a Google representative.
Lagos State has dragged 45 individuals and firms, including Bi-Courtney Aviation, DAAR Communications and Leaders & Company, to revenue court for tax debts running into billions of naira.
Lagos Govt
Bi-Courtney, operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, faces N38.7 million claim; DAAR, behind Africa Independent Television, owes N22.4 million; ThisDay publishers Leaders & Company allegedly skip N67.1 million.
GMT Energy Resources tops corporates at N145.8 million, followed by Sheriff Deputies at N132.1 million; others like Heyden Petroleum, AA Rescue, BRT operator Primero also listed.
Individuals owe N13.5 million to N35 million each.
Attorney-General Lawal Pedro said suits followed ignored notices, aiming to enforce laws and fund infrastructure.
More defendants: IENG Nigeria, James Fisher, V Care Diagnostics, Venture Garden, Saro Africa, Barry Callebaut, Native Media, First Consulting, Eyowo Payments.
Compliant taxpayers post-notice escaped prosecution; defaulters risk penalties, interest, jail.
Pedro urged prompt filings and payments.
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians on counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat products being sold in Lagos.
NAFDAC said Nestle Nigeria, the genuine Marketing Authorisation Holder of the product, received a complaint of suspected counterfeit purportedly manufactured by Nestlé Spain, bearing Batch Code 308002910.
It said that Nestle Nigeria reported that the complainant described that the counterfeit product emitted an odour suggestive of possible contact with fuel.
NAFDAC said that preliminary review of the product by Nestle Nigeria indicated that it had expired, in spite of the container displaying an expiry date of 10-2026, which suggested that the date coding had been tampered with (revalidated).
Nestle Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Wheat is a nutritious infant cereal, designed to be a delicious first food for infants.
NAFDAC said that its post-marketing surveillance’s directorate officers in Lagos conducted a surveillance visit to Maxland Shopping Centre, 193 Ago Palace, Okota, where the product was purchased by the complainant.
It added that the suspected counterfeit and unregistered Cerelac were found on sale at the premises and subsequently mopped up, while Nestle assisted in identifying the distinguishing features between registered and unregistered product.
According to the regulatory agency, Nestle revealed that the unregistered product used a hyphen (-) to separate the day from the year, while the registered product used a slash (/) to separate the day from the year.
“It is important to note that Nestle Nigeria is not aware of the channels through which the products are supplied into the country.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or send an email to [email protected],” NAFDAC said.
The agency warned that counterfeit formula often lacked essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, leading to stunted growth or developmental issues.
It said that such formula might also contain contaminants that might lead to severe health consequences to infants or even death.
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health adding that it would continue surveillance activities to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of all NAFDAC-regulated products circulating in Nigeria.
It said that all zonal directors of the agency and state coordinators had been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the revalidated product, if found within the zones and states.
The agency urged distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain, to avoid the distribution, sale, and use of fake products.
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