National Daily

Intercontinental, Zenith contest ICT award

By LEKAN FADEYI

TWO leading Nigerian banks may be locked in a stiff competition for ICT bank award in the upcoming titans of Technology awards.

Information from organisers of the events said technology driven bank of the year award has emerged as the most keenly contested category in this year's edition of the Titans of Technology. Intercontinental Bank, GTbank, Zenith Bank and First Inland Bank are listed as bracing up for the prize.

Don Pedro Aganbi, Managing Consultant, Technology Africa, organisers of the esteemed 'Titans of Tech' said that the annual event, which, seeks to recognise and celebrate hi techs most important movers and shakers; the revolutionaries, tech superstars, pathfinders, organisations and institutions that are behind the growth in adoption and deployment of new technologies in the country, is attracting more nominations by the day.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos at the weekend, Aganbi noted that the nominees for the technology driven bank award, were among the leading consolidated banks in the country with headquarters in Lagos, rapidly increasing branch networks across all regions of the country and deployment of cutting edge technologies to provide a distinctive and innovative range of financial services to all sectors of the economy.

He noted that in this age of IT, these four banks stand out in the financial services market. Aganbi disclosed that Icash (Intercontinental Bank), Cash Fast (UBA), Skye Mobile (Skye Bank) and Flash pay (First Inland Bank) are poised to do battle for the prestigious Bank technology product of the year award.

He said that the 'Titans of Tech 2008 billed for the night of April 4 in Lagos, promises to be the most impressive gathering of technology professionals, business developers and managers in the West African region in 2008. He further remarked that the IT Company of the year, was acontest involving the Computer Warehouse Group, Zinox Technologies and Chams.

For the PC Company of the year, Omatek Computers, Beta Computers and Zinox Technologies would slug it out, he stated.

In the Indigenous software application of the year category Human Manager, (Systemspecs), Symbols (Progenics) and Perfectczion (Perfect touch) would do battle.

Value Card, E-tranzact and Interswitch are in contention for the e-payment Company of the year.

IT driven university of the year (public), University of Ife, University of Nigeria Nsuka Ahmadu Bello University, National Open University while IT Driven University of the year. Private, would see Abti America University, Babcock University, Bells University and Covenant University Cash Card (Interswitch), 3.5G (MTN) and 3G plus (Glo) are nominated for the Tech product of the year, and for Tech personality of the year female, Bunmi Afolabi, Adenike Osofisan, Chioma Ekeh and Cecilia Ibru Total Solution provider Company of the year, would be a steep contest among the following nominees, PPC, Telnet group and Sidmach Technologies.

MTN Nigeria, Starcomms and Reltelwireless will slug it out for the Telecommunications Company of the year.

ISP of the year, has Swift Networks, DOPC and Linkserve while Alpha Technologies, PNN and Mtech are up for Value Added Company of the year, Austin Okere, group managing director, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Country manager, Microsoft Nigeria, John Obaro, Managing director, SystemSpecs and Tim Akano, CEO, New Horizon top the list of nominees for the prestigious Tech personality of the year award.
For the IT training company of the year, Aflon Institute, HiiT Institute, New Horizons and NIIT are top contenders.

IT driven secondary School of the year private, Caleb Int'l School, Corona Secondary School and Grace High School.

Aganbi posited that all arrangement has been completed to make the event a must attend for key players from across every major industry in the country.
“It would provide tremendous opportunities for networking and corporate branding,” he added.