Aufera, a leading service-led technology hub transforming urban mobility in Nigeria has recently announced the winners of its first Emerging Product Disruptors Awards. The nomination and entry for the award was announced earlier this year via their social platforms and other media outlets. The award was inaugurated to recognise young professionals who are doing exceptional in product and technology, and to inspire fresh perspectives that will influence the development of genuinely disruptive solutions in the Nigerian tech industry.
According to the information available on their social platform, the Emerging Product Disruptors Awards is a unique initiative that provides a platform for young, ambitious individuals to showcase their accomplishments, innovative ideas, and the impact they have made in their respective organizations. The winners were selected based on a range of criteria, including their ability to drive product innovation, their strategic thinking, their leadership skills, knowledge of technology, and the tangible impact they have had on their organisations.
“We are thrilled to recognize these outstanding individuals for their remarkable potential and contributions to product development in Nigeria. The Emerging Product Disruptors Awards is our way of inspiring the next generation of product leaders in Nigeria, and We are confident that these winners will continue to drive key innovations in developing, scaling and managing products that matters in the Nigeria’s tech industry.” said Adejuwon Adepate, the co-founder and COO of Aufera. “Their dedication, and commitment have evidently set them apart as leaders.” He added.
The recognition, which took place in Lagos, Nigeria, featured product leaders, tech enthusiast, business professionals and other bright minds in the country’s tech and product industry. The winners are set to receive industry recognition, mentorship opportunities, and access to Aufera’s extensive network of experts and thought leaders.
Here are the top 5 Emerging Product Disruptors for year 2022:
Samuel Olayenikan
Technical Product Management
Given Take FZC
Samuel Olayenikan, has distinguished himself as a technical product management professional with relevant experience spanning over a 4-year period. His impressive career journey has taken him from roles as a Network Engineer at Cobranet Limited, to a Cloud Support Engineer at Tek Experts, and an IT Operations Manager at Tech4mation Limited. Samuel is currently serving as a Technical Product Manager at GivenTake FZC where he has been able to leverage his expertise to inform his work in technical leadership and product management. His experience in managing products and technology infrastructure strengthens his potential to make a significant impact in the Nigerian tech ecosystem as a technical product manager.
Zainab Olaowo
Product Marketing
Cyberfleet
Zainab Olaowo is an emerging tech professional specializing in Product Marketing with over 3 years of valuable experience. Demonstrating her ability to drive product success and lead strategic marketing initiatives, Zainab started her career as a Research Assistant at the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, where she honed her skills before transitioning to OATS Technologies Africa as an Agile Product Associate. Currently, Zainab holds the role of Product/Digital Marketing Associate at Cyberfleet, where she works on ensuring the quality and reliability of the company’s digital products and services, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver seamless user experiences. Zainab is poised to continue making a significant impact in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, given her; deep understanding of digital products, marketing expertise, and customer empathy, in the rapidly evolving competitive tech landscape.
Peter Kwakpovwe
Product Management
HorizonPay
Peter Kwakpovwe is a well-established business growth manager with over a decade of professional experience in sales and marketing. As an emerging product leader, Peter has brought a unique perspective to his work in the financial technology industry over the past 4 years. Between 2019-2020, Peter served as the product lead at Zebrra, where he played a crucial role in developing innovative solutions like Trakk and the ecommerce platform TrakkMall. Peter currently serves as the Head of Product Innovation at HorizonPay, where he is responsible for spearheading the development and rollout of the 9raPoint point-of-sale platform. His strategic vision and hands-on product management expertise have been instrumental in positioning Horinzonpay as a game-changer for small and medium businesses in Nigeria. Peter’s remarkable journey and achievements position him as a key player in driving meaningful product disruption and innovation in the Nigerian fintech industry.
Kehinde Onadein
Product Testing
Parallex Bank
Kehinde Onadein is a vibrant tech professional with a specialization in software quality assurance. Over the past 3 years, she has established herself as a rising star in Nigeria’s dynamic technology landscape. Having started her career as a Quality Assurance Tester at Smart Learn Inc., Kehinde went on to hone her skills at companies like Side Hustle and Assert.ng. Currently, she serves as the Information Technology Quality Assurance Analyst at Parallex Bank, where she plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and reliability of the bank’s technology products and services. As an emerging product disruptor, Kehinde is poised to leverage her expertise in quality assurance to help Nigerian tech companies and startups develop cutting-edge, user-centric products that redefine industry standards. Her passion for excellence and dedication to delivering high-quality solutions make her a potential to watch in Nigeria’s thriving tech ecosystem.
Tomiwa Adetayo
Product Management
Trusoft Limited
Tomiwa Adetayo is a talented business leader with over 3 years’ experience and expertise in Financial Technology. A certified product manager and business analyst driven by a commitment to excellence in managing business outcomes, Tomiwa has led initiatives that have resulted in the successful launch of innovative fintech solutions and platforms such as Smart Deposit Scheme (SDS). His ability to identify market opportunities, define product strategies, and drive cross-functional collaboration has been instrumental in delivering products that address the evolving needs of customers in the fintech space. At Trusoft Limited, where Tomiwa currently serves as a Product Manager, he drives the vision and strategy for new product lines, while working closely with cross-functional teams to conceptualize, prototype and launch products that solve real problems for customers. Tomiwa’s blend of business acumen, technical know-how, and a customer-first mindset allows him positions him to continue making significant impact in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving fintech industry.
According to Aufera, the awarded individuals have demonstrated expertise and great potential in their respective fields, and are now being recognised for their achievements. These winners are expected to continue making significant contributions to improve the quality of product(s) and technology infrastructure in Nigeria.
For more information about the Emerging Product Disruptors Awards and Aufera’s initiatives, please visit the company’s website at www.aufera.com