Founder: Jide Awe - Jidaw.com

Jide Awe, Founder, Jidaw.com

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Advisor

Nigeria’s Inaugural Tech Mentor of the Year

Jide Awe is a recognized leader in digital transformation, telecommunications, and innovation policy, specializing in IT education and policy. He has a longstanding commitment to advancing technology ecosystems in Africa and beyond. In 2024, he was honoured as Nigeria’s Inaugural Tech Mentor of the Year for his impactful contributions to mentoring and skill development in the technology sector.

As an entrepreneur and public policy consultant with expertise in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), Jide has guided young professionals and organizations, fostering skill development and innovation. He promotes collaboration among startups, established enterprises, and policymakers, championing digital inclusion to enhance competitiveness, productivity, and social impact.

Throughout his career, he has advanced national and international digital policies, led transformative initiatives in banking, communications, education, and IT, and developed pioneering programs in cybersecurity.

He is among the first individuals to achieve certification in Accelerating the Implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024) by the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Building on his experience in organizations such as LM Ericsson, United Bank for Africa, Ecobank, and CTB—where he held roles ranging from Communications Engineer to ICT Manager—he founded Jidaw Systems, a pioneer in computer education, ICT training, and consulting in Nigeria. Through Jidaw.com, one of Nigeria’s earliest online content platforms, Jide has driven knowledge-sharing and innovation in the ICT sector.

Jide has contributed to ICT policy development with institutions such as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and UNECA. Notably, he developed Nigeria’s first Standard Certification Program for Data Protection Officers of the NDPC to strengthen local expertise in privacy and security.

In IT leadership, Jide served on the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), where he chaired the Publicity, Events, and Trade Services Committee as well as the Conferences Committee. He is a Fellow of the NCS and a member of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). He has also led private initiatives addressing critical issues such as digital transformation, youth innovation, women in technology, child online protection, and cybersecurity.

A prolific author and speaker, Jide’s insights have been featured in national and international media, academic publications, and major industry events. He remains committed to mentoring the next generation and aligning innovation with practical solutions to drive progress and create opportunities in the ICT landscape.

He provides STI policy advisory solutions through consultancy, research, policy dialogues, and the organization of seminars, workshops, and capacity-building events. His focus is on leveraging innovation and technology for sustainable development through policy analysis, formulation, and the enhancement of STI awareness, policy literacy, and capacity.

He has completed numerous technical training programs, earning certifications across various ICT and innovation-related fields. His efforts and achievements have been recognized with awards from a wide range of organizations, reflecting his impact on digital transformation, innovation policy, and capacity building.

His academic qualifications include a double honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Loughborough University, England.

Science, Technology and Innovation and Digital Development Experiences:

Communications Engineering

At LM Ericsson, Jide Awe designed, implemented, and maintained telecommunications sites and systems across Nigeria. He ensured efficient and reliable communication services through system design, troubleshooting, support, and adherence to industry standards and developments.

Technology Mentoring

Through Jidaw, he pioneered IT career advisory and mentoring in Nigeria, organizing regular Free IT Career Seminars. He also conducted the first Public Internet Mass Awareness (PIMA) seminars and provided free computer education workshops for both children and adults.

With a strong passion for career empowerment, he has played a significant role in addressing the gap in ICT career guidance and mentoring. Through career forums, articles, workshops, and public talks, he has made the ICT field more accessible to newcomers and career changers. He provides guidance on ICT career development and has delivered career talks and mentoring sessions across all educational levels in Nigeria. Additionally, he has mentored aspiring and experienced IT professionals, startup founders, and tech CEOs.

Banking/Fintech IT Management and Operations

Jide has held key roles in technical operations, system development, IT leadership, and strategy in banking and fintech at United Bank for Africa (UBA) PLC, Ecobank PLC, and CTB Limited. He authored UBA’s first Office Automation manual, established an Information Systems department from the ground up at a bank, and led data center and IT departments in banks with nationwide branch networks.

IT Entrepreneurship

Driven by a deep passion for technology and innovation, Jide founded Jidaw to revolutionize IT education, pioneer IT content provision in Nigeria, and offer public policy consulting services. His goal was to leverage science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa.

As an entrepreneur, he played a pioneering role in computer education and the creation of local online content in Nigeria. He founded Jidaw.com, one of the country’s earliest technology development websites..

Digital Education

Jide has contributed to ICT training and certification services, VSAT training, career development coaching, and the formulation of national digital education strategies and policies. He has also played an active role in public engagement and communication within the digital education space.

Digital Agriculture

He has been involved in the development of national digital agriculture strategies and policies, facilitating public engagement and communication to drive technological advancements in the sector.

Public Policy Development

Jide’s advisory assignments and initiatives span research and analysis, stakeholder engagement, international collaboration, education and workforce development, policy evaluation, and public outreach.

He has extensive experience in ICT policy development and has provided public policy advisory and consulting services at both state and national levels. He has collaborated with state agencies, NITDA, and UNECA. As a member of the National ICT for Development (ICT4D) Plan Action Committee, he contributed to developing Nigeria’s ICT4D Strategic Action Plan. He designed the private sector development component and summarized the entire National ICT4D Plan. Additionally, he has authored several national ICT4D policy publications for NITDA.

Data Protection and Privacy

Jide has provided advisory services on data protection policy development, regulatory compliance, and advocacy efforts. He has trained and educated stakeholders on data protection best practices and influenced policy changes to safeguard individuals’ privacy rights.

He was a member of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) Committee of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which laid the foundation for the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

IT Content Provision

A prolific writer and speaker on innovation, human capital, digital transformation, and technology trends, Jide has published numerous articles in national and international media for over 30 years. His work has been featured in CIPS Across Canada (the quarterly magazine of the Canadian Information Processing Society), Zenith Bank Economic Quarterly, NESG Economic Indicators, and major Nigerian newspapers such as The Guardian, Punch, and The Sun.

He served as the editor of Computer.com Magazine, a national IT publication, for many years.

As a pioneer in online local content creation, Jide founded Jidaw.com, Nigeria’s forerunning website for tech development. He regularly shares insights on Jidaw.com and social media, with his perspectives gaining recognition across local and global media.

Professional Memberships and Service

Jide is an active member of several professional organizations, including:

Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) – The umbrella organization for the engineering profession in Nigeria.
Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) – The regulatory body for computing professionals in Nigeria, where he has served on key committees.
Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) – The umbrella body for IT professionals and stakeholders in Nigeria, where he is a Fellow.

Recognized for his expertise and advocacy, Jide was elected to the National Executive Council (NEC) of NCS, where he chaired key committees, including the Conferences Committee and the Publicity, Events, and Trade Services Committee.

His passion for advocacy led him to establish and manage digital development initiatives, including digital media platforms for NCS and its interest groups. In 2019, he received the NCS Presidential Special Recognition Award for his outstanding contributions.

Additionally, he served as the Chairman of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) Training and Certification Committee, a nonprofit organization promoting Internet adoption in Nigeria.

Initiatives

For decades, Jide has been actively involved in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) initiatives for sustainable development. He has established and led programs focused on youth innovation, child online protection, women in technology, STI for sustainable development, ICT career development, information security, and digital transformation. Notably, he initiated Nigeria’s first Child Online Protection forums and activities.

Vision

Jide’s career is guided by the belief that technology is ultimately about people. His vision focuses on leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) to unlock potential and drive inclusive development. He actively supports initiatives such as STISA-2024 and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030). His work emphasizes ethical technology use, inclusive innovation, and the broader societal impact of digital transformation.

His commitment to Nigeria’s STI agenda is a driving force behind his contributions. He is deeply motivated by the opportunity to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive STI-enabled society. For him, using STI to transform lives is not just a profession—it is a calling.

“Technology matters but it’s always about people”