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Governor Hyacinth Alia recognized for transformational digital leadership at the national tech gathering in Lagos.
The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has been named one of the “50 Most Valuable Personalities in Nigeria’s Digital Economy” at a prestigious ceremony held in Ikeja, Lagos. The award, part of the West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) 2025, celebrates leaders reshaping Nigeria’s digital landscape through innovation, policy, and infrastructure development.
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The event, hosted by Knowhow Media, publishers of IT Edge News.Africa, brought together top policymakers, tech entrepreneurs, and ecosystem enablers. Governor Alia was represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Sam Ode, who also delivered the governor’s powerful keynote address, titled: “Redefining Nigeria’s Economic Future: Benue State and the Rise of the Digital Economy.”
Benue State’s Digital Transformation: From Vision to Action
Governor Alia’s recognition highlights his administration’s rapid strides in digitizing Benue State. Since assuming office, he has made the digital economy a core pillar of his seven-point development agenda.
“This recognition is not just a personal milestone—it validates our collective journey in Benue to build a future driven by innovation, inclusion, and digital opportunity,” the governor stated.
His keynote spotlighted strategic achievements under the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030), including:
- Creation of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in Benue
- Establishment of a digital infrastructure company
- Launch of BENDISMEA for ICT standards enforcement
- Training of over 10,000 youths and 40,000 civil servants in digital skills
- Development of 276 e-commerce hubs across local governments
- Launch of 16 e-government platforms for public service delivery
- Partnerships with Huawei and Galaxy Backbone for broadband expansion
- Plans to deploy BDIC-branded smart devices and establish a device assembly plant
Driving Nigeria’s Future: “Beyond Oil, Into Digital”
Governor Alia emphasized that Nigeria’s future lies not in oil exports but in digital empowerment.
“Nigeria’s greatness will not be measured by oil barrels but by how many youths it empowers through digital skills,” he declared, calling for stronger collaboration between government, private sector, startups, and academic institutions.
He reiterated Benue’s vision to become a subnational digital powerhouse, stating:
“In Benue State, we are investing in infrastructure, people, and institutions to drive a future where every Nigerian has a stake in the digital revolution.”
50 MVPs: Honoring Change-Makers in Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem
The 50 Most Valuable Personalities (50MVPs) award is an annual initiative recognizing public and private sector leaders advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda. Beyond accolades, the event serves as a forum for critical reflection and dialogue under the theme: “Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Transformation: Insights on Challenges and Emerging Opportunities.”
Notable honorees for the 2025 edition include:
- Prof. Obadare Peter Adewale, CVO, Digital Encode
- Mr. Evelyn Lewis, CEO, SBTS Nigeria
- Mr. Ayowande Adalemo, Founder, Wave5Wireless Ltd
- Engr. Shuaibu Kabir Bello, CEO, KMDC
- Dr Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive – West Africa & Morocco- at Africa Data Centres (ADC)
- Hon. Suleiman Isah, Commissioner for Communications, Niger State
- Daser David, President/CEO, Digital Bridge Institute
- Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs
- Engr. Olawole Owoeye, Co-founder, Cedarview Communications
- Engr. Ike Nnamani, CEO, Digital Realty
“This event provides a platform for dialogue, recognition, and strategic insight on shaping Nigeria’s digital future,” said Olusegun Oruame, Vice Chairman/CEO of Knowhow Media, in his welcome address.
