The international multiple-award winning online news-site, ITRealms alongside the Editor-in-Chief, Remmy Nweke, was on Wednesday night honoured with the 2016 Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) Presidential Award for outstanding reportage of Information and Communications Technology sector in Nigeria.

ITRealms Online is a member of DigitalSENSE African Media group, which also publishes NaijaAgroNet, DigitalSENSE Business News; founded since 2004 and has distinguished itself with multiple awards internationally. These include ITRealms Online emerging the first runner-up at the inaugural Telkom-Highway Africa New Media awards for the deployment of new media technologies in dissemination of information on the continent in 2010; and in 2011, ITRealms won the first-ever joint prize by Free and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSFA) and Deutsche Welle (DW) prize under FOSSWAY project as part of the fourth Idlelo conference in Accra-Ghana, among others.

The media category of the NCS Presidential awards 2016 held at the NAF Conference Centre Kado-Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also saw AIT Infotech led by Bayero Agabi emerging for Television and Emma Okonji of ThisDay Newspapers taking the lead in print subcategories respectively.

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is the umbrella organization of all Information Technology professionals, interest groups and stakeholders in Nigeria, which was formed in 1978 as Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) and later transformed into NCS in 2002 due to harmonisation with other stakeholders and interest groups, thus positioning itself as the national platform for the advancement of Information Technology science and practice in Nigeria.

While presenting the award to Remmy Nweke (ITRealms), the former NCS President and executive chairman, Chams Plcs, Sir Demola Aladekomo in the company of current president, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu and chairperson, Ethics & Disciplinary Committee of the society, Dr. (Mrs.) Titilola Akinlade, commended Mr. Nweke and his team for outstanding reportage of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and in particular, the Computer Society through ITRealms and other platforms under the DigitalSENSE Africa Media group.

He also urged for continuous support as the nation now delves into the use of IT for national safety and security, which formed the theme for this year’s national conference.

In a letter pronouncing the Presidential award sent to the Group Executive Editor, DigitalSENSE Africa Media and publishers of ITRealms, NaijaAgroNet and DigitalSENSE Business News, Mr. Remmy Nweke, the acting Executive Secretary of NCS, Mr. Iyiola Ayoola on behalf of the President, National Executive Council of NCS and the Jury, congratulated him for good job.

“In recognition of your invaluable contribution to the Society, the growth and promotion of IT and enhancement of professionalism, you have been chosen for NCS Special Recognition Presidential Award 2016,” he said.

Ayoola pointed out that this award goes to individual, institution, academia and industry that has promoted the teaching, usage, development, application of IT for human capacity development and economic growth in Nigeria.

Responding, Mr. Nweke, who is also the author of ‘A Decade of ICT Reportage in Nigeria’, dedicated the award to the entire management and staff of DigitalSENSE Africa Media group for their support and prayed for the strength to contribute more for the betterment of Nigeria and ICT society globally.

•Photo shows, L-R; Emma Okonji of ThisDay, Bayero Agabi of AITInfotel Network and Remmy Nweke of ITRealms Online during the ceremony displaying their awards.