It was a great debut for the Nigerian Online Merit Award (NiOMA) on Friday night, July 13, 2018, at the Function Suite of Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja. Though the maiden edition, the event attracted a full house.

Dignitaries in attendance included former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Zinox Chairman Leo Stan Ekeh; Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (represented by Information & Strategy Commissioner Kehinde Bamigbetan); Guardian Publisher Maiden Ibru; Ex-VC of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Wale Omole; Vanguard Editor Eze Anaba, among others.

It was a night of fun, glamour and intellectual feast. Anchoring theintellectual aspect of the event, Africa’s serial digital entrepreneur Leo Stan Ekeh and communications guru Dr. Ernest Ndukwe held the audience spell-bound as they critically X-rayed topical ICT issues facing the Nigerian nation and highlighted how the online revolution could be leveraged to leapfrog the country’s development.

These shots tell part of the story.