The 17th edition of the CIO100 Awards and Symposium, Africa’s premier technology leadership gathering, is set to take place from November 19 to 21, 2025, at Enashipai Resort & Spa in Naivasha. The highly anticipated event will bring together top IT and business leaders from across the continent to discuss emerging technologies and their impact on Africa’s digital transformation journey. Over the years, the symposium has become a defining platform for recognising excellence in innovation and the strategic adoption of technology to drive growth and efficiency.
Organised by CIO Africa under dx5, the event celebrates companies and individuals who have integrated technology to solve African challenges and transform business operations. During a pre-event teaser session held at Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi, tech leaders, including Geoffrey “GG” Gitagia, CIO of the Year 2024 and Group IT Manager at Avenue Healthcare, and Timothy Laku, Fractional CIO/CTO, discussed the evolution of tech leadership in Africa. According to dx5 Director Andrew Karanja, the CIO100 Awards represent not just recognition but a commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration across the continent.
The symposium will also feature the launch of the CIO100 MegaTrends Report, which provides in-depth analysis and insights into the technologies shaping Africa’s business landscape. The report highlights how African companies are increasingly leveraging Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, analytics, and cybersecurity to drive business value, efficiency, and innovation. Karanja noted that Africa’s tech leaders are not merely adopting global trends but are shaping their own, developing homegrown solutions that meet the continent’s unique needs and realities.
At the heart of the awards is the recognition of transformative leadership, exemplified by Geoffrey “GG” Gitagia’s award-winning project at Avenue Healthcare, which redefined patient onboarding by reducing the process to three minutes. The CIO of the Year Award celebrates leaders who successfully align technology with organisational strategy and impact. Previous winners include Moses Okundi of Absa Bank, Jaine Mwai of Standard Chartered Bank, and Kenneth Ogwang’ of Diageo, all of whom have demonstrated exceptional leadership in using technology as a strategic enabler.
This year’s CIO100 Symposium & Awards promises an engaging lineup of masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, culminating in a gala celebrating Africa’s top 100 technology leaders. With sponsorship from global and regional tech players including Google Cloud Africa, Nathan Claire Africa, and Africa Data Centres, the event underscores Africa’s growing position as a global technology frontier. It will serve as a crucial meeting point for CIOs, CTOs, and digital strategists shaping the continent’s next wave of technological innovation.
