Upholding Innovation: The Judges Behind the Technology Council for Innovation and Impact (TCII)

At the heart of every credible innovation platform is a robust evaluation process, and for the Technology Council for Innovation and Impact (TCII), the role of its judges goes far beyond mere selection. These seasoned professionals serve as the gatekeepers of quality, ensuring that every recognition granted is earned through genuine ingenuity, strategic thinking, and practical value.

Rather than just naming winners, TCII’s judges help set the bar for what impactful innovation truly means in Nigeria’s fast-changing tech environment. Their collective decisions define standards around sustainability, feasibility, and long-term relevance. Drawn from an array of industries, including tech development, academic research, public policy, entrepreneurship, and investment, each judge was chosen for their proven expertise and their ongoing contributions to transformation within their field.

They look beyond surface polish to evaluate the deeper potential of each submission. Their criteria focus on structure, purpose, and the ability of solutions to evolve and perform in real-world conditions.

With specialists ranging from AI experts and software engineers to product managers, data scientists, and cybersecurity leaders, the judging panel brought a wide range of viewpoints. This multidisciplinary setup ensured that ideas were not only assessed technically but also examined from economic, ethical, and operational standpoints resulting in a well-rounded and impartial selection process.

The assessment procedure was thorough. Judges asked difficult but necessary questions: Does the project address a tangible challenge? Is it practically implementable? Can it scale to different regions and user groups? Is the value model resilient in challenging markets?

In cases where entries lacked depth or failed to show clear relevance, judges were firm in withholding approval. Their focus on integrity was evident throughout, they encouraged clarity, demanded evidence, and emphasized ideas that could thrive beyond initial excitement.

Notably, the process was not adversarial. Feedback was given constructively, with the intention of supporting participants in refining their innovations. For many, the insights offered by the judges became a crucial learning moment, often valued more than the recognition itself.

The panel featured dedicated experts like Akinfolajimi Bamigbola Chuka Edeh, Miriam Adebanjo, Damilola Rhodes, Kelechi Owolabi, Zainab Adigun, and Ifeanyi Kolajo,  whose contributions brought rigor, insight, and fairness to the entire process. Their involvement was central to TCII’s mission of celebrating not just creativity, but responsible and impactful innovation.

In the end, these individuals acted not just as evaluators, but as custodians of innovation culture—ensuring that excellence is defined by relevance, adaptability, and a drive to address real societal needs.