Renowned IT and cloud security expert, Samad Akanbi Toyin, has been honoured with the prestigious Outstanding Award of Excellence in Technology Innovation of the Year at the 10th Edition of the African Icon Awards.
The award ceremony, which celebrates Africa’s most exceptional changemakers, took place on July 26, 2025, at the Colonnade Hall, Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Akanbi, an accomplished IT and security professional, holds a Distinction in MSc Cloud and Network Security from the University of Bolton, UK, and a BSc in Computer Science from Kwara State University, Nigeria. With over six years of experience in secure infrastructure design, network optimisation, and enterprise IT service delivery, he has consistently achieved high SLA compliance and measurable operational improvements.
Over the course of his career, Akanbi has spearheaded several high-impact digital projects, including an eye-tracking-enabled LED advertising system, a commercially deployed payroll software solution, and a secure pension record management platform for the Nasarawa State Government. His innovations have delivered measurable results such as increased audience engagement, improved operational efficiency, enhanced data security, and significant cost savings for clients.
He is certified in cybersecurity by the International Information System Security Consortium (ISC)² and holds additional certifications from AWS, Microsoft, and Cisco. A member of various international engineering and computing associations, Akanbi is committed to bridging advanced technical solutions with real-world applications, while contributing to the technology and cybersecurity community through leadership and innovation.
Speaking at the event, Amb. Abraham Lawal, Project Director of the African Icon Awards, praised Akanbi’s contributions to the sector.
“Samad Akanbi exemplifies the spirit of leadership and innovation that this award seeks to celebrate. His work continues to inspire a generation of tech professionals across Africa,” he said.
The African Icon Awards, now in its tenth year, continues to recognise individuals and organisations making outstanding contributions to Africa’s growth and development across various sectors.
