162 African firms, organisations compete for 2025 CIO100 Awards

A record 162 organisations from across Africa have been shortlisted for the 2025 CIO100 Awards, competing for recognition as the continent's most innovative technology leaders.

The shortlist, selected from more than 1,200 applications spanning East, West, and Southern Africa as well as Mauritius, includes leading corporates such as Dangote Group of Nigeria, Kenya Airways, Safaricom PLC, RwandAir, and FirstBank of Nigeria.

It also features emerging enterprises, government agencies, and NGOs that are leveraging technology to address critical social and economic challenges.

Winners will be announced at the CIO100 Symposium & Awards, scheduled for November 19–21, 2025, at the Enashipai Resort & Spa in Naivasha.

The event, now in its 17th year, recognises the top 100 technology leaders and organisations driving digital excellence across Africa.

“This year’s shortlist demonstrates how African organisations are moving beyond technology adoption to true digital leadership,” said Harry Hare, Chairman of CIO Africa by dx5, the event organiser.

“From Rwanda’s tax digitalisation to Nigeria’s fintech revolution and Kenya’s renewable energy innovations, these leaders are proving that Africa isn’t just participating in the global digital economy—we are defining its future.”

The 162 finalists represent key industries driving the continent’s growth, including financial services, government and public administration, energy, telecommunications, and transportation.

Among them are Equity Bank, Amhara Bank of Ethiopia, NMB Bank of Tanzania, Stanbic Bank of Uganda, the Kenya Revenue Authority, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Kenya Power, Airtel Kenya, and RwandAir.

According to research firm Mordor Intelligence, Africa’s digital transformation market is projected to reach $30 billion in 2025 and exceed $63 billion by 2030, as adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and fintech innovation gains momentum.

Preliminary findings from the CIO100 Mega Trends Report show that organisations across the region are prioritising investments in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud infrastructure to boost operational efficiency, build resilience, and promote sustainable growth.

The Naivasha summit will feature a three-day programme bringing together senior IT executives, policymakers, investors, and innovators.