CIO100 Awards & Symposium Kicks Off In Naivasha

The 17th CIO100 Symposium & Awards opened this week, bringing together Africa’s top technology leaders in a three-day gathering designed to explore emerging tech trends, recognise high-impact innovation, and announce the 2025 CIO of the Year.

The Symposium began with three Special Interest Group discussions that set the tone for the programme. Timothy Laku, Fractional CIO/CTO at Impact Organizations, examined the successes and failures of AI implementations across Africa; cyber resilience expert Steve Jump offered practical strategies for organisational survival and recovery; and Desmond Rao, CIO of Davis & Shirtliff, contributed to a dx Nova session exploring women, power, and workplace politics.

Delegates turned out in large numbers despite the half-day opening. The expo floor quickly became a hub of activity, with participants engaging exhibitors, testing solutions, and exchanging ideas with industry peers.

The event also marked the culmination of a detailed survey and adjudication process conducted through dx5, which informs the annual CIO Megatrends Report. This year’s report shows cloud computing (61.2%), artificial intelligence (54.8%), analytics (43.8%), and cybersecurity (43.6%) as Africa’s most adopted technologies. Machine learning, IoT, and edge computing are also rising, particularly in finance, government, education, and manufacturing.

During the Megatrends panel, experts discussed the implications of these trends, noting that while CIOs are rapidly adopting advanced technologies, long-term success depends on securing support from C-suite leaders and aligning technology initiatives with organisational priorities.

A welcome cocktail powered by DownToEarth Technologies closed the first day, during which some of the forthcoming CIO100 award winners received early recognition for their impactful projects.

Over the next two days, delegates will participate in more masterclasses, networking sessions, and panel discussions before the grand awards gala, where Africa’s top 100 technology leaders will be honoured. The event will conclude with the unveiling of the 2025 CIO of the Year, succeeding current titleholder Geoffrey “GG” Gitagia of Avenue Healthcare.