Celebrating Africa’s finest minds redefining digital security and innovation
In a defining moment for Africa’s growing digital ecosystem, Mariam Sanusi emerged as the winner of the Cybersecurity Innovation Excellence Award 2025 at the West Africa Tech Excellence Forum (WATEF) International Conference, held on September 27, 2025. The event, which took place under the theme “Securing the Future: Innovation, Resilience, and Digital Trust in a Connected Africa,” brought together leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the continent and beyond.
The WATECH Innovation Awards have become one of Africa’s most credible platforms for recognizing exceptional individuals who are transforming the continent through technology. This year, the spotlight shone brightly on Mariam Sanusi, a cybersecurity researcher and cloud security specialist whose work is shaping how organizations think about data protection and resilience in the digital age.
“Innovation must not only solve problems — it must secure the future.”
About WATEF: A Platform for African Excellence
Since its founding in 2020, the West Africa Tech Excellence Forum (WATEF) has remained a central force in amplifying African innovation and excellence. The organization’s mission is clear: to identify and celebrate those building solutions that position Africa as a key player in the global technology landscape.
Through its hybrid model, WATEF has expanded its reach beyond physical borders, enabling participation from professionals across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia. It has also forged strategic partnerships with leading organizations including Microsoft Africa, AWS, and the African Union Commission on Digital Transformation, ensuring that African innovators are not only recognized locally but also globally integrated.
The WATEF International Conference has since evolved into Africa’s flagship technology excellence event, known for combining thought leadership sessions, innovation showcases, and global networking opportunities. Its annual WATECH Innovation Awards serve as the pinnacle of recognition for individuals and institutions that embody creativity, leadership, and measurable impact across the tech ecosystem.
The Cybersecurity Innovation Excellence Award
Among the conference’s most competitive honors, the Cybersecurity Innovation Excellence Award recognizes individuals driving advancements in digital security, data protection, and cyber resilience across Africa. The award celebrates those who demonstrate not just technical expertise but also a clear commitment to digital ethics, trust, and community impact.
Candidates are evaluated through a rigorous peer-reviewed nomination process, overseen by a panel of 12 independent judges drawn from academia, the tech industry, and cybersecurity organizations across 15 countries. Nominees are assessed using strict metrics: the measurable impact of their innovation, community involvement, leadership capacity, and the scalability of their solutions.
This comprehensive evaluation ensures that each awardee embodies the true spirit of progress and integrity that defines the WATEF initiative.
Why Mariam Sanusi Stood Out
Mariam Sanusi’s selection as the 2025 Cybersecurity Innovation Excellence Award winner was the result of years of outstanding professional work and research leadership. She holds an MSc in Cybersecurity from the University of Texas at Dallas and a BSc in Computer Science from Caleb University, Nigeria.
Her academic journey laid the foundation for what has become an exceptional career defined by innovation, mentorship, and impact. Over the past decade, Mariam has specialized in cloud security frameworks, artificial intelligence integration, and risk management systems, helping businesses and governments protect critical infrastructure from evolving digital threats.
Her research on linking AI and cloud security for healthcare resilience gained international recognition for proposing scalable frameworks to safeguard patient data while improving system efficiency. Beyond her technical work, she has been a vocal advocate for ethical digital transformation and an active mentor for women in cybersecurity, leading initiatives that encourage young African women to pursue careers in digital defense.
“Mariam Sanusi’s recognition is a win for every African girl who dreams of shaping the digital frontier.”
What made her stand out, according to the WATEF judging panel, was not just the brilliance of her innovations, but her commitment to collaboration. She has worked across sectors, from fintech and healthcare to education; ensuring that cybersecurity is treated as a cornerstone of innovation, not an afterthought. Her ability to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into accessible, actionable frameworks has earned her respect from both peers and policymakers.
Other Distinguished Winners
The 2025 awards also honored seven other cybersecurity professionals whose contributions continue to redefine Africa’s digital resilience:
- Dr. Peter Okonkwo (Nigeria) — recognized for developing AI-driven fraud detection systems that have transformed financial security across several African banks.
- Zanele Khumalo (South Africa) — honored for creating an open-source cyber defense framework that empowers small and medium enterprises to safeguard sensitive data.
- Kwame Boateng (Ghana) — celebrated for leading a national cybersecurity awareness campaign that reached more than 50,000 students across public schools.
- Ruth Njoroge (Kenya) — awarded for designing secure digital ID verification systems now being used by government agencies to streamline citizen services.
- Ifeanyi Udeh (Nigeria) — recognized for building an AI-based ransomware early-detection model protecting critical national infrastructure.
- Dr. Lebo Molefe (Botswana) — celebrated for her policy research that has influenced new data privacy regulations across Southern Africa.
- Chidinma Ezeani (Nigeria) — honored for her cybersecurity podcast series that educates young African women and demystifies tech-related careers.
Together, these professionals represent the new face of African innovation — one grounded in technical excellence, social responsibility, and continental pride.
A Transparent and Inclusive Selection Process
For the 2025 WATEF Awards, more than 400 nominations were received from 15 countries, covering categories such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Innovation, Cybersecurity, Agritech, and Fintech Transformation.
The evaluation phase lasted 10 weeks, during which entries were reviewed by industry experts, university researchers, and technology executives. This transparent process ensures that every recognition is merit-based, diverse, and globally benchmarked.
The WATEF Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to fair recognition, noting that inclusion and transparency remain the backbone of the forum’s credibility. The organization’s approach goes beyond accolades, it creates career pathways, mentorship connections, and collaboration opportunities for African innovators seeking to expand globally.
Africa on the Global Tech Stage
The 2025 edition of the WATEF International Conference attracted over 2,000 participants from 20 countries, including policymakers, researchers, and executives from global tech companies. The event’s sessions explored themes like AI governance, data privacy, cyber resilience, and the future of work in a digital economy.
WATEF’s growing global partnerships have positioned Africa as not just a participant but a driving force in the global innovation ecosystem. Collaborations with AWS Africa, Microsoft, Google Cloud, and the African Union Commission on Digital Transformation have enabled practical knowledge exchange and long-term investment in research and education.
This year’s conference also featured strategic dialogues between African startups and international investors, exploring funding for cybersecurity and emerging technologies. The inclusion of regional innovation hubs showcased Africa’s readiness to lead in digital trust, fintech infrastructure, and open data systems.
“Through WATEF, Africa’s innovators are no longer participants — they are global leaders.”
A Symbol of Inspiration and Integrity
Mariam Sanusi’s achievement embodies what the WATEF Awards stand for, innovation anchored in purpose and impact. Her work highlights how technical expertise, mentorship, and ethical responsibility can intersect to create lasting change.
Speaking after receiving her award, Mariam expressed gratitude to the WATEF Committee and emphasized the collective effort behind her success. “This recognition belongs not just to me, but to every researcher, student, and mentor who believes Africa can set global standards in cybersecurity,” she said.
Her story is not just about personal excellence; it’s about representing a generation of Africans who are transforming how the world perceives the continent’s technological capacity.
As cybersecurity becomes a defining element of digital transformation globally, Mariam’s approach, which blends academic rigor with social inclusion ; is setting a benchmark for future innovators.
Looking Ahead: The Future of African Innovation
The WATEF International Conference continues to expand its vision for Africa’s role in global technology. Its impact can be felt in the number of cross-border collaborations, policy dialogues, and research partnerships emerging from each edition.
By connecting local innovators to global ecosystems, WATEF ensures that the continent’s best minds are not isolated, but rather part of the broader narrative shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
As the forum looks to the future, it remains focused on building inclusive and secure digital economies, where innovation and ethics go hand in hand.
The 2026 WATEF International Awards will open for nominations in November 2025, inviting startups, researchers, and innovators from every corner of Africa to participate. The upcoming edition promises new categories focusing on AI governance, sustainable tech, and data sovereignty, reinforcing WATEF’s commitment to celebrating transformative impact.
Final Thoughts
Mariam Sanusi’s victory at the WATEF International Conference 2025 represents more than an individual milestone. It’s a reminder that Africa’s future in technology is being written by its own people, talented, visionary, and determined to make the digital space safer and more equitable for all.
Her success story, alongside those of her peers, symbolizes a rising generation of African innovators who are not waiting to be invited to the global table; they are building their own.
As Africa’s tech landscape continues to evolve, the WATEF Awards remain a vital platform, bridging recognition with opportunity and celebrating the brilliance that defines the continent’s innovation journey.
Congratulations to Mariam Sanusi, and to every visionary using technology to secure Africa’s digital future.
