As anticipation builds for the 2025 IT Assembly and Annual General Meeting of the Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN), the spotlight has turned to the upcoming election of a new President/Chairman-in-Council.
Among the candidates, Professor Adesola Aderounmu has emerged as a front-runner, widely regarded for his visionary leadership and longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
A former president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) from 2015 to 2019, Aderounmu has earned a national and international reputation as a distinguished scholar, policy influencer, and digital innovator. His work has spanned academia, national ICT policy development, and institutional capacity building.
Currently the director of the ICT and Africa Centre of Excellence at Obafemi Awolowo University, known as OAK-Park, Aderounmu has overseen transformative initiatives in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
Under his leadership, OAK-Park has secured international research grants and formed strategic partnerships with institutions in the U.S., UK, China, Canada, and India. The centre has also produced five successful startup spin-offs, positioning it as a vital hub for digital innovation in Africa.
Beyond his achievements in research and administration, colleagues describe Prof. Aderounmu as a humble, principled leader with a deep commitment to mentorship and inclusive development.
“One of the great things about working with Prof. Aderounmu is his humility and selfless nature. He supported our youth innovation and mentoring programs without hesitation and remains committed to excellence, collaboration, and impact,” says former chair of the NCS Conferences Committee, Jide Awe.
With over three decades of experience, Prof. Aderounmu has supervised 23 PhD candidates and over 50 MSc students. He has published more than 150 academic papers and contributed to key ICT policy frameworks across the continent. He holds fellowships from the Nigeria Computer Society, the British Computer Society, and the African Scientific Institute. In 2024, he was named Africa’s Outstanding Scholar of the Year by the University of Nottingham in the UK.
Described by peers as a man of integrity, fairness, and quiet strength, Prof. Aderounmu is seen by many as the type of leader CPN needs in a time of rapid digital transformation.
As the ICT community prepares to chart the next phase of its journey, stakeholders now have the opportunity to elect a leader whose career has been defined by service, innovation, and vision.
The vote for the next CPN president will not only decide the council’s immediate leadership but could shape the trajectory of Nigeria’s digital future.
