David Oviaesu has been honoured with the Special Recognition Award in the Technology & Innovation category — a distinction reserved for trailblazers whose contributions have fundamentally shaped systems, industries, and national conversations.
This recognition is a testament to Oviaesu’s decade-long commitment to using technology as a lever for public health impact and digital transformation across the African continent.
Who is David Oviaesu?
David Oviaesu is a highly respected technology professional and systems architect, celebrated for his deep expertise in Microsoft Azure architecture, Python/Django development, cybersecurity, cloud migration, and health informatics systems.
From 2015 to 2022, he served as the Chief Technology Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria, where he led several groundbreaking initiatives:
- Implemented PADACOR (ODK) – an offline mobile data collection system that processed over 300 million data points.
- Established WHO Nigeria’s first Network Operations Centre, supporting 40+ field stations and offices.
- Coordinated the nationwide rollout of the National Health Workforce Registry, improving resource planning and workforce visibility.
Since 2022, David has continued to advance digital health systems across Africa in his role as Digital Solutions Developer and systems audit specialist at WHO Regional Office for Africa. His leadership has:
- Guided the digital transition of 46 countries from paper-based immunization reporting to a resilient Electronic Annual Reporting Tool for Polio.
- Directed the cloud migration of critical WHO applications (worth over $300,000), which doubled data capacity and strengthened cybersecurity infrastructure.
The Special Recognition Award is curated through a rigorous process of independent research, impact auditing, peer recommendations, and final jury deliberation. This year, David’s work stood out as a remarkable model of sustained excellence, innovation, and measurable impact.
His legacy in building and securing digital infrastructure for public health, particularly in underserved regions, demonstrates how technology can be both inclusive and transformative.
About the CEOs Network Africa Awards
Now in its 6th year, the CNA Awards is one of Nigeria’s most respected gatherings of influential young leaders, technocrats, founders, policymakers, creatives, and change agents from across sectors. Each year, it celebrates exceptional leadership and innovation that is shaping Africa’s future.
David Oviaesu’s recognition underscores a larger narrative: that African solutions, led by African professionals, are setting new global benchmarks in health tech and cloud innovation. His journey inspires a new generation of digital architects who believe in building for impact — and building with integrity.
Congratulations once again to David Oviaesu!