We are delighted to reveal the official shortlist for the PICCASO Awards Africa 2026!
A celebration of the individuals, organisations, products, and services driving excellence in privacy, security, and compliance across Africa. This year, we received a record number of nominations, and we are proud to recognise outstanding professionals and leading organisations whose work is raising industry standards, inspiring change, and embedding trust at the heart of modern business
RISING STAR
- Minenhle Alfred Nzimande
- Tobiloba Adewumi
- Reine RAKOTONARIVO
- Mubarak Raji
- Aziz Kitaka
- Modupe Akintan
- Solomon Nwabueze
- Hassanat Oladeji
- Winnie Ngige
- Tamanda Delisa Kamundi
- Kingsley Owadara
- Nirusha Toocaram
- ENIOLA ADEFOLAJUWON ALAYO
- Jephnei Orina
- Seth Fosu-Kwarteng
- Bibitayo Emmanuel Ojo
- Adeyemi Owoade
- Lauretta Onwuegbuzie
MOST OUTSTANDING DPO
- TOBILOBA ADEWUMI
- Abisola “Abby” Epoyun
- Ian Olwana
- Mrs Drudeisha Madhub
- Francisca Igboanugo
- Toulu Akerele
- ALDAN HAKIM TUSUBIRA
MOST OUTSTANDING DPA
- Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Zimbabwe
- Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC)
- The Somalia Data Protection Authority (DPA)
- Rwanda Data Protection & Privacy Office (DPO)
- Information Regulator of South Africa
- Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), Kenya
- Personal Data Protection Center – Egypt
- Personal Data Protection Office – Uganda
MOST IMPACTFUL DATA PRIVACY PRODUCT
- GRA’s Taxpayer 360
- DataHub Africa
- Yelbridges’ Data Protection Manager
- Auditer
MOST INNOVATIVE DATA PRIVACY PROJECT
- Africa Privacy Roundup
- The Legal Basis Project (Legalbasis.ng)
- MAURITIUS NATIONAL DATA STRATEGY
- HeliumOS
- The NDPC–Seequre SME Data Protection Compliance Checklist
- NDPC–Meta Indigenous Language Translation Project
- Nigerian Privacy Law Report
DATA PROTECTION / PRIVACY TEAM OF THE YEAR
- Cyberline Limited
- Commission Malagasy de l’Informatique et des Libertés CMIL
- Tech Hive Advisory
- GIZ
- Legal, Enforcement and Regulations Department of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission
- AdLegal
- DPO Privacy Centre East Africa
- Tanzania Privacy Professionals Association
RESPONSIBLE AI & DATA ETHICS INITIATIVE OR LEADERSHIP
- Mubarak Raji
- Frontier for Peace and Advocate Foundation
- Kingsley Owadara
- Pan-Africa Center for AI Ethics
- Kehinde Oladapo Olukayode
- Ridwan Oloyede
- Jane Awuor Ombiro
INFOSEC CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
- Dr. Iretioluwa Akerele
- Emem Umoh
- Timmy Iwoni
- Samaila Atsen Bako
- Confidence Staveley
- Adewale Peter Obadare (Prof. OPA)
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN’S DATA AWARD
- Save the children Nigeria
- MTN Nigeria
- Victor Chinonye Onuchukwu
- Chance for Childhood
DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
- Adocaat Law Practice
- Alliance Law Firm (ALF)
- Aluko & Oyebode
- Olumide Babalola LP
- Stren & Blan Partners
- Victory Attorneys & Consultants
