6th World Digital Exhibition (WORLDEX) 2025

PHOTO: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal led the pack among the 10 winners of WORLDEX Social Meets Soccer Awards 2023. As we did last year, we similarly announced the 10 recipients of the WORLDEX Social Meets Soccer Awards 2024 on social media on December 23, 2024. This awards program stood for the 5th World Digital Exhibition (WORLDEX) 2024.  

OVERVIEW
World Digital Exhibition (WORLDEX) is owned and organized by Alford Conferences Limited. This annual technology trade fair connects Africa’s ICT industry and allied sectors more effectively with the rest of the global tech community. The annual ICT trade fair is modelled after the leading global tech shows: CES (Las Vegas, USA), Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Hong Kong, China), CEATEC Japan (Tokyo, Japan), Korea Electronics Show (Seoul, South Korea), GITEX Global (Dubai, UAE), MWC Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain), London Tech Week (London, UK), Web Summit (Lisbon, Portugal), and VIVA Technology (Paris, France). From inception in June 2020 till date, the event has been held in the format of a publication on social media and online news websites. The first three editions of World Digital Exhibition (2020, 2021 and 2022), marked WORLDEX Africa Tech Leaders Awards, were held in this manner. We looked mainly at three top tech countries in Africa for these awards: Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. In line with our global vision, we redesigned WORLDEX in 2023, expanding its focus beyond Africa. We replaced WORLDEX Africa Tech Leaders Awards with the WORLDEX Global Awards, now to be presented in the following five categories: Social Meets Soccer Awards, Africa Telecom 50 Awards, Global Telecom Regulator Awards, Global Brand Awards, and Digital Women 100 Awards. REVENUE magazine, published monthly by Alford Conferences Limited, serves as the official publication of WORLDEX.

1ST WORLD DIGITAL EXHIBITION (WORLDEX) 2020
Here are the 30 tech leaders drawn from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa that we honoured and celebrated in our award lists published online in June/July 2020 for the 1st WORLDEX 2020. The lists were featured in the Facebook platforms of Frederick Apeji and Alford Conferences Limited. Other  Nigerian newspapers and online news websites also published these lists.
THE WINNERS 
Africa Top Tech Leaders: Nigeria

1. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. Federal Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
2. Umar Garba Danbatta. Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
3. Yusuf Kazaure. Chairman, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited
4. Funke Opeke. MD/CEO, MainOne Cable Company Nigeria Limited
5. Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor. Director, Google West Africa
6. Ferdinand Moolman. MD/CEO, MTN Nigeria Plc
7. Bellinda Disu. Executive Vice Chairman, Globacom Limited
8. Leo Stan Ekeh. Chairman/CEO, Zinox Technologies Limited
9. Mitchell Elegbe. MD/CEO, Interswitch Limited
10. John Obaro. MD/CEO, SystemSpecs Nigeria Limited

Africa Top Tech Leaders: Kenya

11. Joe Mucheru. Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs
12. Mercy Wanjau. Acting Director General, Communications Authority of Kenya
13. Katherine Getao. CEO, Information and Communication Technology Authority Kenya
14. Philip Thigo. Senior Adviser, Data, Innovation and Open Government, Office of the Deputy President
15. John Tanui. CEO, Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA)
16. Linda Bonyo. Founder/CEO, Lawyers Hub Kenya
17. Peter Ndegwa. CEO, Safaricom PLC
18. Charles Njenga Murito. Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
19. Ken Njoroge. Co-Founder/Group CEO, Cellulant Limited
20. Jonathan Somen. Founder/Managing Director, Eldama Technologies Limited

Africa Top Tech Leaders: South Africa

21. Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams. Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services
22. Willington Ngwepe. CEO, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
23. Jacobus Petrus “Koos” Bekker. Chairman, Napsers Group
24. Bob Van Dijk. Group CEO, Napsers Limited
25. Rob Shuter. CEO, MTN Group
26. Godfrey Motsa. CEO, MTN South Africa
27. Muhammed Shameel Aziz Joosub. CEO, Vodacom Group
28. Sipho Nkosinathi Maseko. CEO, Telkom Limited
29. David Kan. Chairman/CEO, Mustek Limited
30. Alistair Mokoena. Director, Google South Africa

2ND WORLD DIGITAL EXHIBITION (WORLDEX) 2021
Here are the 30 tech leaders drawn from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa that we honoured and celebrated in our award lists published online in June/July 2021 for the 2nd WORLDEX 2021. The lists were featured in the Facebook platforms of Frederick Apeji and Alford Conferences Limited. Other  Nigerian newspapers and online news websites also published these lists.
THE WINNERS 
Africa Top Tech Leaders: Nigeria

1. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
2. Umar Garba Danbatta. Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
3. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi. Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
4. Funke Opeke. CEO, MainOne Cable Company Limited
5. Iyinoluwa Samuel Aboyeji. Founder/CEO, Future Africa
6. Olugbenga Agboola. Co-Founder/CEO, Flutterwave
7. Karl Toriola. CEO, MTN Nigeria Plc
8. Leo Stan Ekeh. Chairman/CEO, Zinox Technologies Limited
9. Mitchell Elegbe. Founder/CEO, Interswitch Group
10. John Obaro. CEO, SystemSpecs Nigeria Limited

Africa Top Tech Leaders: Kenya

11. Joe Mucheru. Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology
12. Mercy Wanjau. Acting Director General, Communications Authority of Kenya
13. Katherine Getao. CEO, Information and Communication Technology Authority
14. Peter Ndegwa. CEO, Safaricom Plc
15. Peter Njonjo. CEO, Twiga Foods
16. Agnes Gathaiya. Country Director, Google East Africa
17. Jonathan Somen. Founder/Managing Director, Eldama Technologies Limited
18. Ory Okolloh. Chairperson, Stanbic Bank Foundation Kenya
19. Hilda Moraa. Founder/CEO, Pezesha Africa Limited
20. Karimi Ithau. Managing Director, Kenswitch Limited

Africa Top Tech Leaders: South Africa

21. Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams. Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services
22. Willington Ngwepe. CEO, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
23. Jacobus Petrus “Koos” Bekker. Chairman, Napsers Group
24. Ralph Mupita. CEO, MTN Group
25. Muhamed Shameel Aziz Joosub. CEO, Vodacom Group
26. Godfrey Motsa. CEO, MTN South Africa
27. Roelof Botha. Partner, Sequoia Capital (USA)
28. Sipho Nkosinathi Maseko. Group CEO, Telkom Limited
29. Werner Kapp. CEO, Dimension Data.
30. Warren Prinsloo. CEO, Jasco Holding Limited

3RD WORLD DIGITAL EXHIBITION (WORLDEX) 2022
Here are the 30 tech leaders drawn from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa that we honoured and celebrated in our award lists published online in June/July 2022 for the 3rd WORLDEX 2022. The lists were featured in the Facebook platforms of Frederick Apeji and Alford Conferences Limited. Other  Nigerian newspapers and online news websites also published these lists.
THE WINNERS 
Africa Top Tech Leaders: Nigeria

1. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami). Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
2. Umar Garba Danbatta. Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission
3. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi. Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
4. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz. Director General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
5. Karl Toriola. CEO of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc
6. Leo Stan Ekeh. Chairman of Zinox Technologies Limited
7. Mitchell Elegbe. Founder/CEO of Interswitch Group
8. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji. Founder/CEO of Future Africa
9. Olugbenga Agboola. CEO of Flutterwave Limited
10. John Obaro. CEO of SystemSpecs Nigeria Limited

Africa Top Tech Leaders: Kenya

11. Joe Mucheru. Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs
12. Ezra Chiloba. Director General, Communications Authority of Kenya
13. Kipronoh Ronoh Paul. CEO, ICT Authority Kenya
14. Michael Joseph. Chairman, Safaricom Plc
15. Peter Ndegwa. CEO, Safaricom Plc
16. Peter Njonjo. CEO, Twiga Foods
17. Agnes Gathaiya. Country Director, Google East Africa
18. Jonathan Somen. Founder/Managing Director, Eldama Technologies Limited
19. Catherine Muraga. Managing Director, Microsoft African Development Centre (ADC)
20. Karimi Ithau. Managing Director, Kenswitch Limited

Africa Top Tech Leaders: South Africa

21. Khumbudzo Phophi Ntshavheni. Minister of Communications, Communications and Digital Technology
22. Willington Ngwepe. CEO, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
23. Patrick Krappie. CEO, Technology Innovation Agency, South Africa
24. Jacobus Petrus “Koos” Bekker. Chairman, Napsers Group
25. Ralph Mupita. CEO, MTN Group
26. Muhamed Shameel Aziz Joosub. CEO, Vodacom Group
27. Roelof Botha. Partner, Sequoia Capital (USA)
28. Jens Montanana. CEO, Datatec Limited
29. Stewart Van Graan. CEO, Allied Electronics Corporation Limited
30. Lillian Barnard. CEO, Microsoft South Africa

4TH WORLD DIGITAL EXHIBITION (WORLDEX) 2023
This honour is reserved for the top 10 soccer players in the world with the highest number of social media followers in the combination of Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter). Such players must be nationals of FIFA-member countries, irrespective of the country or club they currently play for. The players (active or retired) must be less than 45 years old as at the time of each annual event. The ranking is produced by the editorial team of REVENUE magazine from available online data and literature about these athletes. The Social Meets Soccer Awards awards list for the 4th WORLDEX 2023 was featured in the Facebook platforms of Frederick Apeji and Alford Conferences Limited. Other  Nigerian newspapers and online news websites also published these lists.
THE WINNERS 
Cristiano Ronaldo: 889,910,837
Country/Age: Portugal/38 Years
Instagram: 610,860,412
Facebook: 168,043,352
X (Twitter): 110,188,073

Lionel Messi: 607,740,051
Country/Age: Argentina/36 Years
Instagram: 491,499,037
Facebook: 116,241,044
X (Twitter): Nill

Neymar: 371,362,190
Country/Age: Brazil/31 Years
Instagram: 216,235,129
Facebook: 92,085,992
X (Twitter): 63,041,069

Ronaldinho Gaucho: 152,542,273
Country/Age: Brazil/43 Years
Instagram: 74,696,865
Facebook: 56,238,383
X (Twitter): 21,607,025

Karim Benzema: 142,477,488
Country/Age: France/35 Years
Instagram: 76,083,361
Facebook: 45,450,810
X (Twitter): 20,943,317

Kylian Mbappe: 140,563,557
Country/Age: France/24 Years
Instagram: 109,789,357
Facebook: 17,476,897
X (Twitter): 13,297,303

Sergio Ramos: 121,337,647
Country/Age: Spain/37 Years
Instagram: 62,012,009
Facebook: 38,952,315
X (Twitter): 20,373,323

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 113,268,035
Country/Age: Sweden/42 Years
Instagram: 63,878,620
Facebook: 40,009,166
X (Twitter): 9,380,249

Marcelo Vieira: 107,439,387
Country/Age: Brazil/35 Years
Instagram: 65,967,739
Facebook: 28,494,008
X (Twitter): 12,977,640

James Rodriguez: 107,019,905
Country/Age: Colombia/32 Years
Instagram: 52,072,540
Facebook: 36,046,711
X (Twitter): 18,900,654

5TH WORLD DIGITAL EXHIBITION (WORLDEX) 2023
This honour is reserved for the top 10 soccer players in the world with the highest number of social media followers in the combination of Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter). Such players must be nationals of FIFA-member countries, irrespective of the country or club they currently play for. Unlike in 2023 when we adopted 45 years as the cut-off age, the players (active or retired) must be less than 40 years old as at the time of each annual event. The ranking for the Social Meets Soccer Awards is produced by the editorial team of REVENUE magazine from available online data and literature about these athletes. The Social Meets Soccer Awards awards list for the 5th WORLDEX 2024 was featured in the Facebook and Instagram platforms of Frederick Apeji as well as on the Facebook page of Alford Conferences Limited.
THE WINNERS 
Cristiano Ronaldo: 928,000,000
Country/Age: Portugal/39 Years
Instagram: 645,000,000
Facebook: 170,000,000
X (Twitter): 114,000,000

Lionel Messi: 621,000,000
Country/Age: Argentina/37 Years
Instagram: 504,000,000
Facebook: 117,000,000
X (Twitter): Nill

Neymar: 382,000,000
Country/Age: Brazil/32 Years
Instagram: 227,000,000
Facebook: 91,000,000
X (Twitter): 64,000,000

Kylian Mbappe: 144,000,000
Country/Age: France/25 Years
Instagram: 112,000,000
Facebook: 17,000,000
X (Twitter): 15,000,000

Karim Benzema: 142,000,000
Country/Age: France/36 Years
Instagram: 76,000,000
Facebook: 45,000,000
X (Twitter): 21,000,000

Sergio Ramos: 124,000,000
Country/Age: Spain/38 Years
Instagram: 65,000,000
Facebook: 39,000,000
X (Twitter): 20,000,000

Marcelo Vieira: 109,000,000
Country/Age: Brazil/36 Years
Instagram: 68,000,000
Facebook: 28,000,000
X (Twitter): 13,000,000

James Rodriguez: 107,000,000
Country/Age: Colombia/33 Years
Instagram: 53,000,000
Facebook: 35,000,000
X (Twitter): 19,000,000

Gareth Bale: 103,000,000
Country/Age: UK/35 Years
Instagram: 51,000,000
Facebook: 33,000,000
X (Twitter): 19,000,000

Mohamed Salah: 99,000,000
Country/Age: Egypt/32 Years
Instagram: 64,000,000
Facebook: 16,000,000
X (Twitter): 19,000,000

6TH WORLD DIGITAL EXHIBITION (WORLDEX) 2024
The 6th WORLDEX 2025 would feature the winners in two out of the standing eight award categories: the Social Meets Soccer Awards and the Africa Telecom 50 Awards. The Social Meets Soccer Awards, now in its 3rd edition, would as usual be reserved for the top 10 soccer players in the world with the highest number of social media followers in the combination of Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter). Such players must be nationals of FIFA-member countries, irrespective of the country or club they currently play for (active or retired), and they must be less than 40 years old as at the time of each annual event. The Africa Telecom 50 Awards will go to the 50 biggest mobile network operators (MNOs) in the 54 countries of Africa, based on the most recently available data on their subscription base. We published the maiden edition of the annual Africa Telecom 50 Report in April 2024. We shall use the 2025 edition of this report (expected to be published in April 2025) to select the 50 winners of the 1st Africa Telecom 50 Awards. WORLDEX 2025 will honour the winners in both award categories (60 of them altogether). For the first time since the inaugural edition of the annual event in 2020, World Digital Exhibition (WORLDEX) is expected to be held as an in-person event. We have fixed the 6th edition of the event for November 4, 2025.

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