In an era where innovation defines global influence, Olakunle Abayomi Ajala has emerged as one of the brightest stars from Nigeria’s thriving STEM landscape. On December 5, 2022, Ajala was honoured with the prestigious City People Outstanding Talents Award in STEM, a recognition that not only applauds his extraordinary professional journey but also underscores his unwavering commitment to using technology as a catalyst for progress in Africa. Though now based in the United States, Ajala’s presence was keenly felt at the award ceremony in Lagos, where he delivered a powerful virtual acceptance speech that moved the audience and reignited conversations about the importance of brain gain through global diaspora talent.
Hosted annually by City People Magazine, Nigeria’s most recognisable lifestyle and innovation publication, the Outstanding Talents Awards celebrate individuals whose work redefines industry benchmarks and contributes meaningfully to the national and regional transformation agenda. The 2022 STEM category was among the most fiercely contested, drawing over 100,000 nominations from technologists, engineers, and researchers across the globe. Ajala’s selection from this expansive pool was described by the judging panel as “unanimous, emphatic, and inevitable.”
“This award isn’t just for me,” Ajala began during his live broadcast. “It’s for every young Nigerian who believes that innovation can come from our soil, flourish in our communities, and still resonate on the world stage. I am honoured, but more importantly, I am reminded to keep building.”
Ajala‘s journey in STEM is characterised by technical distinction, unwavering integrity, and a fierce sense of purpose. Over the past decade, he has made critical contributions to cybersecurity frameworks, smart energy solutions, IoT systems architecture, and remote infrastructure monitoring—work that has fortified digital and physical assets across Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and beyond. His professional arc is not only impressive in scale but remarkable in intent: every deployment, innovation, and publication is rooted in the belief that technology must serve people efficiently, inclusively, and ethically.
His last role in Nigeria before relocating to the United States was as Technical Manager Engineer at Galooli, a globally respected technology firm specialising in Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS) and intelligent IoT integrations for infrastructure resilience. At Galooli, Ajala was not merely a system installer—he was a systems thinker, a strategist, and an innovator. He led projects that deployed smart infrastructure across the most logistically complex environments, balancing technical precision with social responsibility.
“At Galooli, I didn’t just work on systems—I worked on resilience,” he recalled. “We were solving problems that directly impacted electricity availability, telecom stability, and the efficiency of distributed infrastructure. These weren’t abstract engineering puzzles. These were human problems with technological answers.”
His innovations included hybrid power systems designed to reduce environmental impact, anti-theft systems tailored for high-risk telecom installations, and real-time visibility platforms that gave clients unprecedented control over distributed assets. Under his leadership, these technologies moved from pilot stages into full-scale deployment, saving millions of naira in operational costs and drastically improving service uptime in underserved regions.
Yet, Ajala’s legacy at Galooli—and across the African tech ecosystem—goes far beyond hardware and code. He led robust mentorship programs, trained hundreds of engineers and technicians, and created technical documentation that became a standard in the field. In Burkina Faso, his team’s work created not just systems, but a sustainable ecosystem for IoT-based infrastructure management—fueled by local knowledge, trained manpower, and repeatable methodologies.
“I’ve always said the most powerful form of technology transfer isn’t the tools—it’s the training,” he said. “What’s the use of deploying a state-of-the-art solution if there’s no one who can maintain or even understand it after you’re gone? Sustainability comes from local knowledge.”
Ajala’s passion for education and empowerment has extended into academia. He has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed research papers on themes ranging from AI-driven anomaly detection in smart grids, to telecom strategies for underserved populations to cybersecurity preparedness in critical infrastructure zones. His works have been cited in scholarly journals, policy papers, and technical conferences, affirming his place not only as a practitioner but as a thought leader in STEM innovation.
His scholarly contributions are complemented by his service on editorial boards and review panels. He currently serves as a peer reviewer for the Gulf Journal of Technology & Environmental Science, and is a professional member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)—a mark of distinction reserved for engineers who demonstrate sustained excellence in their discipline.
“Research and continuous learning are pivotal in staying ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape,” Ajala noted. “Engaging with academic communities allows for the exchange of ideas and the fostering of innovations that can have far-reaching impacts.”
The City People Awards committee based its evaluation on originality, measurable impact, peer recognition, and leadership distinction. Ajala’s dossier was a standout. He submitted detailed reports from international deployments, real-time efficiency data from RMS systems, letters of commendation from clients and governments, as well as full-text publications of his academic work. His impact map intersected with energy security, digital inclusion, and smart public infrastructure—three critical priorities for Nigeria’s future.
“We didn’t chase awards,” Ajala remarked. “We chased outcomes. We chased impact. We chased the vision that a better Africa was possible through better systems, better training, and better thinking. This recognition simply tells me we’re on the right path.”
Even after transitioning to the U.S., Ajala’s focus on Nigeria has not diminished. He continues to support cross-border projects, offer technical consulting to African startups, and mentor STEM professionals remotely. His new research collaborations focus on using AI and edge computing to manage microgrids and public utilities in developing economies.
“People ask if I’ve ‘left Nigeria,’” he said during his speech. “But how can you leave your source? Nigeria is in the code I write, in the systems I design, in the young engineers I still mentor over Zoom. Home is not a GPS location—it’s a purpose.”
Ajala’s reflections at the ceremony were deeply personal and widely shared across social media. Nigerian technologists in the diaspora praised the recognition as long overdue, and STEM educators in Lagos cited his speech as “one of the most inspiring calls to youth we’ve heard in years.”
The editorial board at City People Magazine was equally emphatic. In their official statement, they wrote: “Olakunle Ajala represents the best of Nigeria’s global talent—technically brilliant, globally competitive, and unshakably committed to national progress. His recognition is both a celebration of past achievement and an investment in the future.”
As the applause faded and the livestream ended, Ajala remained composed yet resolute. His final words were a rallying cry to a generation of innovators across the continent:
“For me, this award isn’t closure—it’s ignition. It’s a message to every African innovator: your work matters, your voice is heard, and your roots are never forgotten. From Lagos to Ohio, my journey continues—but its foundation remains unmistakably Nigerian.”
Today, as the 2022 City People Outstanding Talents Award Winner in STEM, Olakunle Abayomi Ajala is more than a symbol of excellence—he is a living blueprint for national relevance through global engagement. His story challenges outdated notions of the “brain drain” and instead showcases the transformative potential of diasporic leadership when grounded in purpose and anchored to community. From circuit boards to classrooms, from West Africa to North America, Ajala continues to light the path forward.
