Adedayo Babatunde 
Technology entrepreneur Olanrewaju Olaniyan, Chief Executive Officer of SoftStructures Ltd. and Siatech Africa, has been honoured with the Chartered Institute of Information and Strategy Management (CIISM) Excellence Leadership Award, recognising his outstanding professional and leadership impact across Africa’s tech and telecom sectors.
Olaniyan, whose company SoftStructures recently launched NeüRMS, an integrated retail management software for African small and medium-sized businesses, described the recognition as “a reinforcement of our belief that leadership is about building capacity and impact.”
Speaking after receiving the award, Olaniyan said the honour aligns closely with his company’s mission to drive innovation that empowers people and transforms industries.
He said, “This recognition from CIISM is truly special. At both SoftStructures and Siatech Africa, our vision has always been to use technology as a tool for transformation — to solve real problems, empower people, and create opportunities. It’s a reminder that we’re on the right path.”
He credited NeüRMS, launched in 2022, as a major contributor to his recognition. The platform was designed to help African businesses manage sales, inventory, customer relations, and staff operations efficiently under one system.
“When we launched NeüRMS, our goal wasn’t just to build another piece of software. It was to solve a real challenge that small and medium-sized businesses face — how to manage growth efficiently,” he explained.
Olaniyan noted that the rapid adoption of NeüRMS by businesses across Africa reflects a growing confidence in homegrown innovation.
“I think CIISM saw not just a product, but a philosophy — a belief in African innovation solving African problems. That’s what NeüRMS represents,” he said.
Beyond business transformation, the SoftStructures founder emphasised youth empowerment as critical to sustaining Africa’s tech growth.
“Africa’s greatest resource isn’t oil or minerals; it’s our young people,” he said.
“At SoftStructures, we engage young developers and designers, giving them real projects and responsibilities. That’s how NeüRMS itself was built — by a passionate young team.”
He recalled the company’s 2021 partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to sponsor and judge a hackathon focused on combating corruption — an event that drew over 1,700 applications.
“It solidified our belief that with motivation and guidance, the youth can change the world,” he added.
Olaniyan, who also leads Siatech Africa, a fast-growing telecom engineering service provider, said the future of African enterprises lies in the fusion of technology and connectivity.
“Telecoms and technology no longer operate in silos. The future belongs to companies and countries that can combine infrastructure with innovation,” he said.
The tech-preneur described the CIISM award as both validation and motivation.
“Every recognition like this reminds me why we started — to build solutions that matter, to empower people, and to show that excellence can come from here, from Africa. Our journey has just begun.”
