The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ikeja Branch has joined the family and general public in mourning the passage of late Engr Mrs Florence Seriki, MD/CEO Omatek Ventures Plc. She died last Friday after brief illness at the age of 55.
Engr Seriki was one of the country's pioneers in Information Technology having founded in the first the first indigenous IT company to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Starting off from one-on-one computer training for executives within the banking and oil sectors over 25 years ago to lay foundation for the establishment of Omatek Ventures Plc, which later has first completely knocked down computer factories in Nigeria and Ghana.
Omatek Computers Limited was first to win the Microsoft Best Systems Builders Award 2005 for Central, West and East Africa in 2005
Engr Seriki, a graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife,) Osun State, is a strong believer in Local Content in ICT, she contributed immensely to the ICT development in both Nigeria and Ghana. Under her leadership, Omatek Ventures Plc helped to produce IT tools massively for the Nigerian Government Computer Assisted Program under the CANI Computer Acquisition Program for Nigerian Civil Servants as part of the efforts to re-engineer the public service for more efficiency. The company also helped to produce IT tools for the Ghana’s Government Computer Assisted Program (GAPP) under the i-Advance Computer acquisition Program for Ghanaian Citizens
In addition to this, she was a strong believer in ICT as a means in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and youth development. This resulted in the establishment of Omatek Resource Centres across many Universities/Higher Institutions to provide hands-on experience for undergraduates.
Engr Seriki was a recipient of Members of Federal Republic MFR. She was a Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, Nigerian Computers Society and the Institute of Directors. In 2015, she was listed among the 21 Nigerians who are on top of their game. She has over 150 national and international recognition awards.
Some of the her awards include: Woman of the year award, Most Fascinating Nigerian (MFN)-Press Merit services, Most Outstanding/Innovative company of the decade – Africa Digital Awards 2010, Computer Hardware of the Year 2010 –National Information technology Merit Awards, Best Computer Company of the Year 2010 – West Africa ICT Development Awards, Professional Fellowship Award-Nigerian Computers Society, Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2009-Equisite Magazine/Eloy ’09 Awards., Life Time Achievement Award for revolutionizing IT in Nigeria-3rd Lagos Enterprise Award 2009, Legend of Technology 2009 – Titans of Technology, Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurship Award, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Excellence in Enterprise Award, 2005 and many more.
The news was broken to the member of Ikeja Branch by the Chairman, Engr Akin Akintola.
Engr Mrs Seriki was a friend and strong suppoeter of NSE Ikeja Branch and contributed to its growth including its ICT unit.
Below are some of the members message
"She was such a notable Gem, what a great loss" - Engr Abdul Ganiyu Odunsi
"May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace" - Wasiu Ashiru
"May Allah grant her soul al-janat and console the family left behind.." Engr Ajibade Jimoh
"May her soul rest in peace; we will really miss her effortless contributions to the society".. Engr Adeoluwa
"May her soul rest in peace. Engr Mrs Florence Seriki MFR, FNSE, FNCS, ITAN President is gone! - Engr Oluwaniyi
"May Her gentle soul rest in peace"...Engr David S. S.
"What a very sad loss. Such an Icon! May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.." Dr Mrs Ibilola Amao
"A supporter of engineering. We will miss her.. May her soul rest in peace. " Isqil Najim
"She was such a pleasant woman of excellence, ready to mentor the young ones. May her soul rest in peace and grant her the family fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss"- Engr Mrs Funmi Akingbagbohun
"May her soul rest in Peace. Amen.
"We spoke extensively on phone before her medical attention in UK for which she obviously did not return. We worked together when I chaired the NSE presidential study of the Nigerian Railways. She kindly and selflessly provided us the secretariat facility for the study. A great loss to Nigerian engineering, entrepreneurs and management. She was one of our shining lights in Nigeria is gone. Adeiu Engr Mrs Seriki..." Engr Yemisi Shyllon, FNSE
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