Winner, Dratech Data Innovation Excellence Award 2023
A Moment of Recognition, A Legacy of Innovation
When Michael A. Akinola’s name was announced as the recipient of the Dratech Data Innovation Excellence Award 2023 at the prestigious Dratech International Conference, the entire auditorium rose in applause. It was not just another moment of professional triumph. It was a defining milestone that symbolized Nigeria’s growing reputation as a powerhouse of innovation, excellence, and intellectual depth.
Michael stood tall, representing a new generation of African professionals who combine scientific curiosity with practical application, using data not just to analyze but to transform lives. His recognition was a tribute to years of quiet dedication, to countless hours of study, research, and experimentation, and to an enduring belief that Africa has a place at the forefront of the global technology revolution.
“For me, value creation isn’t just a mantra, it’s a mission,” Michael said in one of his earlier interviews. That statement perfectly sums up a career built on curiosity, data, and purpose.
His story is one that begins in the world of physics and evolves into one of the most inspiring journeys in data science and artificial intelligence today.
The Physics of Curiosity: Where It All Began
Before becoming a data science leader, Michael was a physicist with an insatiable hunger to understand how the world works. His early academic journey began at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics, followed by a Master’s degree in Physics at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria.
Physics shaped his thinking. It trained him to see systems, patterns, and relationships concepts that would later become the foundation of his career in data analytics and artificial intelligence. While many of his peers remained focused on academia or traditional science careers, Michael’s restless curiosity drove him to ask new questions: How could data reveal hidden truths about human behavior, business, and decision-making? Could computational models be used to predict outcomes beyond physical systems?
Those questions became the seeds of a lifelong pursuit. He began exploring how the mathematical rigor of physics could blend with the emerging world of machine learning and data modeling. What started as an academic interest eventually evolved into a professional calling.
Academic Excellence Across Continents
Michael’s intellectual journey later took him beyond Nigeria’s borders to the United States, where he enrolled at Austin Peay State University (APSU) for a Master’s in Computer Science and Quantitative Methods. There, his brilliance once again stood out. He graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, earning distinction not just for academic performance but also for his leadership and mentorship.
At APSU, he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, teaching and mentoring students in statistical methods, data analysis, and research design. His teaching philosophy was simple but powerful: make complex concepts understandable and help others see the real-world value of data.
Michael’s pursuit of continuous growth led him to earn several global certifications in Artificial Intelligence, Google Cloud, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics. These qualifications gave him the versatility to operate at the intersection of technology, research, and business.
“Data has the power to make the invisible visible, and the complex understandable,” he often says. That belief continues to guide his approach to every project he leads and every professional he mentors.
From Lagos to Cummins: Building the Future with Data
Today, Michael serves at Cummins Inc., a global leader in engine and power generation technology. His role involves leading data-driven initiatives that transform business operations, improve efficiency, and unlock new insights through advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.
At Cummins, he designs predictive models that anticipate system failures, optimize engines fuel usage and production lines, and forecast demand trends. These models help the company make faster and more precise decisions.
A major area of his focus is agentic AI, a field dedicated to designing intelligent autonomous systems that can analyze data, make decisions, and adapt to new information without constant human input. It is one of the most advanced areas of artificial intelligence, and Michael’s work positions him among the thought leaders shaping how it will be used in industry.
In his own words, “Every model I build begins with one question: How can this make life better for someone?”
That question defines his human-centered approach to technology. For Michael, AI and data science are not about algorithms alone. They are about improving lives, driving sustainability, and creating systems that serve people.
At Cummins, his work has produced measurable results, aligning with environmental compliance, saving operational costs, improving process reliability, and influencing strategic planning across departments. He has also become a trusted mentor, guiding teams to understand that data is not just a technical asset but a storytelling tool that reveals how businesses truly function.
The Power of Mentorship: Self-Serve Data Science Program
Beyond corporate success, Michael has built a legacy of empowerment through his primary role in the Self-Serve Data Science Program at Cummins. The initiative helps engineers and professionals, especially those without a formal data background develop the skills to make data-informed decisions in their daily work.
The idea is simple yet revolutionary: democratize access to data literacy. Through the program, participants learn how to interpret analytics, build simple models, and visualize insights. Michael’s approach removes the fear often associated with data and replaces it with confidence and curiosity, time reduction from data generation to model development by creating re-usable and modular templates and so on.
His goal is to make data science accessible to everyone, not just experts. By teaching professionals how to integrate data into their problem-solving process, he helps Cummins engineers and affiliated organizations like The Data Mine at Purdue University become more intelligent and agile.
This initiative has empowered numerous professionals across various industries, showing them how to translate numbers into narratives and insights into impact.
Early Professional Footprints: Learning, Teaching, Growing
Before joining Cummins, Michael worked at Bytewise Solutions in Nigeria as a Data Analyst, where he was instrumental in developing analytics systems that improved business performance for clients. It was during this time that he first discovered the potential of combining data analytics with business strategy.
His work involved analyzing trends, building models for customer segmentation, and identifying patterns that helped companies better understand their target markets. The experience provided a strong foundation in business intelligence and taught him how data could drive measurable outcomes in real-world scenarios.
During his graduate studies in the United States, he also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Austin Peay State University. There, he supervised research projects, tutored students in statistical methods, and encouraged them to think beyond formulas – to see data as a living system that mirrors human behavior and societal patterns.
These experiences across continents shaped Michael’s multidimensional expertise and prepared him for leadership in global technology and analytics.
Transforming Ideas into Impact
Michael’s career is characterized by results, not rhetoric. His portfolio includes major projects in predictive modeling, customer segmentation, image recognition, and sentiment analysis, each one demonstrating how data can move from theory to tangible impact.
His predictive models help organizations anticipate challenges before they occur. His sentiment analysis frameworks help brands measure customer emotions more accurately. His image recognition solutions improve automation efficiency. Through all these, Michael has demonstrated that innovation isn’t about technology for its own sake, but about using technology to create solutions that matter.
This ability to merge scientific precision with practical outcomes is what earned him the Dratech Data Innovation Excellence Award 2023.
Beyond Data: Leading with Purpose and Compassion
For Michael, success is not measured only in professional milestones but in the lives he impacts. His involvement with UNICEF and the Society for Family Health (SFH) reveals another side of his commitment to use knowledge for social good.
He has volunteered and mentored over 100 teenagers on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention, providing education and support for informed decision-making.
This humanitarian side shows the balance between intellect and empathy that defines Michael’s leadership. He applies the same evidence-based mindset he uses in data science to his community projects, ensuring every action is guided by measurable impact and long-term sustainability.
The Core Philosophy: Curiosity, Discipline, and Empowerment
If there is a formula behind Michael’s success, it can be summed up in three words: curiosity, discipline, and empowerment.
Curiosity fuels his desire to explore the unknown. Discipline keeps his work focused, structured, and impactful. Empowerment drives him to share his knowledge with others so that collective growth can happen.
Colleagues describe him as a calm, strategic leader who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and business relevance. He has a gift for translating data models into stories that executives and engineers alike can understand.
His philosophy is deeply human: technology should serve people, not replace them. That principle guides everything he builds and teaches.
The Dratech International Conference: Honoring Africa’s Innovators
The Dratech International Conference, where Michael received his award, is one of the continent’s most influential gatherings of thinkers, innovators, and leaders in technology. Organized by Dratech International, the conference recognizes excellence across various domains from software engineering to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
The Data Innovation Excellence Award is presented to professionals who have used data to solve pressing problems, improve decision-making, and create measurable social and economic value. Michael’s recognition is a testament to his ingenuity, leadership, and commitment to advancing the role of data in business and development.
His win also reinforces Nigeria’s position as a breeding ground for global talent, reminding the world that innovation is thriving across Africa.
A National Symbol of Pride
Michael A. Akinola’s success is a reflection of what Nigeria represents today: resilience, intelligence, and possibility. His story is not just about personal achievement but about a collective victory for the nation’s growing tech ecosystem.
As Nigeria continues to produce world-class professionals in science, technology, and innovation, individuals like Michael stand as role models for the next generation – proof that excellence knows no boundaries.
His journey from Lagos to the global stage serves as a beacon of hope for every young Nigerian who believes in the power of education, discipline, and vision.
Shaping the Future of Africa’s Data Economy
Africa is at a turning point, and professionals like Michael Akinola are leading that transformation. His work represents the continent’s shift from being a consumer of technology to becoming a creator of it.
Through his innovations in AI and data science, his mentorship initiatives, and his dedication to community growth, he is helping redefine Africa’s story of innovation, intelligence, and global relevance.
“For me,” he once said, “data isn’t about algorithms. It’s about people. Every insight, every model, every analysis should bring us closer to solving real human problems.”
That statement captures the heart of his mission and reflects the essence of the Dratech Awards themselves: using innovation to create value and progress for humanity.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Purpose and Impact
As the curtains fell at the Dratech International Conference 2023, the applause that followed Michael’s name lingered far beyond the event hall. It echoed across industries, institutions, and communities that have witnessed his impact firsthand.
His journey from a curious physicist to a global data science leader embodies the spirit of perseverance, intellect, and service.
Winning the Dratech Data Innovation Excellence Award 2023 is more than recognition of his professional success. It is an acknowledgment of his influence as a teacher, a mentor, and a visionary.
Michael A. Akinola’s story is proof that true innovation starts with curiosity, thrives on discipline, and finds purpose in empowering others. It is the story of one man, but also of a nation rising boldly into the future of technology and data-driven excellence.
