Bridge Africa Technologies appoints communications strategist and national adviser Babalola Ayodele as one of the judges for the BAT Hackathon 2022, recognising his leadership in media innovation, strategic communication, and governance-focused storytelling.
Mr. Babalola Ayodele, a respected communications and public affairs professional, has been announced as one of the judges for the upcoming BAT Hackathon 2022. His appointment reinforces the competition’s mission to reward innovation that strengthens public communication, transparency, and citizen trust. With a career that spans broadcasting, strategic advisory, and institutional communications, Ayodele brings a deep understanding of how storytelling, reputation management, and public engagement drive effective governance in Africa’s digital era.
Achievement Bio
From newsroom floors to boardrooms of national institutions, Babalola Ayodele’s career tells a story of clarity, discipline, and purpose in public communication. He began his professional journey in broadcast media, working at Aso Radio 93.5 FM and Africa Independent Television, where he honed his storytelling skills and developed a hands-on understanding of public sentiment and information flow. As a journalist and sub-editor, he learned the craft of accuracy, timeliness, and ethics, the foundation that still shapes his professional ethos today.
His transition into digital and strategic communications began with the Buhari New Media Centre, where he served as Head of Content, overseeing editorial strategy, press releases, and multimedia reporting across campaign platforms. His team pioneered BNMC Dailies, an audiovisual segment that provided daily reportage of national events and mobilized digital volunteers across states. This experience positioned him as one of Nigeria’s early adopters of digital storytelling in political and civic communication.
By the time he joined the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, Ayodele was already known for his ability to build narratives that inform, unify, and correct misinformation. Working within the Vice President’s social media team, he helped shape fact-based communication strategies that improved transparency and citizen understanding of government programs.
At Phoenix Relations Limited, where he later became Director of Operations and Communications, he led corporate communications for multiple organizations, integrating strategy, process improvement, and media relations to elevate reputation and public confidence. He championed content discipline and stakeholder coordination, ensuring every communication served measurable institutional objectives.
Today, as the Strategic Technical Adviser to the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Ayodele oversees the agency’s communications, public engagement, and crisis response frameworks. His leadership has produced tangible results: media coverage for the commission grew by more than 50 percent, and online engagement rose by 200 percent within one year. Through careful stakeholder mapping and message discipline, he has helped position NIMC as a credible national institution that communicates with both transparency and empathy.
His academic foundation includes a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University. He also holds certifications in Project Management, Human Resource Management, Event Management, Customer Service, Equity Research Analysis, and Diplomacy. Professionally, he is an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and a Member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Why He Is the Perfect Judge
Public Communication and Media Innovation Award
This award celebrates projects that use communication and digital storytelling to enhance transparency, social awareness, and public engagement.
Mr. Ayodele’s work at NIMC and BNMC embodies this mission. He has led campaigns that simplified complex national policies for citizens through accessible messaging and multi-platform reach.
Judging Criteria He Will Emphasize:
- Clarity and factual accuracy of the message
- Audience reach and engagement impact
- Multi-platform strategy and accessibility
- Ethical storytelling and responsible framing
- Measurable transparency outcomes
In assessing this category, Ayodele will draw from his experience designing NIMC’s integrated communication plan, which expanded accurate identity coverage nationwide. His approach rewards projects that can tell truthful stories while maintaining empathy and inclusivity.
Public Relations and Strategic Leadership Award
This category focuses on leadership in reputation management and institutional communication. Ayodele’s tenure at Phoenix Relations Limited exemplifies these principles. He managed crisis communications for clients, structured media responses, and introduced systems for message discipline that prevented reputational damage.
Judging Criteria He Will Emphasize:
- Reputation risk awareness and management
- Consistency and clarity of institutional messaging
- Preparedness for crisis communication
- Stakeholder relationship mapping
- Ethical and transparent practices
Ayodele believes leadership in public relations is not about control but credibility. His proven success in stabilizing brands under pressure ensures that he will evaluate entrants through the lens of long-term trust, not short-term publicity wins.
Governance, Policy, and Civic Engagement Award
This track recognizes communication tools and strategies that foster active participation between citizens and government. With experience in both public-sector communication and civic mobilization, Ayodele is uniquely positioned to judge this category.
Judging Criteria He Will Emphasize:
- Accessibility and clarity of public information
- Inclusiveness of underserved groups
- Feedback systems for citizen input
- Evidence of accountability and trust gains
- Practical impact on governance processes
Ayodele’s experience in the Office of the Vice President and on the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s Social and Humanitarian Directorate demonstrates his commitment to bridging institutional voices with the public’s reality. He understands that true civic innovation is measured not by visibility but by how well citizens feel heard and informed.
“True communication is not about the loudest voice, but about clarity, honesty, and the courage to listen.”
— Babalola Ayodele, Judge, BAT Hackathon 2022
Impact and Regional Relevance
Mr. Ayodele’s appointment to the BAT Hackathon 2022 judging panel underscores a growing recognition of communication as a driver of innovation in Africa. His combination of field experience, academic grounding, and policy insight aligns perfectly with the Hackathon’s mission to blend technology with public value.
As African innovators continue building solutions that merge storytelling with governance, Ayodele’s presence ensures that creativity will be measured alongside credibility. His belief that communication is a public trust will help shape how participating teams design their narrativestransparent, responsible, and deeply human.
For Bridge Africa Technologies, his inclusion also represents continuity: a reaffirmation that Africa’s digital future must be anchored on truth and trust. His experience across government, private, and civic spheres brings balance to this year’s judging committee and offers entrants a fair, insight-driven evaluation process.
The BAT Hackathon 2022 invites innovators, policy strategists, startups, civic organizations, and media creators to submit projects that advance transparent communication, institutional leadership, and citizen-centered governance.
Submissions: 13th Dec 2021 – 1st April 2022
Portal: www.bridgeafricatech.com/hackathon2022
Inquiries: hackathon@bridgeafricatech.com
Short Bio Sidebar
- Name: Babalola Ayodele
- Current Role: Strategic Technical Adviser to the Director-General, NIMC
- Expertise: Public Relations, Strategic Communication, Media Innovation
- Past Roles: Director of Operations, Phoenix Relations Ltd; Head of Content, BNMC; Media Team, Office of the Vice President
- Education: M.A. International Affairs and Diplomacy; B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication
- Certifications: Project Management, HR Management, Event Management, Customer Service, Equity Research, Diplomacy
- Affiliations: NIPR Associate; NUJ Member
Location: Abuja, Nigeria