PICASSO Awards Africa: Celebrating Champions of Data, Privacy, and Innovation Across the Continent

Accra, Ghana — Tuesday, 11 November 2025 — The PICCASO Awards, heralded as the leading celebration of privacy, cybersecurity, and data governance leaders in the UK and Europe, is set to make its grand entrance into Africa this December. This prestigious event promises to bring together visionaries and changemakers from across the continent to recognize and honor noteworthy contributions to data protection and governance.

The acronym “PICCASO” encapsulates the core values of the awards: Privacy, InfoSec, Compliance, Culture, Awareness, Strategy & Operations. Established by a UK-based non-profit group, this initiative is driven by experienced volunteers who are senior leaders in privacy and data protection. The awards strive not just to recognize international contributions but to spotlight local solutions and Indigenous leadership, underscoring the importance of homegrown efforts in the digital space.

A pivotal partner in bringing the PICCASO Awards to Africa is the Africa Digital Rights Hub (ADRH). This collaboration is epitomized by the flagship Data Protection Africa Summit 2025, which serves as the platform for the awards gala. This partnership accentuates a shared commitment to promoting data protection and digital rights across the continent.

Teki Akuetteh, Executive Director at the ADRH, voiced the significance of the awards, stating, “The PICCASO Awards Africa spotlight the visionary’s advancing innovation, embedding sustainable technology practices, and safeguarding the systems, identities, and data at the core of Africa’s digital economy.” This statement reinforces the essential role data protection plays in fostering a secure and thriving digital landscape, especially against the backdrop of increasing cyber threats.

The gala, set for Wednesday, 3 December 2025, will mark the culmination of the Data Protection Africa Summit. It will be hosted at the esteemed Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, bringing together an eclectic mix of Africa’s foremost public and private sector leaders, policymakers, innovators, and advocates of privacy and data governance. This event represents a unique opportunity for networking and sharing best practices in the field of data protection.

As attendees gather under one roof, discussions and insights are anticipated to revolve around innovative solutions to pressing challenges in privacy and data governance. The event will not only serve to celebrate achievements but also inspire collaboration towards building a more resilient and informed approach to data protection across Africa.

The PICCASO Awards are thus set to become a landmark event in the African digital landscape, emphasizing the continent’s commitment to strengthening its data protection framework. With a focus on local achievements and regional narratives, the awards aim to elevate Africa’s profile on the global data governance stage and inspire a new wave of innovation in privacy and cybersecurity.