Perhaps, the ICT driven Bank of the year category, may be about the most keenly contested category in this year's edition of the annual National ICT merit awards, as Intercontinental Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Finbank and skye bank are said to be squaring up for the top banking prize.

Don Pedro Aganbi, Managing Consultant, Technology Africa, organisers of the event who gave a peek into the list of nominations at a press conference in Lagos, weekend, said that The ICT merit awards now in its fourth edition was designed to celebrate the Icons, Entrepreneurs, organizations and institutions that are behind the technological wind of change that is blowing across Nigeria

He said that like in previous editions, the 2009 ICT Merit Awards, shall have in attendance technology professionals, representation from the presidency, Ministers, The Nigerian Senate, State governments, Diplomatic Communities, captains of industry, Politicians, Business mogul among others.

Another keenly contested category, he revealed was the ICT Company of the year award, with Omatek ventures Plc, Chams Plc, Globacom, InterSwitch, and NIIT were said to be keenly taking interest in.

As for the Software Company of the year, Wadof, Progenics, SystemSpecs, Expertedge, Systemtech and programos will slug it out while PNN, Computer Warehouse Group, Zinox, etranzact, Globacom and Omatek are in contention for the Nigeria's global ICT Company of the year award.