IWD 2024: Celebrating Nigeria’s Women Pioneering Tech Innovation

In observance of the 2024 International Women’s Day under the theme “Inspire Inclusion,” emphasising the vital role of women’s participation in society, Nosa Alekhuogie honours outstanding women making significant strides in the tech industry. Women are the architects of society, weaving the fabric of culture, progress, and resilience. Across history, their stories resonate with strength, perseverance, and an indomitable spirit. Women have continually shaped our world, from the courage of suffragettes demanding voting rights to the leadership of political pioneers breaking glass ceilings. To mark International Women’s Day, THISDAY spotlights the remarkable women driving innovation and shaping the tech landscape in Nigeria. From Lagos to Abuja, these trailblazers break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and transform the industry with their talent and tenacity. In a sector traditionally dominated by men, Nigerian women are carving out their space and making their mark. Their contributions are invaluable to the growth and success of the tech ecosystem in Nigeria, including various sectors such as EdTech, Fintech, HealthTech, SaaS, ClimateTech, Cloud Computing, MediaTech, software developers, data scientists, entrepreneurs, and engineers. Here are 10 remarkable women leading change in Nigeria’s diverse fields. Selected through thorough research and nominations from individuals and tech communities, these women are truly outstanding in their endeavours.

• RUBY IGWE

Ruby Igwe is an accomplished, high-powered young leader in digital technology with vibrant engagements in law, socio-cultural development, and the creative arts. Ruby is the first female and pioneer Nigeria Country General Manager at Sand Technologies (the training arm of which is tech accelerator ALX Africa). In this global technology brand, she provides direction and leadership for over 50 tech experts and strategically formulates policies that empower youths in Nigeria with future tech skills. Under her pragmatic and strategic leadership, ALX in Nigeria has positively impacted over 100,000 unskilled youths in Nigeria, of which 40 per cent is female, and bagged multiple awards in the process, including the prestigious AOT Social Innovation Award in 2023.

As a tech leader passionate about culture and infrastructure, she co-founded and continues to support Archivi.ng, a tech startup actively contributing to the critical mission of preserving Nigeria’s history through the digital documentation of newspapers.

She is a graceful storyteller who delivers masterful strategies and empirical evidence for organisational growth with creative strokes. A deep lover of arts, fashion, and culture, Ruby is an award-winning film producer and a versatile author of two books published on Amazon. She is a female force that embodies the spirit of national and continental development through creative innovations.

• OGOCHUKWU ONWUZURIKE

Ogo Onwuzurike, the country manager of Truecaller in Nigeria, is a visionary leader steering Truecaller’s go-to-market strategy, orchestrating comprehensive operational expansion in Nigeria. With a stellar record of propelling businesses to implement successful market penetration strategies and scaling SaaS products across Africa, Ogo is an industry luminary. Boasting over a decade of diverse experience in banking, payments, fintech, and SaaS, she has contributed her expertise to renowned companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Philip Morris International, Interswitch, and MetaMap. Transitioning to the tech industry in 2020, Ogo joined Interswitch as Business Development Manager for Emerging Markets, sparking her interest in Digital Transformation, Digital Ecosystems, Platforms, and Digital Business. Among her numerous achievements, leading the Africa team at Metamap saw Ogo clinch the Region of the Quarter Award for two consecutive quarters in 2022, receiving accolades as the highest-growing region, surpassing competition from Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Americas.

• TOBI OTOKITI

Tobi is an award-winning technology female leader with a decade-long record of success as a product management expert. Tobi has contributed to the success of three unicorn companies—Flutterwave, Andela, and Interswitch- driving tech product development. She is the visionary Founder of ProductDive, a world-class leading EduTech and consulting company for product management professionals and product-led technology companies. She’s also the convener of Africa’s foremost product leadership conference, The DIVE, a conference for product management professionals. Tobi is committed to local empowerment. The selection of ProductDive as an official content provider to The 3 Million Technical Talent Program by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy highlights Tobi’s commitment to shaping Nigeria’s digital workforce. She is a member of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Tobi is a public speaker and has spoken at the UK Parliament and tech conferences in London, Manchester, Rwanda and Nigeria, with awards including the 2024 Future Female Leader Award, IESE Business School, 2023 Tech Amazon Award, 2022 TechWomen Awardee, US Department of State.

• OLAMIPOSI EKUMA

Olamiposi Ekuma is a dynamic and visionary leader at the forefront of empowering young Nigerians with digital technology skills and fostering innovation to address local challenges. With a robust background in technology and a passion for community development, Olamiposi has pioneered transformative programs to bridge the digital divide and nurture a new generation of problem-solving technologists. In her work in Genesys Tech Hub, she spearheaded efforts to equip young Africans with digital entrepreneurial skills through the Genesys Startup Boost, where she mentored budding entrepreneurs to scale their innovative solutions.

As the managing director of Genesys Foundation, she is committed to nurturing a generation of African trailblazers, equipping them with cutting-edge digital entrepreneurial skills to tackle local challenges and drive sustainable development. Throughout her career, Olamiposi has been a catalyst for change, leveraging her expertise to design and implement programs that empower young Nigerians with tech skills while fostering a culture of innovation.

At TxE Africa, she led a team of over a hundred volunteers to build and nurture a community of over 22,000 African youth pursuing careers in technology and led initiatives to provide learning and career development opportunities across various tech disciplines. Olamiposi has been recognised for her outstanding contributions, receiving awards such as the DDEA Humanitarian Award in Maryland, USA. She was also recognised at the United Nations by AFS Intercultural Programs as a young global citizen in New York. She was selected from among youth leaders from about 103 countries.

• DR AISHA BASHIR TUKUR

Dr Aishat Bashir Tukur is a cybersecurity analyst, computer scientist, and civil servant woman in Tech Advocate with about 17 years in the tech industry. She is a WomenTech Network global ambassador and founder of Space Age Tech Innovation Hub, ABT Consults, with services ranging from tech and digital innovation to tech mentoring and coaching. She is passionate about community service development and sensitisation and loves sharing knowledge about tech, entrepreneurship, personal growth, career advancements, etc. She was an event host and panelist for onsite and online events. She is also a member of the Women Techsters Fellowship in cybersecurity, a Microsoft-certified system engineer, an EC Council-certified cybersecurity analyst, a certified transformation and productivity coach, a certified master professional in emotional intelligence, and many others.

• IWALOLA SOBOWALE

Iwalola Sobowale is a driving force in the tech industry, leveraging her extensive background in CX, UX, and product research to implement strategies that resonate with customers and contribute to the overall success of data-driven businesses. Currently serving as the Head of CX Research at Moniepoint, she spearheads strategic initiatives to enhance user satisfaction and loyalty. As the host of The Spotlight Podcast, she shares industry insights, fostering innovation and knowledge-sharing to nurture the tech ecosystem. With previous experience at laudable organisations, including Interswitch, Transsion and Fidelity Bank, Iwalola has led efforts that have significantly elevated user experiences and product performance. Her passion for innovation and commitment to excellence makes her a standout professional.

• GBEMISOLA OJO

Gbemisola Ojo is a cloud advisory manager at PwC, UK with vast experience managing cloud infrastructures in AWS and automating software development process using continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines. A certified AWS solutions architect associate, she is the founder of Cloudboosta, a cloud computing and advisory platform specialising in in-demand tech skills training, employability training and helping learners secure rewarding jobs and careers in cloud computing.

Her passion for technology and an appetite for lifelong learning drove her transition from mechanical engineering to technology. She developed programming skills independently and continues gaining new skills through practical projects, constantly expanding her capacity in the IT industry. She is well-known for her excellent delivery, drive, tenacity, analytical mind and ability to work effectively in a team, leveraging people’s strengths.

• ANUOLUWAPO ODUBANJO

Anuoluwapo Odubanjo is a content strategist and digital media professional. She is the founder of FabWoman, a digital media platform that informs, inspires, and educates women. In her capacity, she has built FabWoman from scratch to become a leading platform for women’s lifestyle content. She has worked with brands and businesses across FMCG, finance, health, lifestyle, and technology sectors to help bring their branded content to life and convert leads to prospective customers. She is also enthusiastic about social impact causes and initiatives, especially those relating to women. In 2019, she was headhunted by Opera News as a content specialist for their lifestyle category when they officially launched operations in Nigeria. She also worked briefly at Pulse Nigeria and United People Global, a Switzerland-based non-profit organisation, between 2021 and 2022. She was named one of the ‘Nine Top Women of Impact’ by Tawer Africa in commemoration of International Women’s Day in 2023. She is an MTN MIP 2023 fellow and a 2023 winner of Inspiring Fifty’s Africa Women in Technology Award.

• MORENIKE FAJEMISIN

Morenike is a leading figure in the world of health tech, with a passion for digital health innovation. She is the founder and CEO of Whispa Health, a startup leveraging technology to tackle healthcare challenges. With a deep passion for improving women’s healthcare access and outcomes, Morenike has dedicated her career to making a tangible difference in this vital field. With her innovative mindset and expertise in digital health strategies, Morenike has emerged as a driving force in the industry. As Whispa Health founder, she has spearheaded the development of a visionary health tech company on a mission to improve women’s lives by providing them with easy access to comprehensive healthcare resources, breaking down barriers and ensuring no woman is left behind. Through her visionary leadership, Morenike is paving the way for a future where women have access to high-quality healthcare services, regardless of their location or circumstances. Her innovative solutions and commitment to inclusivity are transforming the landscape of women’s healthcare, promising a brighter and healthier future for all.

• MARIAM LAWANI

Mariam Lawani is the founder and CEO of Greenhill Recycling. She is an educator turned climate tech manager. She is a certified social sector manager from the prestigious Pan Atlantic University and a proud alumnus of the Cherie Blaire Foundation for Women. She started Greenhill Recycling from the garage of her house and now has over 5,000 registered households who have adopted their recycling model. Mariam gave more insights about her social enterprise and how she is winning the quest for a cleaner and climate-friendly environment.

However, the journey towards gender equality in tech is far from over. Women still face barriers such as unconscious bias, lack of representation in leadership roles, and unequal access to resources and opportunities. Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from all stakeholders – government, industry leaders, educators, and the wider community.

As we celebrate the achievements of women in tech this International Women’s Day, let us also recommit ourselves to creating a more inclusive and equitable future. By championing diversity, supporting women’s leadership, and breaking down barriers, we can unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s tech industry and pave the way for a brighter tomorrow for all.