In Nigeria, technology has never been a spectator sport. It’s survival, innovation, and zeal rolled into one. The country now ranks #1 in Africa for Web3 development, contributing 4% of global new Web3 developers, more than any other African country.
Over 80 Nigerian Web3 startups have raised $130 million to date, with $20 million raised in 2024 alone, mostly in infrastructure and DeFi.
Nonetheless, for all this progress, women hold less than 22% of tech roles in the country and a meagre 12% of leadership positions in emerging sectors like blockchain and AI.
That gap is exactly what Onone Peace Ega has set out to close. She is not just another Technical Project and Program manager, and not just a voice in the room; she is “a problem solver.”
“I drive innovation. I work with innovators to solve technology-related problems within the tech ecosystem,” she said.
With a solid foundation in Web2 and a growing leadership presence in Web3, Onone’s focus is on creating solutions that actually move people, businesses, and communities forward.
The Problem She’s Solving
Nigeria’s digital payments market is projected to hit $18 billion by 2026, powered by PSPs, agency banking, and mobile-first solutions. Stablecoin transfers alone neared $3 billion in Q1 2024, with USDT/NGN now the most traded pair on centralised exchanges.
Beneath those glowing numbers, however, lies a vulnerability: only 15% of Nigerian Web3 developers are employed full-time, while 41% work as freelancers, often paid in crypto.
Add the threat of cybercrime, Nigeria is projected to lose part of the $10.5 trillion global cybercrime cost by 2025, with over 2,300 attacks reported daily, and it becomes apparent why building inclusive, secure ecosystems is urgent.
Beyond Web3, Onone Ega sees herself as a bridge between the old and the new.
“In bridging the old and the new… my major focus, especially with the work I do at Women in DeFi, is inclusivity. Women inclusivity. As much as technology is advancing, I am particularly on a mission to ensure that as many women not just come to know about the technology, but also lead the conversations that happen.”
A Career Forged in Contrasts
Her path was not straightforward. From writing code in her early years to leading technical teams, she discovered that management came naturally to her. She learned leadership in two extremes, structured banking halls and fast-moving startups.
“As a leader, you have to get your hands dirty. You cannot conjure anything from any textbook. You need to know the business, especially leading within the tech space in Nigeria, which is very compliance-driven. In terms of execution, the definition of ‘done’ is that we’re delivering this value, this business value, and then customers are happy. A functional solution that’s giving value to the users is the definition of done.”
One project that pushed her to her limits was FastBuka, a food delivery and logistics platform that allowed crypto payments. With little funding, her team pushed through hackathons and pitches until the Stellar blockchain grant came through, validating their vision.
Another was Nigeria’s own eNaira integration, where she managed the back-and-forth with CBN under high pressure and tighter timelines.
She laughs now, but every sleepless night taught her that innovation is never smooth—it’s always a fight.
The experiences Onone Ega gained in structured and fast-paced environments prepared her for the risks and opportunities of Web3.
Betting on Web3
For some, Web3 feels abstract; for Onone Ega, it is the future. When asked why Web3 excites her, she explains:
“Web3 is basically decentralisation. The authenticity, the fact that you can rely on the information that you put on the blockchain, and you know that nobody is going to alter it, and it’s transparent for everyone to see—that’s what makes Web3 really interesting for me.”
Still, she acknowledges the risks.
“Security is an area of concern for me because it’s still burgeoning, especially in Africa. The aspect of technology that’s now going to need to double up is security. How do you make your platform secure? Are we certain that when users try to integrate to your protocol they will not encounter malicious activities?”
This duality, the excitement of possibilities and the reality of threats, is what drives her advocacy.
Women in DeFi and True Inclusion
Through Women in DeFi, Ega has seen first-hand how access changes lives. At its Lagos conference, the largest women-led Web3 event in Africa, the team gave out laptops to participants. Months later, one recipient tweeted that the laptop had enabled her to finally begin learning—and earning—in Web3.
“Reading that testimony took away all the hassle, all the struggle of putting that entire event together. It was so fulfilling.”
But inclusion, for her, is not about filling quotas.
“Short answer would be equality. You’re not just a number. You’re not just a woman who is in the space, but you’re a woman who’s visible and who’s using her office to do good work, to impact the next generation of women as well.”
She mentors women returning to the workforce, young students, and mothers—pushing them to see that they are not limited by gender.
“Some people currently have the opinion that tech is saturated, or tech is hard. But this is not cut out for men alone. You too can do it, because they have brains. You equally have brains.”
On plans for the future, her vision is not small.
“I’m looking to build a technologically forward and inclusive future for women… on a global scale, expanding community outside of Africa, to Europe, to Asia. Global participation in the tech ecosystem and leading the conversations as well.”
If someone were to tell her story five years from now, she hopes it will be about courage and inspiration.
“I’m hoping that somebody is inspired by the fact that I dare to try. That they take a positive decision for themselves that changes their lives forever.”
For all her accomplishments, what keeps her centred is commendable:
“What keeps me grounded is largely my faith. I’m a Christian. I have a very good relationship with God. I spend time in fellowship to just centre myself. The world gets busy, it gets noisy, and so that helps me align my convictions to the work that I do, and also show up in society as a better person.”
From bridging Web2 and Web3 to championing inclusion in technology, Onone Peace Ega is bolstering the future; one project, one community, and one inspired woman at a time.
