Nigeria, known for its abundance of talented individuals across various industries, is home to individuals who are using technology to make a difference in people’s lives.
These Nigerian personalities understand the transformative power of technology and are harnessing it responsibly and ethically to address societal challenges, improve well-being, and build a more inclusive and sustainable future.
In this report, we highlight the accomplishments of some remarkable Nigerians who are using technology to make positive impacts.
Through their passion, dedication, and commitment to driving change and innovation, they have made significant contributions in their respective fields.
Whether it’s in sports, technology, entertainment, or science, these individuals exemplify the Nigerian spirit of making a difference and leaving a lasting impact.
Ogechi Yvonne Obike
Ogechi Yvonne Obike is a highly accomplished woman who has made significant contributions to the tech industry, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. She is a strong advocate for women in technology and has successfully transitioned from a career in pharmacology to tech.
As the Co-founder and COO of Payday, a financial technology firm, she plays a crucial role in enabling Africans to transfer and receive money internationally, thereby enhancing financial inclusiveness across borders.
Throughout her career, Ogechi has worked in various sectors, including for-profit, non-profit, private, and public, with a focus on technology-enabled social development.
She has held positions in organizations like the African Health Policy Network and Venture Garden Group, leading startups, and innovators in HealthTech, EdTech, and FinTech.
She has also been involved in impactful projects sponsored by ActionAid, the World Bank, and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, among others.
Ogechi holds a Master’s degree in Medical Entomology/Biological Control of Disease Vectors from the University of Portsmouth, a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology, and a second Master’s degree in clinical drug development from Queen Mary University of London.
Her solid educational background in the United Kingdom, coupled with her extensive work experience in culturally diverse environments in the UK and Nigeria, has shaped her vision of building an economically and socially vibrant Africa powered by innovation, technology, and collaborative partnerships.
Bode Roberts
Bode Roberts is a highly successful entrepreneur and the owner of an Edutech company called Dataleum. He has an impressive track record in entrepreneurship and leadership, with over 15 years of experience.
Bode started as the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Dataleum before becoming the Chief Executive Officer in May 2022. His dynamic ideas and adaptability in the corporate landscape have led to the company’s success.
Dataleum focuses on building a global talent accelerator that produces world-class Data Analysts and Scientists, connecting them with top partner companies across Africa and the world. The company’s mission is to educate, empower, and equip individuals and corporates with value-packed and affordable Data Analytics skill sets for present and future purposes.
Dataleum has received recognition, including winning the “Startup of the Year” award by Art of Technology Lagos and the Lagos State Government in 2022. They were also selected as the only Nigerian company for the Westerwelle Foundation’s “Young Founders Programme” in Germany.
Under Bode’s leadership, Dataleum has partnered with prestigious organizations such as Access Bank, Prudent Energy, Interswitch, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Honeywell Group, and Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. The company is focused on talent development and aims to create a Global Passport for Africans, providing opportunities for individuals and companies to thrive in the data analytics field.
Bode holds a master’s degree in production and operations management from the University of Lagos and a bachelor’s degree in engineering in computer science from Covenant University. His commitment to customer satisfaction, efficient business outcomes, and his ability to collaborate with clients make him a skilled and impactful leader in the tech industry
Saadat Aliyu
Saadat Aliyu is the founder of Shamrock Innovations, a tech innovation hub that empowers women and youth to develop sustainable businesses and innovative solutions.
She is a dedicated advocate for gender equality and strongly opposes gender-based violence. Saadat leverages digital technologies to drive social change and empower women and girls in Nigeria and Africa.
Through Shamrock Innovations, Saadat has trained over 6,000 women in technology and entrepreneurship skills and 2,000 women in modern technologies.
She is passionate about creating impactful products and building tech communities that amplify women’s voices and increase their presence in public and private spaces.
One notable achievement is the Helpio app, which provides a safe and anonymous platform for survivors of gender-based violence to report incidents and access comprehensive support services.
The development of Shamrock further exemplifies Saadat’s commitment to leveraging technology for social good. This virtual platform transforms how students learn practical concepts by immersing them in a virtual laboratory.
Saadat Aliyu has received numerous awards and recognitions, including recognition from the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, features on the Al Jazeera News Channel, and the prestigious ELOY (Exquisite Lady of the Year) 2021 award in digital innovation.
She has also been honored with the Merit Award for advocating for women in technology, selected as part of the Youth Creative Forum for advocating for women in the Northern part of Nigeria, named one of the 60 Women Champions Nigeria: Business Day 2020, and recognized as one of the Top 50 Northern Women in Tech by Jobberman.
Additionally, she won the Youthhub Digital Innovation Challenge 2021 and delivered the best presentation at the Association of Women Engineers of Nigeria in 2020.
Godwin Akpan
Godwin Akpan is a dedicated, result-driven disruptive brand consultant with over 15 years of experience in building brands that connect businesses to customers. He has accomplished a proven record of creating, executing, and managing the brands of high-profile businesses within Nigeria and abroad.
In his early years, Godwin was the Creative Officer for the former Starcomms Plc., one of Nigeria’s largest CDMA Telecommunication Operators.
Today, Godwin is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Mascot Arthouse, which tops the Nigerian creative design industry with its bespoke brand design, strategy, marketing, and brand consulting techniques.
He founded Mascot Arthouse in 2004 and has shown great commitment to using creative thinking and design skills to solve problems, improve quality, drive sales, and attract and delight customers.
Godwin’s great ambition and focus on disruptive branding attained him a spot on Harvard Business School’s Disruptive Strategy Programme, where he had the opportunity to sharpen his knowledge and skills in developing innovative investments through branding that empowers businesses and lives.
Godwin also trained in Creative Design and Digital Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. He is currently undergoing an MBA in Media Leadership at the University of Cumbria, United Kingdom.
Godwin Akpan’s mission is to solve and serve through creative thinking. He is passionate about inspiring his community and adding value.
He is well known for his adventurous spirit and loves all things creative that have made a positive impact on others. Godwin has directly served his community as a serial entrepreneur, information philanthropist, investor, and brand mentor.
He recently launched a free online mentoring platform for young creative minds called Ifiok Beyond Design (Wisdom Beyond Design). The platform is targeted at mentoring and connecting great minds, hence empower.
Ruth Islema
Ruth Islema is a prominent figure in the African cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. She is the founder of Bitmama, a pan-African blockchain business that offers cryptocurrency goods for payment.
Ruth’s interest in technology and its potential to disrupt traditional financial systems and foster financial inclusion led her to get involved in the blockchain industry. She founded Bitmama in 2019 and has since grown the company significantly.
Bitmama started as a social media community but has now become a venture-backed company with a team of over 50 members in Africa and Europe. The company had 20,000 users at the start of 2022, and that number has grown to over 100,000.
Bitmama is known for advancing more lifestyle-focused use cases for cryptocurrencies and is currently the only crypto exchange with such a focus.
Before establishing Bitmama, Ruth provided product strategy advice to international exchanges and blockchain protocols looking to expand into the African industry.
She has been recognized as one of the 38 women founders of VC-funded fintech in Nigeria and one of the top 20 individuals shaping Africa’s blockchain space. Her contributions to the industry have earned her recognition from leading media outlets and missions in Africa.
Chukwuka Madumere
Chukwuka Madumere is an influential and experienced designer known for his thought-provoking and disruptive designs. He has made a significant impact on the creative industry by bringing beauty, functionality, and marketability to communication systems.
Chukwuka has worked on international and local design projects and is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Chuxem Links, where he creates customized portals and e-libraries for universities in Nigeria.
Chukwuka’s passion for design advocacy started during his university days and has continued throughout his career. He co-founded Mogedy Technologies, a leading tech company in Nigeria, and Phantfashion, an innovative venture. He has also contributed to the development of Boldscholar, the first African indigenous journal platform, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Chukwuka has been an active advocate for design in Nigeria and the technology scenes of the US, Canada, and the UK. He has spoken at design seminars and webinars and collaborated with global design leaders to inspire and mentor aspiring designers.
Chukwuka has also been involved in impactful initiatives, such as the Girls in Tech project, which empowers girls from rural areas of Lagos by providing laptops and training in the tech industry.
Chukwuka holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology with a specialization in user experience research from the University of West Scotland, as well as an MBA from KROK University. His dedication to design and his contributions to the industry have established him as a respected figure in the field.
Hundeyin Temitope
Hundeyin Temitope is a highly accomplished professional in the technology industry with a strong focus on business development, product development, growth, and operations management. She is driven by her passion for using technology to solve consumer problems and improve lives.
Temitope is the CEO and Founder of Zoper Pay, a fintech company based in Nigeria. Zoper Pay is dedicated to revolutionizing global financial access securely.
The company’s target audience includes immigrants, remote workers, digital nomads, travelers, and global businesses, offering them a platform that simplifies financial transactions.
She has developed an all-inclusive business finance system that provides tools for managing expenses, cash flow, and global transactions, enabling firms and entrepreneurs to save time, increase profitability, and expand rapidly.
Tolu’s leadership abilities and commitment to knowledge sharing are evident through her independent development and launch of Jumia University. Through this initiative, she implemented training strategies, processes, and channels for over 5,000 sellers, generating significant revenue and driving many sellers to success.
Tolu holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering, specializing in information and communication technology from Covenant University. She also pursued a master’s degree in e-business management from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.
Her extensive experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and educational background have established her as a professional who excels in leveraging technology to drive positive change and create impactful solutions.
Chimezie Epoh
Chimezie Epoh is a prominent figure in the Nigerian tech industry, known for his extensive experience in software engineering. He has contributed his expertise to renowned international organizations such as Visa, Airtable, and Charles Schwab, where he held the position of Senior Software Engineer.
Building upon his knowledge and industry experience, Chimezie has ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing Epoh Music, a music streaming platform that addresses critical challenges in the Nigerian music industry.
His platform aims to address the marginalization of Nigerian artists and provide a dedicated space for their music, as well as solve the problem of acquiring ISRC license codes for Nigerian artists.
With Epoh Music, Chimezie actively promotes Nigerian entertainment and aims to create a comprehensive platform that caters to all Nigerian entertainment needs, serving as a centralized hub for the industry.
Chimezie holds a degree in computer science from California State University, Long Beach, and is an alumnus of the Los Angeles Community College District. His commitment to promoting Nigerian entertainment demonstrates his significant impact on the Nigerian music landscape
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