While much of the spotlight has historically focused on male founders and executives, a powerful cohort of women is quietly, and boldly, reshaping the landscape.

From digital payments and savings platforms to financial inclusion advocacy and wealth-building tools, these women are not just participating, they are building, leading, and transforming Nigeria’s digital economy.

These women represent different layers of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem, from infrastructure & global payments; savings, lending & investments; financial literacy & inclusion, to policy, research & ecosystem development.

Together, they are shaping a future where financial services are more accessible, inclusive, and technology-driven.

As Nigeria continues its journey toward a fully digital economy, the contributions of these women highlight a critical truth: The future of fintech is not just innovative, it is inclusive, and women are leading that charge.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2026 under the theme, “Give to Gain,” Techeconomy celebrates these 10 women redefining fintech in Nigeria, and the impact they are making across the ecosystem:

1. Folasade Femi-Lawal, country manager & area business head, West Africa, Mastercard

Folasade Femi‑Lawal is a seasoned financial services and digital payments executive with over 25 years of experience spanning banking, management consulting, telecommunications, and business advisory. She currently serves as Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa at Mastercard, where she leads strategy, innovation, and growth across one of the continent’s most dynamic markets.

In her role, Folasade drives Mastercard’s strategic vision for West Africa, deepening partnerships with public and private stakeholders to accelerate financial inclusion and build a more connected, digital economy. She has played a key role in collaborations that extend digital payment capabilities and advance the region toward a cashless society.

Before joining Mastercard, she built an impressive track record at major Nigerian financial institutions, including First Bank, where she led mobile financial services and digital banking strategy, significantly increasing card subscriber numbers and market share. She also served as Head of Loan Monitoring at United Bank for Africa and held earlier roles in consulting and telecommunications, including at PwC and Airtel.

Folasade is widely recognized for her commitment to inclusive growth and empowerment, particularly for women and children. She supports mentorship and leadership initiatives with organizations such as Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) and the U.S. White House Academy for Women Entrepreneurs. Her accolades include the Outstanding Women in Management award by the United Nations Association in Nigeria and being named one of Africa’s Top 50 Women in Management. She also serves on the Forbes Business Development Council and has held leadership roles in industry bodies such as the Committee of eBusiness Industry Heads.

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2. Odunayo Eweniyi, co-founder/COO, PiggyVest

Odunayo Eweniyi is a leading Nigerian tech entrepreneur and co‑founder and Chief Operations Officer of PiggyVest, the country’s largest digital savings and investment platform that has revolutionised how millions of Nigerians save, invest, and build financial discipline. With a first‑class degree in Computer Engineering from Covenant University, she transitioned into tech entrepreneurship, co‑founding PiggyVest in 2016 to digitise informal saving habits and democratise access to wealth‑building tools.

Under her operational leadership, PiggyVest has grown from a simple online savings product into a multi‑product fintech powerhouse, serving millions of users with features such as automated savings, investment options, and micro‑investment products that make finance accessible to everyday Nigerians across demographics.

In the first half of 2025 alone, the platform recorded users saving significant sums collectively, underscoring its role in transforming financial behaviour among youth and underserved populations.

Beyond PiggyVest, Eweniyi is a serial innovator and investor in the African tech ecosystem. She co‑founded FirstCheck Africa, a female‑led angel investment firm focused on supporting women‑led startups and early‑stage founders, and serves on the board of global organisations such as Village Capital.

Her contributions to fintech and entrepreneurship have earned her recognition on prestigious lists including Forbes Africa 30 Under 30, Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts, and TIME100 Next.

Eweniyi also co‑founded the Feminist Coalition, advocating for gender equity and social justice, reinforcing her commitment to both economic inclusion and social impact. Her influence extends beyond product innovation to shaping a more inclusive fintech ecosystem where women and young innovators can thrive.

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3. Yanmo Omorogbe, co-founder/COO, Bamboo

Yanmo Omorogbe is co‑founder and Chief Operating Officer of Bamboo, a trailblazing digital investment platform that gives Nigerians and Africans real‑time access to buy, sell, and hold assets on the U.S. stock market using their mobile phones and computers.

As COO, Yanmo leads Bamboo’s operations, growth strategy, and customer‑focused execution, playing a central role in scaling the platform since its launch in 2020. Under her operational leadership, Bamboo has become one of Africa’s fastest‑growing investment apps, enabling thousands of users, many of whom were first‑time investors, to participate in global markets and build long‑term wealth.

Before co‑founding Bamboo, Yanmo built her finance expertise working in investment and asset management. She served as an investment analyst and associate at African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), a leading infrastructure private equity firm, and briefly worked in both public and private sector roles including at Nigeria’s Ministry of Power, Works & Housing.

A graduate of Imperial College London, Yanmo holds a degree in engineering and is also progressing professional qualifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Her work at Bamboo reflects a deep commitment to expanding financial inclusion and making global investing accessible to Africans, breaking traditional barriers to participation in wealth markets.

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4. Solape Akinpelu, founder/CEO, HerVest

Solape Akinpelu is a leading Nigerian fintech entrepreneur and gender‑finance expert, best known as the Founder and CEO of HerVest, an inclusive fintech platform dedicated to expanding financial access and economic opportunity for African women.

HerVest leverages technology to provide goal‑oriented savings, impact investing, and credit solutions specifically designed for women, particularly smallholder female farmers and women‑led SMEs, helping to bridge the continent’s gender finance gap and unlock economic potential.

Under Solape’s leadership, HerVest has grown to serve tens of thousands of women, enabling members to build savings, access tailored investment opportunities, and secure flexible financing that fosters business growth and long‑term financial resilience. Solape’s vision is rooted in gender‑inclusive financial design, challenging traditional financial norms and supporting women who have historically been excluded from mainstream financial services.

Beyond building HerVest, Akinpelu actively shapes broader discussions on financial inclusion and gender equity. She serves on national and international committees, including advisory roles focused on women’s economic empowerment and advancing women’s financial participation.

She also holds leadership positions in organisations such as the Nigerian‑British Chamber of Commerce, where she champions tech‑driven collaboration and trade, and the Women in Tech Global Movement, where she advocates for greater female representation in tech and finance.

Solape’s work has earned recognition across the tech and business landscape, including prestigious awards such as the 2025 Aurora Tech Award, where she was celebrated for HerVest’s impactful innovation in fintech and agriculture finance.

Her leadership continues to inspire a new generation of women entrepreneurs and underscores the transformative power of fintech to drive inclusion, empowerment, and economic growth across Nigeria and beyond.

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5. Foyinsola Akinjayeju, chief executive officer, EFInA

Foyinsola Akinjayeju is a seasoned leader driving data‑led financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Nigeria. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of EFInA, the country’s foremost financial sector deepening organisation dedicated to expanding access to quality financial services and advancing inclusive finance across all segments of the population.

With over two decades of experience spanning strategy, financial management, and operational transformation, Akinjayeju brings both technical expertise and visionary leadership to EFInA.

Prior to her role at EFInA, she held senior positions at organisations including PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Phillips Consulting, where she led high‑impact projects and supported institutional development across sectors. She is a Chartered Accountant with an MBA from Lagos Business School.

Since her appointment as CEO, Akinjayeju has strengthened EFInA’s role as an evidence‑based catalyst for financial inclusion, championing research, advocacy, innovation, and systems‑strengthening initiatives that address access barriers for underserved populations including women, youth and micro‑entrepreneurs.

Under her leadership, EFInA was honoured with The Financial Inclusion Partner CEO of the Year Award at the 2025 MSME Finance and CEO Awards, in recognition of its sustained impact on MSME finance and inclusion in Nigeria.

Akinjayeju has steered EFInA through a strategic evolution that emphasises not only expanding access to financial services but ensuring those services contribute to economic resilience, opportunity creation and long‑term prosperity for excluded communities. Her agenda prioritises tailored solutions, evidence‑driven policy engagement, and partnerships that strengthen Nigeria’s inclusive financial ecosystem.

Her work reinforces the critical connection between inclusive finance, sustainable growth, and broader digital economy participation, positioning EFInA as a trusted voice in shaping Nigeria’s financial landscape.

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6. Ife Durosinmi-Etti, founder, Herconomy

Ife Durosinmi‑Etti is a Nigerian entrepreneur, author, and fintech leader who has carved out a niche by championing financial inclusion for women in Nigeria and across Africa. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Herconomy, a female‑focused fintech platform that combines digital savings tools with a vibrant community to empower women economically and socially.

Herconomy, originally launched as AGSTribe, was born out of Ife’s vision to build a support ecosystem where women can save, connect, access opportunities, and grow their financial agency. The platform provides tailored financial services, capacity‑building programs, and access to grants, scholarships, fellowships, and jobs, helping users move beyond traditional banking limitations.

Ife’s leadership is grounded in over a decade of diverse professional experience across marketing, corporate communications, and entrepreneurship, having worked in sectors ranging from retail and FMCG to tech before founding Herconomy.

She holds a BSc in Biochemistry and an MBA in Global Business, and her work has earned her recognition as a Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneur Awardee and a Mandela Washington Fellow.

Under her stewardship, Herconomy has rapidly grown into a community‑driven digital platform that aims to financially empower one million women, mobilising savings and opportunities for them to thrive economically.

Ife’s journey underscores her belief that financial freedom for women requires more than accounts, it requires community, education, and targeted financial tools, making her a standout voice in Nigeria’s gender‑focused fintech space.

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7. Oluwatosin Olaseinde, founder, MoneyAfrica & Ladda

Oluwatosin Olaseinde is a Nigerian fintech and edtech entrepreneur pioneering financial literacy and wealth‑building tools that are shaping how Africans understand and interact with money.

As the Founder and CEO of MoneyAfrica and Ladda, she has built a dual‑platform ecosystem that bridges financial education with practical investment opportunities.

At its core, MoneyAfrica is a widely respected financial literacy edtech platform that empowers individuals with the knowledge to save, invest, and make informed financial decisions. With a community that reaches hundreds of thousands of users, the platform has become a trusted resource for personal finance education across the continent.

Recognising that education without accessible tools limits real financial progress, Olaseinde also founded Ladda, a fintech platform that enables everyday users to save and invest in curated portfolios, mutual funds, stocks, and other wealth‑building options, all designed to simplify access to investment products traditionally available only to elite investors.

A Chartered Accountant by training, Olaseinde’s professional journey spans corporate finance, auditing, and financial analysis, including early roles at major media and financial institutions.

Her work has earned her global recognition, including selection as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, LinkedIn Top Voice in Finance and Economy, and placement among the Top 50 African Business Heroes.

In 2025, she was appointed to the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Financial Education, where she contributes to shaping global strategies that make financial knowledge more accessible and relevant in the digital age.

Oluwatosin’s mission is clear: to empower millions of Africans to achieve financial independence by combining education, technology, and accessible investment solutions, demonstrating how fintech can be a vehicle for sustainable economic empowerment.

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8. Nkem Okocha, founder, Mamamoni

Nkem Okocha is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and fintech innovator whose work blends empathy with technology to transform the lives of low‑income women.

She is the founder and driving force behind Mamamoni, a fintech social enterprise dedicated to empowering underserved women, especially in rural and urban slum communities, through financial inclusion, vocational skills training, and access to capital.

Inspired by her own upbringing and the struggles her widowed mother faced, Okocha left a banking career in 2013 to start Mamamoni. Under her leadership, the organisation has evolved from a grassroots skills‑training hub into a digital platform that provides micro‑loans, business education, and mobile financial tools tailored for women excluded from traditional banking systems.

Through Mamamoni, Okocha has impacted thousands of low‑income female entrepreneurs, helping them build sustainable micro‑businesses, improve household incomes, and achieve financial confidence, outcomes that go beyond typical credit provision to deepen economic resilience and inclusion.

A 2015 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneur Programme alumnus, 2016 LEAP Africa Social Innovator, 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, and winner of several national and international awards, Okocha is widely recognised for her impact‑driven leadership in fintech and social empowerment.

Her work exemplifies how fintech can be both innovative and compassionate, using digital tools to unlock opportunities for women who have long been left on the margins of Nigeria’s financial system.

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9. Chinyere Don-Okhuofu, divisional CEO, Interswitch Group

Chinyere Don‑Okhuofu is a seasoned fintech and digital payments executive driving strategic expansion and adoption of digital commerce solutions across Nigeria and beyond. She serves as the Divisional Chief Executive Officer, Sales Networks at Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce platforms.

With over 16 years of experience in banking, financial control, strategy and electronic banking operations, Chinyere brings deep expertise to her leadership role, where she is responsible for broadening Interswitch’s footprint, driving merchant acquisitions, and ensuring businesses adopt digital payment solutions.

She joined Interswitch in January 2012 as Chief ATM and Devices Officer, before rising through the ranks to lead industry vertical markets and sales strategy. Under her direction, Interswitch’s digital payment infrastructure, spanning Quickteller, Verve and enterprise solutions, has seen deeper market penetration across sectors including retail, corporate, and government.

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Chinyere is an alumna of Lagos Business School and London Business School, bringing both technical and strategic insight to fintech growth.

Her leadership contributes to strengthening the foundational infrastructure that supports cashless transactions and financial inclusion in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Interswitch, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Lagos, has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s payment landscape and remains a cornerstone of the region’s fintech ecosystem.

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10. Emelia Sunday-Edet, head of Engineering/Product, FlashChange

Emelia Sunday‑Edet is a product and engineering leader at FlashChange, a fast‑growing digital finance company redefining secure digital asset exchange, bill payments, and everyday financial services for users across Africa. She serves as Head of Product & Engineering, bringing a strong background in software quality assurance, product development, and cross‑functional leadership to Nigeria’s burgeoning fintech landscape.

In her role, Emelia guides the product vision, strategy, and execution for FlashChange’s suite of financial solutions, ensuring reliability, security and user trust are built into products from conception through launch.

Her leadership has been instrumental in evolving the platform beyond basic trading into a multipurpose digital financial ecosystem that meets the real‑world transaction needs of everyday users, including payments, airtime/data recharges, and digital asset conversion, all while maintaining high standards of performance and user experience.

Prior to taking on her current responsibilities, Emelia developed deep expertise in product quality and engineering workflows, leading cross‑disciplinary teams and fostering disciplined execution practices that deliver resilient fintech products tailored for emerging markets. She also serves as Training Lead at The Bug Detectives, a global quality assurance community where she mentors aspiring tech professionals and supports practitioners transitioning into software development and testing roles.

Emelia is passionate about trust‑centered innovation, believing that scalable fintech solutions must combine technical excellence with user confidence and accessibility.

Her voice has been featured in thought leadership about how fintechs must go beyond product updates to reimagine how people interact with money and financial services in their daily lives.

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FACTS about Nigeria’s Fintech Ecosystem

• Combined Valuation of Top Fintechs: Nigeria’s largest fintech companies, such as Flutterwave, OPay, Moniepoint, Interswitch, PalmPay, Moove, Kuda, Paystack, and Paga, have a combined estimated market valuation of about $10.6 billion as of January 2026.

• • Flutterwave alone is valued at around $3 billion, with OPay close behind at $2.75 billion.
• Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem attracted over $1 billion in investments in 2025, reflecting sustained investor confidence in the sector’s long‑term growth potential.
• Broader industry estimates project that Nigeria’s fintech market, spanning payments, lending, wallets, digital banking, wealthtech and more, could grow from an estimated $5.2 billion in 2025 to over $17 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~16%.
• The digital payments segment alone is projected to contribute roughly $6 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2026, highlighting fintech’s deepening role in the national economy.

Together, these figures illustrate that Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem is not only financially sizeable but also a key driver of economic activity, investment attraction, and digital financial inclusion in Africa’s largest market, and women are not just part of the drive, they lead!

Held recently at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre in Lagos, the event was themed ‘Financial Wellness: Adapt, Grow & Thrive’, and explored practical strategies for building financial resilience and achieving long-term economic stability.

Delivering her opening remarks, Solape Akinpelu, the event convener and chief executive officer of HerVest,  said;

“The journey to an equitable and prosperous society is not an isolated one. It starts with me and you and to everyone in the room whose presence embodies the possibility of equal opportunities. Financial inclusion for us is not just about access to money. Rather, it is about access to knowledge, networks, and long-term growth.”

“This year’s theme challenges us all to not just pursue success, but to be financially and emotionally prepared for the future. When I started HerVest, it wasn’t just an ambition. It was out of a quiet conviction that women’s financial growth should be normal, not extraordinary. It was born out of a desire that access, and capital should be available, woven around women’s realities and peculiarities such as the unpaid labour, biological functions leading to career and business pauses amongst others.”

Akinpelu stated further that “financial literacy and inclusion are catalysts for change. We are building an ecosystem where women are equipped with the skills and resources needed to lead financially empowered lives. We will continue to create spaces where people can learn, grow, and build a prosperous future.”

In her keynote address, the Founder of Beyond Limits Global and Former Director at Google West Africa, Dr. Juliet Ehimuan, stressed the critical need for individuals to recalibrate their understanding of wealth beyond income or status, particularly in today’s evolving economic landscape and the need to have the courage to make informed financial decisions.

“We must embrace change, harness the power of technology, and take bold steps toward economic independence. The goal is no longer just financial access, but financial adaptability,” Dr. Ehimuan said.

This year, the ValueUp 3.0 event featured three deeply engaging panel sessions that addressed entrepreneurship, career development in the digital age, and strategic wealth building.

The entrepreneurship panel, titled ‘From Side Hustle to Scalable Venture: What It Takes,’ had respected voices like popular Costume designer, Film & Television Yolanda Okereke, Guinness World-record Chef, Food Entrepreneur & Television Personality, Hilda Baci, and Founder, Caladium Consulting, Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye, share personal insights into the discipline, systems, and support structures needed to grow informal businesses into scalable ventures. Usman Imanah moderated the session, steering conversations around opportunity identification, resilience, and fundraising.

In the second panel, ‘Thriving in the Age of AI and Remote Work,’ the panel speakers including Partner, Alan and Grant Gbenga Totoyi; Head of People Strategy & Operations, Flutterwave, Victoria Vodunnu; Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, TRACE, Ego Obiegbunam, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, explored how the modern workforce must evolve to meet the demands of technology-driven economies.

The speakers delved into how the lines between work, purpose, and wellness are increasingly blurred, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence, upskilling, and flexible career trajectories. The session was moderated by Tobi Alaka of Empowher NG.

The third session, ‘Wealth for the Next Generation: Investing with Purpose,’ examined the strategies for building intergenerational wealth and using money as a tool for impact. The panelists Head, Youth Banking, Wema Bank, Bunmi Ayodele; Head, Investment Banking, Meristem Capital Limited, Rasaki Salawu; the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon.  Oloruntoyosi Adebayo-Thomas, and Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, TVC Communications, Victoria Abiola Ajayi, unpacked the principles of financial literacy, intentional investing, and long-term financial planning. The Group Treasurer, OANDO Plc, Peju Faloye moderated the dialogue, which reinforced the idea that wealth creation should be deeply personal and purpose-driven.

A standout moment from the event was the fireside chat with popular chess advocate and Guiness World record holder, Tunde Onakoya, and celebrated leadership coach and Chief Executive Officer of IMMERSE Coaching Company, Debola Deji-Kurunmi (DDK), moderated by Solape Akinpelu.

The conversation was anchored on personal transformation and community impact, with both speakers highlighting how mastery, mentorship, and value-based leadership can serve as a compass for economic and personal growth.

Beyond the knowledge-sharing sessions, the event highlighted HerVest’s ongoing commitment to democratising financial access to women across Nigeria, particularly those in underserved communities. Having impacted over more than 10,000 female farmers and entrepreneurs across states including Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Niger, Oyo, Kwara, and Ogun among others, the inclusive fintech platform remains at the forefront of promoting financial inclusion through its competitive savings returns, easy to access credit facilities, agro-investments, and various gender-driven financial literacy resources.

While it continues to create opportunities for financial wellness through its inclusive digital platform for its growing 80,000 members, HerVest has processed more than N3,000,000,000 billion worth of transactions on its innovative platform, providing adequate support for women farmers, entrepreneurs and those on the fringes of financial services across rural, urban, and peri-urban areas access credit, help them save, get the required literacy and other tools that foster sustainable growth and the desired financial stability.

In addition, HerVest has facilitated the farming of more than 1,235 acres of farmland to smallholder women farmers in local communities across different states in Nigeria to further bridge the financial dependence gap and light a path toward economic empowerment where no one regardless of gender or background, is left behind.

Solape Akinpelu, founder of Hervest, was announced as the 2025 winner of the $30,000 prize at the grand finale held in Cairo from April 11–13. She follows in the footsteps of fellow Nigerian, Folake Owodunni, who won the award in 2024—marking a powerful moment for Nigerian women driving innovation in the global tech space.

Hervest by Solape Akinpelu is a fintech platform providing financially underserved African women access to savings, impact investing, and credit, particularly for smallholder female farmers.

Other top four outstanding female tech founders recognised at the event include the first runner-up, founder of Nido Contech Loretxu Garcia Arraztoa from Chile; the second runner-up and founder of FlexiBees Shreya Prakash from India; the Chief Executive Officer, Arkangel AI Laura Velásquez Herrera from Colombia; and the founder of UpLeap Leonie Korn from Switzerland.

The 2025 Aurora Tech Award winner will receive a cash prize of $30,000, while the second and third places get $20,000 and $15,000, respectively.

The fourth and fifth places are entitled to $10,000, respectively. Each finalist will gain exclusive access to the right investors, industry leaders, and strategic partners who can move the needle on their business.

The winners will also tap into inDrive’s expertise, team, and global network, giving them the support and resources to accelerate their growth, secure funding, and scale globally. The flagship event brought together the top 10 finalists from around the world — women building market-defining ventures — to compete for the main award prizes.

This year’s shortlist featured groundbreaking innovators from MENA, LATAM, Central Asia, and APAC, whose startups span diverse industries, including artificial intelligence, fintech, and health tech.

The 2025 edition of the award saw an unprecedented 2,018 applications from 116 countries, doubling the number of submissions from the previous year.

The final stage of the competition occurred during the regional SHE CAN conference hosted by Entreprenelle, a leading Egyptian organisation dedicated to empowering women through education, training, and entrepreneurial support.

Since its inception in 2015, SHE CAN has become one of the MENA region’s most influential industry events, attracting over 7,000 attendees annually.

Speaking on the award, Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, head of the Aurora Tech Awards, said the platform was created to help support innovators to take their ideas further.

“The Aurora Tech Award isn’t about representation for the sake of it — it’s about backing the highest-potential founders building real companies. These women aren’t here because of their gender. They’re here because they’re building businesses investors should care about. If the table wasn’t built for them, they didn’t wait for an invitation — they built their own. Aurora exists to ensure they get the capital, platform, and network to take it further,” Ghassemi-Smith said.

Also speaking on the award, Evgenia Matrosova, Chief Growth Officer and Head of Ride-Hailing at inDrive, said the decision to support these innovators was to help break the gender barrier in investment.

“Supporting female entrepreneurs in overcoming barriers and building strong networks is essential. Through the Aurora platform, we aim to attract future investment, boost visibility, and foster strategic partnerships. Our mission is to drive systemic change in emerging markets like MENA, closing the gender investment gap. The Aurora Tech Award is not just an accolade, it’s a launchpad for the next generation of unicorn founders,” he said

The two trailblazing Nigerian entrepreneurs, the founder of Farmatrix, Manzo Nyifamu Ogechi and the Founder of Hervest, Solape Akinpelu, run start-ups that are driving impact through technology.

Other finalists include founder of FlexiBees (India), Shreya Prakash, founder of Arkangel AI (Colombia), Laura Velásquez Herrera, founder of Mama Space (Kyrgyzstan), Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, founder of Elephan (Brazilia), Thais Sterenberg de Oliveira, founder of UpLeap (Switzerland), Leonie Korn, founder Borderless (Uzbekistan), Veronica Lee, founder of Nido Contech (Chile), Loretxu García, founder of E-Reo (French Polynesia), Heiura Itae Tetaa.

Speaking on the award, Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, the head of Start-up, Aurora Tech Awards, explained that the award was conceived to support the next generation of entrepreneurs building ventures to redefine industries.

“Aurora isn’t just a tech award—it’s a launchpad for the next generation of unicorn founders in emerging markets. With funding, high-profile investor access, and a global network, we back the boldest women in tech who are building ventures that will redefine industries”, Ghassemi-Smith said.

She said the recognition of Nigerian female founders in the Aurora Tech Award 2025 highlights the growing influence of women-led start-ups in tackling societal challenges through technology.

She stressed that the recognition also underscores Africa’s role in driving innovation that promotes gender equality, financial inclusion, and economic empowerment on a global scale.

“This year’s shortlist features trailblazing founders from MENA, LATAM, Central Asia, and APAC, each leading start-ups offering solutions across industries ranging from artificial intelligence and fintech to health tech and beyond. This year’s finalists have demonstrated exceptional leadership and technological advancements in their respective fields. Half of the start-ups are at the seed stage, three projects are at the pre-seed level, and the rest are at the FFF and angel investment stages. Three start-ups focus on health tech, one on agrotech, one on eco-tech, two on ed-tech, one on fintech, and one on HR-tech,” she added.

Farmatrix, an Agro-Allied Technology Company, is transforming agriculture in Nigeria by leveraging technology to improve market access and sustainability for smallholder farmers.

Founded by Nyifamu, a certified Food System Specialist and Climate Reality Leader, the company has impacted over 3,000 farmers, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing profitability.

With a background in Computer Science and an MBA, she is committed to building a more resilient food system across Africa.

Nyifamu’s journey began when she moved from Lagos to Northern Nigeria, witnessing firsthand the challenges farmers face—from post-harvest losses to limited market access.

This inspired her to launch Farmatrix, a tech-driven platform that connects farmers to markets, financing, and storage solutions, ensuring they earn more. Unlike traditional agricultural platforms, Farmatrix integrates logistics, climate-smart inputs, and financial tools, creating a seamless farm-to-market ecosystem.

Farmatrix is advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure.

Another finalist from Nigeria, Solape Akinpelu, the founder/CEO, HerVest, has her start-up focused on tackling the gender equality gap in Nigeria by empowering women through inclusive financial services (SDG 5: Gender Equality).

HerVest provides targeted savings, impact investments, and credit financing to smallholder women farmers and women-led SMEs, addressing the $42 billion gender finance gap in Africa (SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth).

By leveraging technology for peer-to-peer capital reallocation, HerVest connects female entrepreneurs to flexible loans and resources, enabling them to scale their businesses and achieve financial independence (SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure).

With women making up 41% of micro-businesses in Nigeria yet receiving less than 15% of conventional loans, HerVest is reshaping financial access by providing low-interest financing to credible female entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers (SDG 1: No Poverty).

By doing so, HerVest fosters a more inclusive financial ecosystem where women can thrive, invest, and contribute to sustainable economic growth (SDG 2: Zero Hunger).

Speaking on the award and its influence, Nyifamu noted, “Doing business in Nigeria is not for the weak, and being a woman in agritech demands even more resilience. Seeing past winner Chinwendu of Bridge Merchant Connect succeed inspired me. The Aurora Tech Award aligns perfectly with my vision for Farmatrix and scaling our impact,”.

The Aurora Tech Award is an annual global prize established in 2020 by inDrive to support and recognize women founders of early-stage technology start-ups. The award champions female entrepreneurs who drive innovation and create meaningful social impact through technology.

The finalists were selected based on their start-ups’ innovation, scalability, and social impact. A distinguished panel of industry experts and investors will evaluate their work before announcing the winner at the upcoming Aurora Tech Award Ceremony on April 11-13 in Cairo. The final pitch competition will be held at SHE CAN 2025 and will be organized by Entreprenelle.

The Aurora Tech Award recognizes the most promising female founders in emerging markets and celebrates visionary women entrepreneurs redefining the technology landscape.

It is a fact that the doors of many initiatives and opportunities are closed to women precisely because they are such.

Today, rising above these limitations and getting another woman to hold your hand has become the goal of many women in technology.

There is a need to give strength to those who are still halfway, bring together women capable of changing courses, and transform their environment by focusing on each other.

Women offer diverse viewpoints that can create groundbreaking solutions in the tech context. As such, an inclusive ecosystem can birth and enable the creation of solutions that address real-time challenges.

The more a country transforms into an innovation-led economy, the more critical role a woman’s talent plays in the transformation process. So, women’s participation in tech enables a nation to position itself as a potential global player and highly competitive in innovation-led ventures.

Ruby Igwe, the country manager at ALX Nigeria, speaking on the subject at a Women In Tech event emphasized the importance of collaboration among women and addressing challenges.

Igwe highlighted the importance of attracting women to tech courses and ensuring they complete them to advance their careers. She identified common challenges faced by women, including financial constraints, childcare responsibilities, geographic limitations, marital commitments, and personal setbacks.

“If we are talking about bringing more women to the table we must understand the different pain points and nuances that shape women’s participation in tech development. We have situations where women enrol for a tech programme and never finish because of different family challenges. What we do at ALX is to provide support systems that will allow for equality.”

Igwe also urged experienced women to mentor younger women to boost their confidence and provide guidance.

“The biggest challenge is the mental limitations that most women put on themselves. They must seek support system from other women and even men instead of competing against one another and hampering their chances of securing more opportunities in nuanced positions.

“Mentorship among women should be intentional. It is an investment requiring strong female leaders’ personal decisions to reach out to young mentees within the tech industry,” Igwe said.

The tech ecosystem is the interrelated network of various players. Thus, the Women in Tech project echoes that no one should be left behind in the ecosystem, even if no one is seen as physically left behind.

There are so many ecosystem gains of promoting equal opportunities that include but are not limited to, the fact that Nigeria will achieve an increase in the number of ICT innovators.

Addressing the issue, Solape Akinpelu, the CEO of HerVest, and country director Women in Tech Nigeria, said:

“The goal of this event is for women to share experiences, expectations, and visions that will spark trans-generational impact within the tech ecosystem.”

She noted that there has been an influx of talented women into the tech industry and praised the growth of women’s inclusion over the years.

She highlighted the activities of Women in Tech Nigeria stating that over 2000 women have been empowered with tech skills since its inception in 2021.

Regarding technology, it is common to see only men in the sector. However, it is expected that the collective intelligence of both men and women in tech will increase, a large pool of talent will be maximally tapped into, and the tech community will attract the best talents.

As the CEO and Co-founder of Fintech company, HerVest, Solape Akinpelu has dedicated her career to improving the lives of African women through financial access and services. Her story is one of innovation, determination, and a commitment to making a positive impact.

In a recent announcement, HerVest achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African startup to be featured in Google’s #WeArePlay Campaign. This accomplishment emphasizes the incredible work Solape Akinpelu and her team have been doing to empower women through financial inclusion.

HerVest’s mission is to provide inclusive finance to African women through goal-oriented savings, impact investing, and credit options for smallholder women farmers and women-led SMEs. With over 40,000 members, the company is dedicated to bridging the gender gap in financial services and ensuring that women have access to the financial resources they need to succeed.

Solape’s Role in the Women in Tech Global Movement

Solape Akinpelu is not just a business leader; she is also a prominent figure in the Women in Tech Global Movement. Serving as the Global Co-Chair of Marketing and the Country Manager for Nigeria, Solape is at the forefront of promoting gender diversity in the tech industry. Her work involves advocating for women’s participation in technology and fostering opportunities for women to excel in this field.

Driving Technology Trade and Investment

In addition to her endeavors at HerVest and the Women in Tech Global Movement, Solape is the Chairman of Technology at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she plays a commendable part in promoting technology trade and investment between Nigeria and Britain. Her efforts are contributing to the growth of the tech ecosystem and fostering international collaborations.

Solape is a member of the Presidential High-Level Advisory Committee to the President of Nigeria on Women and Girls’ Economic Empowerment. Her involvement in this committee showcases her dedication to addressing gender-related economic issues and creating policies that empower women.

She also sits on the Gender Committee Desk at CBN on the Framework for Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion, where she actively participates in shaping strategies to promote women’s financial inclusion.

A Diverse and Accomplished Background

Solape Akinpelu’s background in financial marketing is impressive. Before co-founding HerVest, she served as the Head of Marketing at Meristem, a leading investment and wealth management conglomerate in Nigeria. Her experience in financial marketing provided her with valuable insights into the industry, which she now utilizes to drive HerVest’s mission.

She is not only a business leader but also an author. She wrote the best-selling personal finance book, “Stripped: An African Woman’s Guide to Building Generational Wealth.” In this book, she shares her wisdom and insights on financial empowerment, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to secure their financial future.

As HerVest makes history with its inclusion in Google’s #WeArePlay Campaign, it’s evident that Solape Akinpelu’s vision and leadership are changing the game and shaping the future of innovative startups in Africa. 

Her passion for empowering women, combined with her diverse skill set, is an inspiration to us all. 

This positive change challenges traditional gender norms and fosters a diverse and inclusive environment essential for the industry’s growth and development.

Despite the challenges, these women are carving out their paths, leading successful startups, turning challenges into triumph and contributing substantially to the life of many.

Of course, there are lots of them, but just to mention a few, we have:

1. Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson – Healthtracka

Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Healthtracka, has revolutionized healthcare technology. Her startup focuses on innovative solutions that enhance healthcare accessibility, making a significant impact on people’s lives.

2. Temie Giwa-Tubosun – LifeBank

Temie Giwa-Tubosun, the CEO of LifeBank, stands at the forefront of healthtech innovation. Her company, LifeBank, utilizes technology to deliver life-saving medical products to hospitals, ensuring 24/7 availability of blood and blood products, while emphasizing the essential role of technology in healthcare.

3. Adeola Ayoola – Famasi Africa

Adeola Ayoola, the CEO and Co-founder of Famasi Africa, is driving change in the pharmaceutical industry. Her startup, Famasi Africa, aims to enhance the pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring the availability of essential medicines to all and connecting individuals as well as businesses to Pharmacies.

4. Tomilola Majekodunmi – Bankly

Tomilola Majekodunmi, the Co-founder and CEO of Bankly, is redefining financial technology in Nigeria. Her startup, Bankly, focuses on providing digital financial services, empowering individuals and businesses with secure and accessible banking solutions.

5. Oluwatosin Olaseinde – Money Africa and Ladda

Oluwatosin Olaseinde, the Founder of Money Africa and Ladda, is a driving force behind financial education. Her initiatives empower individuals with financial knowledge, enabling them to make informed decisions and achieve financial stability.

6. Solape Akinpelu – HerVest

Solape Akinpelu, the Co-founder and CEO of HerVest, is dedicated to promoting financial inclusion. Her startup, HerVest, focuses on providing accessible investment opportunities for women, fostering economic independence and empowerment.

7. Kemi Ogunkoya – LeaderX

Kemi Ogunkoya, the Co-founder of LeaderX and Program Director at Women in Tech, is a passionate advocate for women in the tech industry. Her initiatives empower women with skills, mentorship, and opportunities, bridging the gender gap in technology.

8. Ruth Olojede – Flick

Ruth Olojede, the Co-founder and CEO of Flick, makes connections to bank accounts seamless via the Flick app, where contactless payments and views of net worth are a glance. This enables clients to make secure and quick borderless transactions across multiple financial institutions. You can control and monitor your multiple accounts using Flick.

9. Chioma Okotcha – PayHippo

Chioma Okotcha, the Co-founder of PayHippo, is reshaping the fintech landscape for SMEs. Her startup, PayHippo, focuses on providing hassle-free financial solutions for small businesses, facilitating their growth and sustainability.

10. Temitope Omotolani – Crowdyvest

Temitope Omotolani, the Co-founder of Crowdyvest, is driving social impact through financial technology. Her startup, Crowdyvest, enables individuals to participate in impactful investment opportunities, fostering community development and positive change.

11. Affiong Williams – ReelFruit

Affiong Williams, the Founder and CEO of ReelFruit, is an innovator in the agribusiness sector. Her company, ReelFruit, focuses on producing healthy and natural snacks, promoting sustainable agriculture practices and entrepreneurship.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity

These commendable women are not only leading successful startups but also inspiring the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Their stories emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the tech industry, fostering creativity, innovation, and social change.

The contributions of these women prove that an inclusive environment empowers women and drives unparalleled growth and innovation in the tech sector.

The reappointment as Technology Chair of the Exco marks a significant milestone for both the Chamber and Solape Akinpelu, who has been instrumental in implementing impactful, tech-driven and capacity focused initiatives for different cohorts to inspire and influence members on how to scale to become tech sector players. 

Solape Akinpelu’s reappointment comes at a pivotal point as both Nigeria and the United Kingdom navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving global tech ecosystem.

Her relentless dedication to promoting financial inclusion, business collaborations, tech innovations, trade partnerships, and investment opportunities has positioned the NBCC as a pivotal hub for economic growth and tech-inspired development. 

Commenting on the development, Solape Akinpelu said; “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be reappointed as a the Technology Chair of the NBCC Board’s Exco. I am committed to leveraging this opportunity to continue seek newer ways that we can adopt tech to drive growth, enhance business relationships, and ensure that the Chamber remains at the forefront of promoting excellence between Nigeria and the UK.”

She added that she will continue to bring her expertise to bear as the Chambers continues to birth new initiatives to drive investments, trade, and business growth at all levels.

Solape Akinpelu’s continued presence on the NBCC Board is anticipated to further enhance the Chamber’s ability to drive tech focused initiatives, investment opportunities, and knowledge sharing between these two dynamic economies.

The Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) is the foremost bilateral chamber promoting trade and investment between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Since its inception, the Chamber has been instrumental in promoting bilateral trade relations, representing the interests of businesses, and driving sustainable economic growth.

Users of the HerVest app can now take advantage of the investment features by investing in women-led small and medium enterprises to earn competitive interest on the go. Unlike the previous investment model on the app that focused largely on agro investments, the HerVest offerings have been expanded to boost access to funding for women-led entrepreneurs by connecting them to the capital and infrastructure required to scale their businesses.

The new HerVest app also has a dollar investment feature that allows users to invest in dollar-denominated assets such as stocks, real estate, and a fixed income option to earn 10% – 14% returns in dollars. This feature protects investments from inflation and allows users to diversify their portfolios into high-quality investments to build wealth.

This is in addition to the newly integrated personal savings feature where users can earn 15% interest returns yearly, trade and investment opportunities which are now available to users via the innovative, user-friendly app.

The newly revamped HerVest app is designed to reflect a trendy modern look and feel with aesthetically appealing designs, an improved visual hierarchy across the onboarding and the app’s interface to provide a seamless experience for users, aid swift information processing and reinforce trust. 

With the HerVest app, users can now take a quick onboarding tour to gain requisite knowledge of the core functions of the app. In addition, users will have improved navigation for simpler access to the app’s features and enhanced performance.

Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Office and Co-founder, HerVest, Solape Akinpelu said the improvement in the brand’s offerings is targeted at increasing the accessibility of its solutions to help underserved women build sustainable wealth and achieve a better, fulfilling future. “We are proud to introduce a refreshed and dynamic app built specifically to help link women to opportunities by providing them with the access to credit, trade, extension services and premium investments through a gender-focused lens,” she said.

“Access to sustainable finance is a huge challenge as more women still face the challenge of being priced out of the existing market of microfinance loans due to high operating costs of providing loans to them. However, with our members-only cooperative model backed by technology, we are able to connect and lend peer-to-peer profitability.

“Following our initial heavy concentration in the agro space, we have decided to expand and cover as many sectors as possible outside agriculture to help more women founders scale their businesses. Users of the revamped HerVest app can now access a range of financial solutions that allows them to build sustainable wealth either through a dedicated personal savings option, trade investment offerings or an optimised dollar investment which can be fixed, put in stocks or in the thriving real estate option,” Solape added.

HerVest is an inclusive fintech platform that provides financial growth services to underserved and excluded African women through target savings, impact investing and credit financing – specifically for women farmers in Nigeria. So far, HerVest has impacted over 10,000 thousand female farmers across Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Niger, Oyo, Kwara and Ogun States.

With a mission to improve women’s lives by giving them access to and use of financial services across rural, urban, and peri-urban areas, HerVest offers savings, funds transfers, impact-investment, and credit via its platform. HerVest exists to serve Nigerian women with easy access to financial tools and services to achieve their financial goals and ultimately close the $42bn gender finance gap in Africa.

Currently, HerVest has over 30,000 women community members and is helping them achieve financial wellness through competitive returns on target savings, agro investments and gender-driven financial literacy resources. HerVest is downloadable on internet-enabled devices.

From providing access to digital resources to helping to eliminate digital inequality, these women are working to ensure the digital inclusion of all African citizens. As we celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day themed: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, we must recognize the importance of digital inclusion for women in Africa. 

Women, and specifically African women, are often excluded from access to the Internet and digital technology, creating a digital divide that has had a profound impact on their lives.

Digital inclusion is an essential tool for empowering women to participate in their local economies, to access vital information and services, and to advocate for their rights. By ensuring that women have access to digital technology and the Internet, we are helping to ensure greater gender equality, economic growth, and social transformation.

The African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Women’s Decade 2011-2020 have both made it clear that digital inclusion is a priority for African women. Women need access to the same information, services, and networks as men. They need to be able to engage in their economic activities and benefit from their social, economic, and political rights. Digital inclusion is a key factor in achieving these goals.

Unfortunately, the digital divide in Africa is still significant, with women facing greater challenges to access and use digital technologies. According to the World Bank’s Global Findex Database, only 33% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa own a mobile phone, compared to 43% of men. This means that women are disproportionately excluded from the digital revolution that has spread across the continent.

In similar findings of 30% women against 43% of men with internet access, a recent study by Statista revealed that disparities still exist between the number of men and women using the internet in developed markets.

UNICEF disclosed that over 50% of women do not have internet access; this is against the backdrop of DataReportal’s research which found that there were 109.2 million internet users in Nigeria in January 2022.

While Kepios’ analysis indicated via DataReportal, its online report library, that internet users in Nigeria increased by 4.8 million (+4.6 percent) between 2021 and 2022. But then 37% of women still didn’t have internet access at December 2022; just a little shift from 19% of women who had internet access in developing countries as of 2020, compared to 86% in the developed world. 

The good news is that there is cause for hope. Increasingly, African governments and organizations are investing in initiatives to bridge the digital divide. For example, the World Bank’s World Wide Web Foundation is piloting programs to increase the number of women with access to digital services and to provide them with the necessary skills to use them. 

Similarly, organizations such as The African Women’s Digital Network (AWDN) are working to strengthen digital literacy and create a network of women who can learn from each other and collaborate in the digital economy.

These initiatives are vital for ensuring that African women can benefit from the opportunities that digital technology can bring. By recognizing the importance of digital inclusion, we can ensure that African women have access to the same opportunities as men and can fully participate in the digital revolution.

Here, we selected these 10 women to appreciate their efforts for leading the charge in digital inclusion in Africa.

Join us as we explore their inspiring stories and discover how their efforts are positively impacting the African digital landscape.

1. Anie Akpe, Founder: African Women In Tech (AWIT)

Anie Akpe is a business professional and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry, real estate, finance and tech. 

Anie is the Founder of African Women In Tech (AWIT), an Africa-based organization helping girls and women with education and mentorship within technology, as well as UX Diaspora, a unique community of people of color in UX who are digitally migrating to educate, connect and inspire one another all over the world.

Anie is also an avid advocate for diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. Furthermore, in her previous role as VP, Mortgage Operations at Municipal Credit Union, Anie has managed a $950 million dollar portfolio.

She is a highly active member of the board of directors for various organizations — highlighting her advocacy for entrepreneurship, tech, culture and community. Anie also serves on the board of The New York Mortgage Coalition, an affordable housing program initiative based in New York City.

2. Martha Omoekpen Alade, Founder: Women in Technology in Nigeria

Martha has 20 years of experience working in the intersection of technology and development with expertise around Youths Economic Empowerment; Gender Equality and Diversity; Digital Inclusion; Education, Artificial intelligence; Internet Governance and Agriculture. She has initiated several ICT4D programs with remarkable transformation of Women and girls. 

Her Digital Skills, Entrepreneurship and Employment initiatives and partnerships have improved the livelihoods of thousands of women and girls across Africa. Martha also works closely with rural women for food security and sustainable agriculture.

She possesses in-depth experience in Stakeholder Engagement with both the private, public and grassroots sectors. 

Martha Holds masters in Research and Public policy as well as in Information Technology; recognized locally, nationally and internationally for ability to deliver projects diligently with 100% Principal satisfaction. 

She Founded WITIN in 2002 and the NGO was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2009.

3. Solape Akinpelu, CEO: HerVest

Solape Akinpelu is a highly accomplished business leader and gender-finance expert.

She serves as the CEO and co-founder of #HerVest, a fintech company that provides inclusive finance to African women through goal-oriented savings, impact investing, and credit options for smallholder women farmers and women-led SMEs. With over 30,000 members, #HerVest is dedicated to improving women’s lives through financial access and services.

Solape serves as the Global Co-Chair of Marketing for the Women in Tech Global Movement, and as the Country Manager for Nigeria. She is also the Chairman of Technology at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, promoting technology trade and investment between Nigeria and Britain. In addition, she is a member of the Presidential High Level Advisory Committee to the President of Nigeria on Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender.

Solape is a certified financial education instructor and a member of the Personal Finance Speakers Association (USA) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She has a background in financial marketing, having previously served as the Head of Marketing at Meristem, a leading investment and wealth management conglomerate in Nigeria.

Solape is a sought-after speaker, leading gender finance conversations both online and offline, and in various media outlets.

Solape is also the author of the best-selling book “Stripped: An African Woman’s Guide to Building Generational Wealth.” 

4. Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi, Founder: Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre 

Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi is a STEM & Gender Specialist with over twenty years of professional experience. Her career has straddled Technology, Gender and Social Entrepreneurship across two continents.

In 2008, Oreoluwa founded the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), a Nigerian nonprofit organization committed to building a more inclusive technology ecosystem, with the next generation of women technology creators, entrepreneurs and leaders.

Since its inception, W.TEC has encouraged over 35,000 girls and women across Nigeria, to pursue STEM careers and has supported women in using technology confidently to increase their economic power and ability to speak about issues affecting their lives. W.TEC’s programmes include technology camps, maker spaces, afterschool technology clubs, research and mentoring.

In 2020, she was recognised as one of OkayAfrica’s 100 Women and in 2018 as Her Network Technology Woman of the Year. She is also a 2019 ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers) Fellow, 2014 Vital Voices Lead Fellow (awarded to emerging and established women leaders across the world), 2013 Ashoka Fellow (a network of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs) and a recipient of the Anita Borg Change Agent Award (for my commitment to supporting women in computing in Nigeria).

Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi has always displayed her commitment to equipping early-stage female entrepreneurs – especially women who identify as introvert or reserved – with the skills and confidence to thrive professionally. She does this by mentoring, training and coaching.

5. Oluwasola Obagbemi, Corporate Communications Manager for Anglophone West Africa: Meta 

She is a Certified Public Relations & Communications professional with over 12 years’ experience. 

She is the Corporate Communications Manager for Anglophone West Africa at Meta (formerly called Facebook) overseeing the brand’s communications across Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, and Sierra Leone. Prior to this, she was the Senior Communications Manager for Africa at Andela. 

She joined the Andela team in January 2018 as the Communications Manager for Nigeria, and in her first 6 months, she led strategic PR efforts that brought a significant increase in the brand’s visibility and awareness, so she was promoted to build and lead the Comms team in Africa. 

Before Andela, she was the Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Red Media Africa for 6 years where she led the agency team to win several international and local pitches including awards.

As part of her role, she was at Red Media Africa, she was also Senior Account Manager for Facebook, Union Bank, Uber, HP, Intel WestAfrica, Maltina, Heineken, British Council & Unilever. During this time, Sola coordinated the publicity and press viewing event of Mark Zuckerberg’s 2016 visit to Nigeria. 

She graduated with a B.A Degree in Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University and holds a Master’s degree in Communications Studies from the University of Ghana, Accra Ghana (2012-2013) with a major in Public Relations and Advertising. 

Sola is also a certified member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and a certified Management Consultant Fellow of International Management Consultants (FIMC, CMC).a

She is very passionate about the girl child and has championed causes, geared towards promoting equality and inclusion for women. Also, a vocal advocate for women rising to the peak of their career while having work-life-balance.

She was recently named one of 35 under 35 Marketing professionals in Nigeria by BrandCommunicator. To read more about Sola, you can check out this interview with Leading Ladies Africa.

Meta Impact

• Passionate about telling the African story and the impact of Meta’s products to small businesses and creators – launched several campaigns in Nigeria and Ghana spotlighting these amazing stories to the world [Facebook Creators in partnership with PulseNG, Facebook Success Stories in partnership with BellaNaija and Guardian TV]
• Launched a first-of-its-kind approach to educate users about false news/misinformation online in a relatable way that will help to minimise its spread. Partnered with Comic Republic to produce a 20-page comic book which was launched in Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal. 

6. Olatomiwa Williams, Country Manager: Microsoft Nigeria | Ghana

Olatomiwa Williams is a business leader with over 20 years experience in Information Technology Industry helping organization leverage the power of technology to achieve their business objectives.

Ola is currently the Country Manager for Nigeria and Ghana. Prior to that, she was the Digital Transformation and Cloud Solution Director for the Microsoft Middle East and Africa (MEA) Multi Country Cluster (MCC) spanning over sixty-seven countries in Africa and part of Middle East. She leads a team of talented Solution Specialists to empower enterprise customers achieve Digital Transformation of their organizations leveraging Microsoft Cloud Solutions.

She is an award-winning leader with experience in Technology solution sales, consulting, support, channel and people management. 

Ola is known for building strong teams, helping customers adopt new technologies for transformation business outcome and for supporting channel strategic growth across emerging markets.

Prior to joining Microsoft, she was a Lead Consultant with Dimension Data, Nigeria and has worked on large complex projects across Nigeria and South America. 

Ola has held different roles in other IT companies and has developed a very good knowledge of emerging markets business landscape.

Committed to the cause of seeing more women succeed in the Information Technology field, she leads female focused initiatives to support and encourage women and girls in her region to develop interest in Information Technology and Engineering. She is a mentor to a couple of aspiring female leaders.

7. Janet Kemboi, Meta Communications Manager, Eastern Africa 

Janet Kemboi is Meta’s Communications Manager in Eastern Africa. She is in charge of crafting and implementing communication strategies and campaigns for Facebook in 9 countries; Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, South Sudan and Tanzania. Janet has helped build Meta brand(s) through engaging campaigns such as #ReelAdventures and #RealpeoopleRealstories that have positioned the brand as fun, approachable and locally relevant. Janet has also successfully informed the public on Meta’s work and integrity efforts during elections in Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya.  Janet is constantly educating the media and public(s) on Meta’s mission and its position on complex issues. 

Prior to joining Facebook, Janet was Uber’s Head of Communications for the East Africa region, a role that saw her successfully position the company as a thought leader in the ride-hailing apps industry. She also engaged and built solid relationships with the company’s key stakeholders while consistently informing the media about Uber’s position on a myriad of issues. Janet managed Uber’s reputation by reducing negative press coverage in the face of driver protests that resulted in Uber attaining the Public Relations Society of Kenya Crisis and Reputation Management award in 2017.

Janet has also worked in the FMCG industry for Bidco Africa where she fostered the company’s relationship with the media and managed the company’s relationships with its internal and external public(s). 

Janet started her career in communications interning at NTV Kenya as a news reporter before her move to Corporate Communications. She has also worked for the leading global advertising agency Grey Group in New York City and for Ipsos Kenya as a  Media Researcher. 

Janet holds a Master of Arts degree in Advertising from S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from United States International University-Africa.

She is passionate about Youth Empowerment, Health & Fitness and has an undeniable love for elephants. 

8. Itumeleng Morule, Corporate Communications Manager, Southern Africa, Meta

Itumeleng Morule is a Corporate Communications Manager at Meta overseeing the Southern Africa region. She is responsible for crafting, and implementing communication strategies and campaigns for Meta in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe aiming to help people better understand Meta’s technologies, apps and services which help bring people and communities closer together.

Prior to joining Meta in 2020, Itumeleng started her career in Public Relations working at a boutique PR agency in South Africa where she went on to manage two high profile global clients within the tech industry and the chemical and energy industry. 

She worked on these accounts for over 4 years and supported key initiatives in South Africa and across Sub- Saharan Africa.

Itumeleng holds a Honours Degree in Strategic Brand Communication completed in 2015 through Vega School (Johannesburg), and a Bachelors of Arts Degree where she majored in Media and Writing and Dramatic Arts at the University of Cape Town, completed in 2013.

Itumeleng has an adventurous spirit, she advocates for issues challenging women and youth, whilst being a proud mentor through the Taylor Bennett Foundation, a charity that encourages and facilitates minority ethnic graduates to pursue a career in communications.

Key Milestones and Impact:

During her time at Meta, Itumeleng spearheaded a campaign in 2021 that shone spotlight on ordinary citizens across Southern Africa through the Meta Changemaker campaign which celebrated individuals who were doing inspirational work to empower their communities using Meta technologies and apps following the challenging Covid-19 pandemic. 

More recently in 2022, she led a consumer communications campaign for Sub-Saharan Africa which celebrated emerging creative talents from around the world who are inspiring a new movement of creative content online. 

In collaboration with key stakeholders at Meta, she also hosted the first Creator Day in Sub- Saharan Africa bringing together over 40 creators in South Africa to empower creators and educate them about Meta technologies, tools and resources that can help them earn a living, grow and find their community online.

9. Juliet Ehimuan, Director: West Africa at Google

Juliet Ehimuan is Country Director leading Google’s business strategy in West Africa. She was named by Forbes as one of the top 20 power women in Africa, by the London Business School as one of 30 people changing the world; and featured in the BBC Africa Power Women series, and on CNN Innovate Africa.

Juliet is an Executive Leadership Coach and a member of the Forbes Coaches Council.  

She is the author of the 30 Days of Excellence book and programme which is offered as a book set and a programme aimed at igniting the spark of self-leadership and personal effectiveness.   

Juliet is a thought leader and a leading voice on leveraging innovation and leadership to drive transformation. She has received numerous awards for outstanding contribution to the digital landscape in Africa. She is a widely sought coach and keynote speaker.

She has over 25 years’ experience primarily in technology, oil and gas, and new media industries across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Juliet holds an Executive MBA from the London Business School, a Postgraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge; and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. 

She is a recipient of the London Business School Global Women’s Scholarship, and at Cambridge University was awarded Selwyn College Scholar and Malaysian commonwealth Scholar. She is a Fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Society.

10. Funke Opeke, CEO: MainOne, an Equinix Company

Funke Opeke is the founder and CEO of MainOne, now an Equinix Company. Funke is an experienced telecommunications executive who returned to Nigeria in 2005 as the Chief Technical Officer of MTN after a twenty-year career in the United States. 

Prior to her return, she was the Executive Director of Verizon Communications Wholesale Division. 

Subsequent to MTN, she advised Transcorp on the acquisition of NITEL and briefly served as the interim Chief Operating Officer, post-acquisition of NITEL. 

Funke’s foresight led to the establishment of this leading West African data center and connectivity solutions provider with presence in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. 

MainOne provides highly reliable services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, small to large enterprises, and educational institutions. MDXi, a subsidiary of MainOne, builds and operates data centers across West Africa.

MainOne is built West Africa’s first privately owned, open access 7,000 kilometer undersea high capacity cable submarine, a $240-million-dollar project that was completed in time and on budget in 2010. 

MainOne also built West Africa’s largest Tier III Data Center, MDX-i’s Lekki Data Center, a $40 million investment with a capacity for 600 racks. 

Funke is among the leading voices for digital inclusion among women in Africa.