The tech industry has, for decades, been dominated by men. But more and more women are breaking into the industry, helping to make it a more diverse and inclusive space in the process. There are Nigerian women in tech who are making waves and paving the way for future generations of female innovators.

Below, we profile five Nigerian women in Tech who have overcome their own particular challenges to be successful in this field.

This is not an exhaustive list; there are many, many more women in tech who deserve to be celebrated. But these five women are making a difference by breaking through their own barriers, and we hope that their stories will inspire others to do the same.

1. Asuquo Adelabu

Asuquo Adelabu is a software developer for IBM and the founder of Code4Africa, an organization that trains African women to become software developers. She has also founded several other tech startups in Nigeria. Her story is a testament to the power of mentorship and support.

Adelabu was one of the first women in Nigeria to ever get a software development job and says that she had no female role models or mentors when she was starting out. She credits her success today to the support system she has built around herself over time, which includes other women in tech who are willing and able to mentor young girls interested in computer science careers.

2. Ada Nduka Oyom

She is the Developer Relations (SSA) at Google. She is also the founder of She Code Africa, a non-profit organization that empowers young Nigerian women in Tech with technical skills.

Ada is a self-taught Software developer whose expertise has earned her roles in organizations like Interswitch Group and Switch Innovation Academy. She has volunteer experience with organizations like Google Developers Group and Women Techmakers UNN.

3. Anna Ekeledo

Anna Ekeledo is a Nigerian senior marketing executive and executive director of AfriLabs Foundation (since 2016), an organization that federates 347 innovation centers across Africa. AfriLabs network entrepreneurs, investors, tech entrepreneurs, and web/mobile engineers. In line with its mission to support African tech hubs, it provides financing, mentorship, networking opportunities, and tools to build the capacities of high-potential entrepreneurs.

She holds a first-class degree from Covenant University and M.Sc. from Leeds University Business School in the UK. She consulted for a nonprofit called Visiola Foundation to set up their first STEM Summer Camp for Teenage Girls, which now runs across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, and has impacted hundreds of girls over the past six years.

4. Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti

Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti is the founder and CEO of Herconomy, a female-focused fintech startup dedicated to creating financial resources for women.

Herconomy is Nigeria’s first digital platform for female entrepreneurs and professionals focusing on empowering women and connecting women to each other and opportunities, such as grants, fellowships, scholarships, jobs, and much more. She is also an author, entrepreneur, and young global leader with over 10 years of management and leadership experience working in the fashion, marketing, manufacturing, and, most recently, the tech industry.

Durosinmi-Etti has recently broken several glass ceilings by being part of the Africa Startup Initiative (ASIP) Accelerator Programme and becoming the first recruitment partner in Nigeria with Amazon.

5. Iyabo Oba

Damilola Olokesusi is the co-founder and CEO of Nigeria’s leading transport-driven transportation startup, Shuttlers. The company is revolutionizing how professionals and organizations commute in the ever-busy Lagos and Abuja metropolis.

Damilola is a “Forbes30under30 (2019) Recipient for Technology”, and was selected by the UK government for a technology exchange in 2020. She has garnered accolades, such as The Digital & Tech Award at the Women in Africa Contest in Morocco in 2017 and the Award for the Best Idea at the Aso Villa Demo Day. Under her leadership, Shuttlers raised $1.6 million in seed funding, announcing plans to expand into more African metropolitan cities.

Also Read: The Bright Future of Nigerian Women in Tech and What It Entails

Success Barriers

There’s no doubt that women in tech are making strides, but amazing work is still to be done. In this article, we’ll talk about five barriers Nigerian women in tech are currently breaking through.

“Tech” as a Gendered Term

“Tech” is a gendered term. It’s used to describe the male-dominated field of computer science, which is often referred to as “tech.” The term also applies to engineering and related fields like robotics, gamification, and artificial intelligence.

In order for women in tech to break through these barriers, we need greater visibility for female role models in these spaces so that people can see how much opportunity there is out there for them if they work hard enough at it!

“There aren’t any Nigerian Women in Tech”

As the number of female tech founders in Nigeria increases, so does their presence in the industry.

Many people have the misconception that there are no Nigerian women in tech, but this is simply not true! There are plenty of amazing female founders in Nigeria who are paving the way for other aspiring women. But the myth that there are no women in tech still persists. The reality is that there’s a lot of opportunity for women who want to get into the space, but they just don’t know how or where to start.

The numbers don’t lie: there aren’t as many Nigerian women in tech as men, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist—and they’re out there doing amazing things!

Lack of Mentorship in STEM Fields

• Mentors are needed to help with career growth.
• Mentors can help with career planning, job search, and networking.
• They can also provide technical advice and emotional support if needed.

Being the lone woman on a team

Being the lone woman on a team is one of the first challenges that many Nigerian women in tech face. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and there are people out there who want to help you succeed and build your career.

If being a role model isn’t important enough already, then consider doing something else: giving back by volunteering at an organization that supports women or girls from backgrounds similar to yours (for example organizations focused on supporting underprivileged youth). Or volunteer for charities focused on improving women’s rights worldwide!

Fighting the Stereotypes

Women in tech are not just there to make money or be seen as diversity hires. They want to learn, grow, and contribute.

In fact, this is something that many women in tech have said themselves: “I don’t want to just be at the top of my industry; I want to change it.”

Nigerian Women are making waves in the Tech world

Nigerian Women are making waves in the Tech world. They’re breaking barriers, making waves, and changing everything we know about technology.

They are showing other women that it’s possible to be a successful technologist no matter their gender or ethnicity.

Conclusion

We hope this inspires you to think differently about the tech world, and that it helps you find your own path. We believe in the power of women taking control of their lives, and we have seen great success with this project.

We hope that by seeing others succeed along the way, we can inspire others to do the same!