By Rita Okoye
Over the past decade, Nigeria has witnessed a remarkable shift in its technology landscape, with women increasingly stepping into prominent roles as innovators, developers, and leaders. Once a male-dominated industry, the Nigerian tech space is experiencing a surge of female participation, thanks to dedicated individuals and trailblazing organizations committed to bridging the gender gap.
Breaking Barriers in the Tech Ecosystem
According to a 2023 report by Tech Nation Nigeria, women currently make up approximately 22% of the tech workforce in Nigeria, a significant improvement from just 10% a decade ago. Projections suggest that by 2030, this figure could rise to 35%, driven by targeted interventions and increased access to tech education.
Despite challenges such as limited access to resources, cultural stereotypes, and gender bias, Nigerian women are breaking through barriers in the tech sector. Women like Dr. Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s former Minister of Communication Technology, and Odunayo Eweniyi, co-founder of PiggyVest, have become beacons of inspiration for the next generation of tech-savvy women. Their success stories reflect a growing trend of women making impactful contributions to the nation’s tech ecosystem.
The increasing visibility of women in tech has been supported by a range of organizations and initiatives working to empower and equip women with the skills, tools, and opportunities needed to thrive in the industry. These efforts have led to tangible results, with over 50,000 Nigerian women trained in tech skills between 2015 and 2023, and an estimated 5,000 securing roles in top global tech companies.
Organizations Driving the Movement;
She Code Africa (SCA) is one of the leading organizations championing the cause of women in tech in Nigeria. Founded by Ada Nduka Oyom, SCA’s mission is to celebrate and empower young girls and women in technology. SCA offers mentorship programs, boot camps, and hackathons to help participants build critical technical and leadership skills. The organization’s impact is evident in its growing community of over 20,000 members across Africa, with many achieving career milestones in tech.
Women in Tech Nigeria – A chapter of the global Women in Tech initiative, Women in Tech Nigeria was founded by Regina Honu. The organization focuses on closing the gender gap and helping women embrace tech careers. The organization runs training programs, workshops, and networking events aimed at fostering an inclusive tech environment. Their “Girls in Tech” program has successfully introduced young girls to coding and digital literacy, ensuring the pipeline of future female tech leaders remains robust.
Tech4Dev’s Women Techsters Initiative – The Women Techsters Initiative by Technology for Social Change and Development (Tech4Dev) was founded by Diwura Oladepo and Oladiwura Oladepo. It is a flagship program aimed at equipping women with tech skills across various fields, including software development, product design, and artificial intelligence. By targeting women from underserved communities, the initiative not only reduces the gender gap but also creates economic opportunities for participants.
Ada Developers Academy is another impactful initiative aimed at providing intensive tech training for women. Named after Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, the academy fosters a supportive learning environment for women to excel in software development and other tech-related careers. The academy was founded by Shannon Turner and their programs have helped numerous Nigerian women secure high-paying roles in tech.
The Girl Lead Project was founded by Mary Olushoga. It is focused on empowering young girls and women by teaching them STEM skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and encouraging innovation. By targeting secondary schools and universities, the organization ensures that girls are introduced to tech at an early stage, creating a strong foundation for future endeavors.
There are also some new fast-growing organisations supporting the movement of women in tech in Nigeria, their communities are growing fast, these new organisations have impacted over a thousand young women in Nigeria.
Girls into Tech is another new social enterprise designed to actively contribute to narrowing the gender gap in the tech industry. Girls into Tech recent cohort has registered over 2000 participants. Founded by Tobi Akinrinmade, the organization focuses on providing diverse tech training programs to women. These programs include NoCode programming for web and mobile apps, web development with Bootstrap (HTML, CSS, and JS), product design (UI/UX), digital marketing (SEO/PPC), social media marketing, and other tech fields such as data analytics and cybersecurity.
Girls in Tech Nigeria, founded by Ayodele Olorunfemi, is a non-profit organization committed to supporting and empowering women and girls in the tech industry. The organization offers capacity-building and skills development programs, mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as community-building activities for women and girls across Nigeria who are interested in pursuing careers in technology.
Private companies have also joined the movement, recognizing the value of diversity in driving innovation. Organizations like Google, Microsoft, and Andela have launched initiatives specifically designed to support women in tech. For example, Microsoft’s Africa Development Center regularly hosts coding and training sessions targeting women, while Andela’s Fellowship program has seen an increasing number of female participants.
The Road Ahead – The future looks promising for women in tech in Nigeria. Analysts predict that the number of women-led startups in the tech space could double by 2030, contributing billions of dollars to the economy. Furthermore, sustained efforts in mentorship and funding are expected to drive a 15% annual increase in the number of women enrolling in STEM-related programs across Nigeria.
While significant progress has been made, there is still much to do to achieve gender parity in Nigeria’s tech industry. More investment in education, mentorship, and funding for women-led startups is crucial. Policies that encourage workplace diversity and protect women from discrimination will also play a vital role in sustaining this momentum.
As women continue to make strides in Nigeria’s tech industry, their contributions will undoubtedly shape the nation’s future. The collective efforts of individuals, organizations, and private companies are not just closing the gender gap but also fostering a more inclusive and innovative tech ecosystem for generations to come.