Celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child: Inspiring Women in Nigeria’s Tech Industry
Yesterday, October 11, marked the International Day of the Girl Child, a day dedicated to amplifying the voices of girls and celebrating their limitless potential. While the global spotlight often focuses on the challenges facing the girl child, it’s essential to recognize the women who have transformed those challenges into sources of inspiration. These women were once those girls, and now they are leading innovation, breaking barriers, and redefining what’s possible in Nigeria’s tech industry.
From fintech disruptors to satellite engineers, these remarkable women exemplify that when girls are encouraged to dream big and provided with equal access to opportunities, they not only join the conversation but also change it. Here are eight Nigerian women whose work continues to inspire a new generation of girls to code, create, and conquer.
1. Funke Opeke
Funke Opeke is the Founder and CEO of MainOne, a powerhouse behind one of West Africa’s largest digital infrastructure companies. After returning from the U.S., where she worked with Verizon, she founded MainOne to bridge Nigeria’s connectivity gap. Her company built a 7,000 km submarine cable system linking Nigeria to Europe, significantly improving internet speed and reliability across the region. Funke’s vision and determination have made her a trailblazer in the tech landscape, proving that infrastructure is key to unlocking potential.
2. Odunayo Eweniyi
As the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of PiggyVest, Nigeria’s leading savings and investment platform, Odunayo Eweniyi empowers millions of Nigerians to take control of their finances. A first-class graduate of Computer Engineering, she has emerged as one of the loudest voices for women in tech and financial inclusion. Beyond fintech, Odunayo co-founded the Feminist Coalition, a group championing women’s rights and economic empowerment. Her success story illustrates that technology can be both profitable and purposeful, inspiring countless young women to pursue careers in finance and tech.
3. Ire Aderinokun
Ire Aderinokun is Nigeria’s first female Google Developer Expert in Web Technologies and a co-founder and VP of Engineering at Helicarrier, a blockchain infrastructure company. She is also the creator of Bits of Code, a platform that simplifies coding for beginners. A self-taught front-end developer, Ire has become a mentor to many young women aspiring to enter software engineering. Her journey proves that with curiosity and consistency, anyone can build something extraordinary, inspiring a new generation of tech enthusiasts.
4. Fara Ashiru Jituboh
As the Co-founder and CEO/CTO of Okra, Fara Ashiru Jituboh is one of the brilliant minds powering open banking in Africa. Okra enables fintech companies to access financial data and build better financial products securely. With her technical expertise and bold vision, Fara is making financial systems more transparent and connected. Her work is reshaping how Africans interact with money, demonstrating that innovation can drive significant change in financial accessibility.
5. Abimbola Alale
When discussions about Nigeria’s digital future arise, few realize it extends beyond Earth’s surface, thanks to Abimbola Alale, the Managing Director and CEO of NigComSat (Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd). As the first Nigerian woman to lead a satellite company, Abimbola has been at the forefront of improving broadband access, space communication, and national security systems. Her leadership showcases that women can thrive even in the most complex tech fields, inspiring future generations to reach for the stars—literally.
6. Adaora Nwodo
Adaora Nwodo, a Senior Software Engineer and founder of NexaScale, is one of the new-generation tech voices inspiring young Africans to embrace cloud computing and software development. A graduate of Computer Science from the University of Lagos, Adaora has built a career in cloud infrastructure while writing books and speaking globally about tech inclusion. Her content demystifies complex tech concepts, empowering girls to build digital skills with confidence and encouraging them to pursue careers in technology.
7. Tope Omotolani
Tope Omotolani is the Co-founder and CEO of CrowdyVest and one of the minds behind Farmcrowdy, Nigeria’s pioneering agritech startup. Through these platforms, she has connected thousands of smallholder farmers to investors, boosting food production and financial inclusion. Tope’s work sits at the intersection of agriculture and technology, demonstrating that innovation can drive both profit and social progress. Her initiatives inspire young women to explore the vast opportunities within agritech.
8. Chioma Agwuegbo
Chioma Agwuegbo, founder of TechHerNG, has dedicated years to advocating for women’s digital literacy and access to technology. Her platform trains and mentors women in digital communication, helping them leverage tech to advance their businesses and voices. Chioma’s influence extends beyond coding; she’s shaping how women use digital tools to tell stories, mobilize communities, and create change. Her commitment to empowering women through technology is paving the way for a more inclusive digital landscape.
These women are not only excelling individually but are also transforming ecosystems, building opportunities, and proving that gender is no limitation to innovation. As the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl Child, their stories serve as living proof that when girls are supported, educated, and included in technology, they lead.