Top 10 Women in Tech in Africa

Technology is no longer a boys’ only club, and African women are proving that every single day. In the past few years, a number of African women have emerged as powerful forces in the African tech industry, leading groundbreaking innovations, launching startups, and creating solutions that improve everyday life across the continent.

In the course of this article, we’ll talk about these African women in tech, exploring their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, the innovations they’ve led, and the impact they’re making in shaping the future of technology across the continent. Let’s dive right in.

Top 10 Women in Tech in Africa

10. Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor

Dr. Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor is a renowned Nigerian technology executive, business strategist, author, and philanthropist. A trailblazer in Africa’s tech landscape, she served as the Director of Google West Africa for 12 years, making history as one of the first Nigerian women to hold such a role at a global tech giant. She stepped down from the position in 2023 to focus on new ventures, including her leadership development platform, Beyond Limits Africa.

Juliet holds a First-Class degree in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, a postgraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge, and an MBA from the London Business School. She also earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Walden University.

Her career began in 1995 at Shell Petroleum Development Company, followed by a transformative stint at Microsoft UK, where she managed strategic projects across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. After leaving Microsoft in 2005, she founded Strategic Insight Consulting Ltd., later serving as General Manager at Chams Plc, before joining Google in 2011.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Juliet is a passionate advocate for women in tech and entrepreneurship. Through Beyond Limits Africa, she empowers individuals and organizations through coaching, leadership programs, and mindset transformation. She is also the author of 30 Days of Excellence, a leadership guide that underpins her coaching framework.

9. Ethel Delali Cofie

Ethel Delali Cofie is a Ghanaian tech entrepreneur and IT consultant and one of Africa’s foremost champions for women in tech. She is the founder and CEO of EDEL Technology Consulting, an IT firm operating across West Africa and Europe, and the visionary behind Women in Tech Africa, the continent’s largest women-in-tech network spanning over 30 African countries.

Ethel’s journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Valley View University in Ghana. She went on to earn a Master’s in Distribution Systems from the University of Brighton in the UK and later an Executive Degree in Leadership, Business, and Entrepreneurship from the Yale School of Management.

With a career that has taken her across Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the UK, Ethel has held senior roles in both technological and commercial capacities, including her time as Head of Commercial Solutions at Vodafone Ghana. She currently serves on the boards of several African companies, including Egotickets and AMOSS Holdings SA.

Through Women in Tech Africa, Ethel has created a powerful platform for mentorship, skills training, and networking, empowering thousands of women to pursue and thrive in technology careers. She is also the founder of Mira Skills, a program that equips young girls across the continent with practical digital skills and confidence to enter the tech world.

8. Sarah Menker

Sara Menker is an Ethiopian entrepreneur, former Wall Street commodities expert, and the visionary founder of Gro Intelligence, a groundbreaking analytics platform that leveraged artificial intelligence to tackle urgent challenges around food security, agriculture, and climate stability.

Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sara had her undergraduate studies in Economics and African Studies at Mount Holyoke College. She then went on to study at the London School of Economics and earned a Master’s degree from Columbia University.

Menker began her career at Morgan Stanley, where she specialized in commodities risk management and portfolio trading. However, despite a successful trajectory on Wall Street, she took a bold leap in 2014, leaving the finance world to build Gro Intelligence, a private data and analytics startup that forecasted global agricultural and climate trends.

Headquartered in New York with offices in Kenya and Singapore, Gro Intelligence tapped into thousands of data sources to generate daily insights and over 1,000 AI-driven models. These helped farmers, corporations, governments, and insurers make smarter decisions about food production, pricing, and distribution.

Although Gro Intelligence ceased operations in 2024, Sara Menker’s legacy and work have attracted different global recognitions. She was named to the TIME 100 Most Influential People list in 2021, selected as a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst, and honored as the Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecturer. She also served as a trustee at the Mandela Institute for Development Studies and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

7. Adaora Nwodo

Adaora Nwodo, popularly known as Big Nenz, is a Nigerian software engineer, three-time published author, international speaker, and award-winning digital creator. A leading voice in the world of cloud computing and emerging tech, she currently works at Microsoft, where she helps build advanced tools and systems used by developers around the world. Notably, she contributed to the development of Microsoft Mesh and Azure Object Anchors, both of which play key roles in building immersive mixed-reality experiences.

With a first-class degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and a business leadership credential from Stanford Graduate School of Business (LEAD Program), Adaora has built a career centered on innovation and impact. She authored her first book, Cloud Engineering for Beginners, in 2021, followed by Beginning Azure DevOps (2023) and Confident Cloud (2024), helping thousands of aspiring engineers break into the tech industry. She also shares her insights on productivity, career growth, and technical expertise through her YouTube channel, AdoraHack, where she mentors a growing community of tech enthusiasts.

Adaora is also the Founder of NexaScale, a social enterprise that helps entry-level technologists gain simulated work experience and access apprenticeship opportunities. She also serves as the Vice President of the Virtual and Augmented Reality Association (Nigeria Chapter) and is the COO of Lend a Hand of Hope Initiative, a nonprofit focused on education and skills development in rural communities.

Read Also: Top 10 Inspiring Women in Tech in Nigeria 2024

6. Ruth Iselema

Ruth Iselema, widely known as “Bitmama,” is the founder and CEO of Bitmama Inc., a leading Pan-African blockchain platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies and digital assets seamlessly across Africa and beyond. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Ruth studied Pharmacy at the university level before shifting her focus to the world of blockchain. 

In 2017, she founded Bitmama as a peer-to-peer (P2P) digital currency exchange, which has evolved into a trusted hub for crypto transactions across Nigeria, Ghana, and other emerging markets. Bitmama now offers API services, exchange tools, and wallet integration, allowing users to transact with digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Celo. The company has raised over $2.5 million in funding and operates offices in Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States.

As one of the top voices in Africa’s Web3 space, Ruth is committed to democratizing access to financial services using blockchain technology. She envisions a world where people have full control over their money and data, free from the constraints of traditional financial systems.

5. Nneile Nkholise

Nneile Nkholise is a South African mechanical engineer, tech entrepreneur, and visionary in medical innovation. She is the founder of iMed Tech Group, a pioneering health-tech startup that uses 3D printing to produce customized prosthetics for cancer survivors and burn victims.

Born in Lesotho and driven by a deep passion for science and technology, Nneile began her career as a mechanical engineer in South Africa’s public sector before transitioning to entrepreneurship. She later launched 3DIMO, an AI-powered platform that creates 3D virtual and printed surgical models to support surgeons with pre-operative planning.

A recognized leader in health tech, she was named Africa’s top female innovator by the World Economic Forum in 2016 and, in 2017, received the Presidential Award for Science, Innovation, and Technology at the South African Youth Awards. She is also an honoree of the Forbes 30 Under 30.

4. Odunayo Eweniyi

Odunayo Eweniyi is the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of PiggyVest, Nigeria’s largest digital savings and micro-investment platform, with over 4.5 million users. She also co-founded the Feminist Coalition, a leading organization advocating for women’s rights, financial freedom, and representation in Nigeria.

A first-class graduate of Computer Engineering from Covenant University, Odunayo began her entrepreneurial journey shortly after school, co-founding PushCV in 2013. She eventually launched PiggyVest in 2016 with her partners to make saving and investing more accessible for Africans.

Odunayo is also the co-founder of First Check Africa, a fund supporting startups led by women. She also serves on the board of Village Capital, one of the most active early-stage investor networks for impact-driven founders.

In terms of accolades, she is a TIME100 Next honoree, a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst, and winner of the Forbes Woman Africa Technology and Innovation Award. She has also been named to Forbes Africa 30 Under 30, Quartz Africa Innovators, and Bloomberg 50, among many other honors.

Read Also: Top 10 Inspiring Women in Tech in Nigeria 2024

3. Juliana Rotich

Juliana Rotich is also one of the standout women in tech from Africa. She is a  Kenyan tech innovator and entrepreneur who co-founded Ushahidi, an open-source platform that uses crowdsourced data to map crisis information. Ushadidi was originally launched during Kenya’s 2007/08 election violence. It has since been used globally for disaster response and civic monitoring.

Juliana also co-founded BRCK, a company that developed a rugged, battery-powered modem designed to bring internet access to remote and off-grid areas. This innovation is especially vital for education in regions with unreliable electricity.

Juliana holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and is both a TED Senior Fellow and an MIT Media Lab Fellow. She played a key role in establishing iHub, Nairobi’s famous innovation hub that has supported thousands of tech entrepreneurs.

Beyond her startups, Juliana has held advisory and leadership roles across various sectors. She serves on the boards of Safaricom M-PESA, Standard Media Group, Girl Effect, and Atlas AI and is involved in global policy and innovation initiatives like Kenya Vision 2030 and the UN’s Data Revolution Group. She also supports youth programs like Learning Lions and invests in fintech startups across Africa. 

Her work has earned her multiple honors, including Social Entrepreneur of the Year in Africa (WEF) and the German Africa Prize. She was also included in Forbes’ 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa.

2. Rebecca Enonchong

Rebecca Enonchong is a Cameroonian tech entrepreneur and one of Africa’s most respected voices in the technology space. She is the founder and CEO of AppsTech, a global company that provides enterprise software solutions and supports clients in over 40 countries.

Beyond her work with AppsTech, Rebecca is passionate about supporting startups and promoting innovation across Africa. She co-founded the Cameroon Angels Network and the African Business Angels Network, which help entrepreneurs access funding and mentorship. She also played a key leadership role at AfriLabs, a network that supports over one million African entrepreneurs through 400+ tech hubs across 53 countries.

Rebecca sits on several global boards, including the WHO Foundation, the International Chamber of Commerce, VC4Africa, and the UN Economic Commission for Africa’s Centre for Digital Excellence. She also co-founded I/O Spaces, a coworking hub for inclusive innovation in the U.S.

Over the years, Rebecca has received many recognitions, including being named one of Forbes’ 50 Over 50 and EMEA Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women. She is well-known on social media under the name Africatechie, where she shares insights and advocates for stronger tech ecosystems in Africa.

1. Ada Nduka Oyom

Ada Nduka Oyom, popularly known as Kolokodess, is one of Africa’s most influential voices in tech advocacy and community building. A graduate of Microbiology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ada took an unconventional path from science to software, and today, she’s a multi-award-winning changemaker empowering thousands of African women in tech.

Ada discovered her passion for tech during her university days through active involvement in developer communities like GDSC and GDG. She set out to level the playing field for women in tech, founding She Code Africa (SCA) just a month after graduation in 2016. 

Under her leadership, SCA has reached over 62,000 women across 20+ African countries, offering training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. She’s also secured multiple six-figure funding deals and global partnerships with tech giants like Google, FedEx, Zoho, and Glovo, all aimed at scaling the organization’s impact.

Beyond SCA, Ada co-founded Open Source Community Africa (OSCA), which now serves as a hub for over 5,000 open-source enthusiasts across the continent. She also created DevRel Lite, a platform helping newbies navigate the world of Developer Relations.

Read Also: 10 Must-have Skills for Tech Ladies in Africa

Conclusion

Despite the challenges many African countries face as developing nations, these remarkable women in tech are proving that innovation knows no boundaries. Through their groundbreaking work in software engineering, health tech, fintech, blockchain, AI, and more, they’re not just changing the face of technology in Africa; they’re shaping its future.

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