We are witnessing an emergence of Nigerian women innovators and change-makers. This class of women is driving positive transformation across industries and socio-economic concerns. Thanks to their work, the path is being paved for greater female participation in national economic life, and the development of the broader Nigerian society.
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Here’s a list of Nigerian women innovators and change-makers:
Ire Aderinokun
Ire Aderinokun has had a rich experience across several fronts of the technology space. She’s Nigeria’s first Google Developer Expert; is involved with various Venture Capital firms; and has cofounded Helicarrier, a crypto startup. Ire is currently an Advisory Board Member of Stand to End Rape (STER) Initiative. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Bristol and an MBA from INSEAD.
Tomilola Majekodunmi
Tomilola Majekodunmi is the co-founder and CEO of Bankly, an app that provides banking as a service. Its key offerings include personal banking, business banking, and payment gateway. Tomilola’s professional background is in finance and investment analysis. At Bankly, she’s leveraging her experience in combination with contemporary digital technology to deliver banking solutions to millions of people in underserved communities.
Damilola Olokesusi
Damilola Olokesusi founded and presently leads Shuttlers, Nigeria’s foremost technology-powered transportation startup. The company serves professionals and companies in Lagos and Abuja, helping them to beat the traffic of those cities. Damilola says she set up Shuttlers to be a safe and efficient alternative to public transport after her sister got robbed in a commercial intra-city route vehicle.
Yanmo Omorogbe
Yanmo Omoregbe is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Bamboo, a digital wealth management platform. Through Bamboo, she’s helping Nigerians access investment opportunities in equities and fixed-income offerings—things that were once the exclusive preserve of the rich. Prior to establishing Bamboo, she had been an investment associate at the African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), and worked in the public service as well.
Odunayo Eweniyi
Odunayo Eweniyi is a pioneer of digital savings and investment in Nigeria. She cofounded PiggyVest, the most widely used savings app in the country. More recently, she’s been involved in venture capital, especially funding for female-led startups. Odunayo also cofounded PushCV, 99Startups, 500 Dishes, and Backdrop, and is a Board Member at Village Capital. Odunayo says she’s inspired by her father’s admonition to “aim very high, work very hard, and care very deeply.”
Tito Ovia
Tito Ovia is a cofounder at Helium Health, a health tech startup where she serves as Head of Public Sector Growth. Helium Health is Africa’s largest health-tech provider, serving healthcare institutions in diverse geographies. It also offers financial solutions and data-backed insights to private and public sector concerns. Tito has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Manchester and previously worked with the Lagos State government.
Anu Adasolum
Anu Adasolum is co-founder and CEO of Sabi, a tech-enabled logistics solutions provider. Her company is helping to digitize Africa’s supply chains and connect the continent’s merchants and businesses to the rest of the world. Its services range from digital platforms for contract execution, to inventory and commodity financing. Before co-founding Sabi, Anu worked with Rensource, Jumia, KPMG, and Dangote Industries. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Politics from SOAS London and a Master’s degree in Management, Organizations, and Governance from the London School of Economics.
Nkem Okocha
Nkem Okocha is a Nigerian change-maker committed to improving the economic well-being and financial access of women. She is the founder and CEO of Mamamoni, a FinTech social enterprise that supports women with mobile loans and vocational skills. Nkem has a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance from the Lagos State University.
Ada Nduka Oyom
Ada Nduka Oyom is the Founder and Executive Director of She Codes Africa, a non-profit organization that trains, supports, and assists girls on the continent on a path to viable careers in technology. She also co-founded Open Source Community Africa, a project that encourages the growth of the open-source ecosystem. Until 2024, Ada was a Developer Relations Community Manager at Google. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Ife Durosinmi-Etti
Ife Durosinmi-Etti founded Herconomy, a FinTech company that provides women with business grants, fellowships, and grants. Her company’s financing of female-led enterprises has been funded via crowdfunding and international partnerships. She received a Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneur award in 2016. Ife has been recognized and honoured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, NASDAQ, Visual Collaborative, and the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
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Final Words
Nigerian women innovators and change-makers constitute a growing class of contributors to national development. Their work is making life easier for the average Nigerian in general and women in particular. The wins they have scored in the face of great difficulties are worth celebrating.
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