Beti Abah

Nigerian tech advocate empowering girls through digital literacy programs

Beti Abah is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur and founder of TechGirls Initiative, an organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by providing training and mentorship to young women. Launched in 2016, her initiative has trained over 5,000 girls across Africa in coding, robotics, and digital skills. Through partnerships with companies like Google and Microsoft, TechGirls programs have expanded to 12 countries, creating a pipeline of female tech professionals.

Abah's work addresses critical issues in Africa's tech ecosystem where women represent only 7% of STEM graduates. Her organization combines coding workshops with entrepreneurship training, helping participants launch tech-based startups. Notable alumni include 14-year-old Chidinma Umeadi who developed an app to track school attendance in rural Nigeria.

In 2019, Abah launched the African Girls Can Code Initiative, partnering with UNESCO to train 10,000 girls by 2025. She has been recognized by Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30 list and received the African Youth Leadership Award. Her TED Talk Teaching girls to code so they can code their own future has over 500,000 views, highlighting the transformative power of tech education.

Abah's vision extends to policy advocacy, working with governments to integrate coding into school curricula. She co-authored Nigeria's National Girls in ICT Strategy, influencing education reforms across West Africa. Her work has inspired similar initiatives in Kenya and Ghana, creating a continental movement for gender equality in technology.