Betti Ade

Nigerian tech entrepreneur who created Africa's first coding school for displaced women

Betti Ade (born 1985) revolutionized women's empowerment in tech through her Women in Tech Initiative. Starting in Lagos in 2012, she developed a free coding bootcamp specifically for internally displaced women affected by Boko Haram violence. Over 1,200 graduates now work in tech roles across Nigeria, with 60% starting their own digital businesses.

Ade's approach combines technical training with trauma counseling, addressing both skill gaps and psychosocial needs. Her BBC profiled initiative inspired similar programs in Kenya and South Sudan. A 2020 World Bank study showed her graduates earn 3x more than average Nigerian women.

In 2018, she launched the 'Tech for Peace' platform connecting tech innovators with conflict zones. Her work was recognized by the African Union's Gender Equality Award and inspired the Netflix documentary series African Innovators. Ade currently mentors girls through her Code for Peace initiative, proving technology's power to transform post-conflict communities.