Blessing Ekanem

Pioneering Nigerian tech entrepreneur empowering women in STEM through her organization TechSheCan

Blessing Ekanem is a Nigerian software developer and social entrepreneur who has made significant impacts in closing the gender gap in technology through her organization TechSheCan. Founded in 2020 during the early days of the pandemic, this initiative has grown into a pan-African movement training over 10,000 girls in coding and digital skills. Ekanem's work addresses both the lack of female representation in tech and the digital divide affecting African youth, with programs now operating in 15 countries across the continent.

Her innovative approach combines online learning platforms with physical 'TechSheCan Hubs' providing free access to coding resources. A standout achievement was the development of Africa's first AI-powered mentorship platform connecting mentees with industry professionals from Silicon Valley to Lagos. This initiative has produced notable success stories like 17-year-old Chidera Nwosu who developed an agricultural app now used by 200,000 farmers across West Africa.

Ekanem's advocacy extends to policy circles, testifying before the African Union's Youth Commission and co-authoring the Digital Inclusion Framework for African Girls adopted by 12 countries. Her TEDx talk "Why Africans Hold the Keys to the Future of Tech" has over 2 million views, emphasizing how investing in African talent can drive global technological innovation.

Recognitions include being named one of Africa's 50 Most Influential Women in Tech (2023) and youngest recipient of the UNESCO Gender Equity Award. TechSheCan's 2024 partnership with Google's Grow with Google program aims to train 100,000 girls by 2025, solidifying Ekanem's role as a transformative force in Africa's tech ecosystem.