Blessing Koleye

Co-founder of Moringa School, empowering African youth through tech education

Blessing Koleye is a Nigerian entrepreneur and social innovator who co-founded Moringa School, a pan-African tech education initiative that has transformed the lives of thousands of young people. Born in Lagos in the 1980s, Koleye's vision emerged from her belief that Africa's tech talent should be cultivated locally rather than exported. Moringa School, launched in 2014 in Nairobi, offers intensive coding bootcamps and digital skills training with a focus on equity and inclusion. Over 1,500 graduates have secured tech jobs globally, with 40% being women - a remarkable achievement in a male-dominated field. The program's UN-recognized model combines mentorship, industry partnerships, and community-driven approaches. Koleye's work addresses both unemployment and the global tech talent gap, while fostering an African-led innovation ecosystem. Her TED Talk 'Why Africa Needs Its Own Tech Talent' has inspired global audiences, and Moringa's alumni now lead projects from fintech solutions in Kenya to AI initiatives in Rwanda. By prioritizing affordability and accessibility, Koleye has made tech education a tool for socioeconomic mobility, directly impacting over 50,000 applicants through scholarship programs. Her contributions were highlighted in Forbes Africa's '30 Under 30' list and the Tech in Asia report on African EdTech pioneers.