Bridgette Wakawa

A Nigerian tech entrepreneur driving digital inclusion through women-led initiatives in West Africa's tech sector.

Bridgette Wakawa is a pioneering Nigerian technologist and social innovator who has reshaped the African tech landscape through her focus on gender equity and digital empowerment. Born in Lagos in 1988, she began coding at age 12 and quickly realized the gender disparities in tech education. This insight led to her co-founding Code for Africa in 2010, an organization providing digital literacy training to underserved youth.

In 2015, Wakawa launched Tech4Girls Nigeria, a groundbreaking initiative that has trained over 15,000 girls in coding, data science, and AI since its inception. Her signature program, 'CodeLagos,' created 200+ tech hubs across Nigeria's cities and villages, providing free access to coding bootcamps and entrepreneurship resources. These efforts contributed to a 400% increase in female tech startup participation in Lagos between 2016-2020.

Wakawa's influence extends beyond education. She pioneered the Women in Tech Policy Framework, adopted by the Nigerian Senate in 2018, which mandates gender quotas for tech sector funding. Her advocacy helped secure $50 million in venture capital for women-led tech startups by 2022. In 2020, she co-founded The African Tech Alliance, connecting 3,000+ startups across 15 countries through a shared digital ecosystem.

A vocal advocate for ethical tech, Wakawa developed the AI for Good certification program ensuring Nigerian tech companies prioritize social impact. Her work was honored with the African Digital Transformation Award (2019) and the UN Women's Empowerment Prize (2021). She frequently contributes to global forums like the World Economic Forum's Africa Summit, emphasizing the need for inclusive tech ecosystems.

Wakawa's most recent venture, EduTech Nigeria, is revolutionizing STEM education through AR/VR tools accessible even in off-grid communities. By democratizing tech access and amplifying women's voices, Bridgette Wakawa has become a cornerstone of Africa's digital revolution, proving that gender equity and technological advancement are inextricably linked.