Hafsat Abiola

Nigerian entrepreneur fostering women's economic empowerment through tech innovation

Hafsat Abiola (1969-present) is a pioneering force in Nigeria's tech sector through her company Crowdjobs. Launching in 2000, she created Africa's first online job platform specifically for women, connecting 50,000+ professionals with employers by 2010. Her 2005 initiative Women's Health and Education Center established Nigeria's first women-only innovation hubs in Lagos and Abuja.

Abiola's 2018 book Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Africa became a bestseller in West Africa, detailing her strategies for overcoming gender barriers in tech. Her 2020 documentary on female entrepreneurship inspired 10,000+ startups. She co-founded the African Women's Development Fund (2003), which has provided $12 million in microloans. Abiola's TEDx talk on 'Closing Africa's Gender Gap' has 1.2 million views, and she was named one of Africa's 100 Most Influential Women in 2019.