Hafsat Abiola

Nigerian social entrepreneur bridging gender equality and economic development

Hafsat Abiola (born 1972) is a visionary leader transforming West Africa through her organization Courage BCN. Growing up in political turmoil after her father's assassination, she founded the first women's empowerment network in Nigeria providing education, healthcare, and microfinance. Her Women's University initiative educates 1,500+ young women annually in STEM and leadership. As a Clinton Global Citizen Award winner (2014), she connects grassroots movements with global corporate partners like Unilever and Mastercard.

Innovative programs include:
- Mobile health clinics reaching 200,000+ rural women
- Renewable energy cooperatives powered by women engineers
- Digital literacy programs for 50+ villages
- Conflict resolution training for community leaders

Her memoir From the Ashes of Hope details her journey from political exile to social impact. Watch her speaking at TED 2019 about building resilient communities.