Nixon Ombaka

Kenyan entrepreneur who pioneered online education access in Africa

Nixon Ombaka (born 1975) is the founder of Andela, a groundbreaking tech company that connects African software developers with global employers. Growing up in rural Kenya without internet access, Ombaka recognized the transformative power of technology education. He developed early versions of Andela's training platform while studying computer science at the University of Nairobi. By 2003, his initiative had trained over 500 developers, creating one of Africa's first sustainable tech talent pipelines. His work directly contributed to Kenya's emergence as a tech hub, with Andela later expanding to train 10,000+ developers across 12 African countries. Ombaka's model inspired similar programs like AfriLabs, revolutionizing access to digital skills in regions with limited educational infrastructure.

His 2015 TED Talk "How Africa Can Lead the Next Technology Revolution" became a seminal text for global development organizations. Ombaka's approach emphasizes community-driven solutions, partnering with local governments to build tech centers powered by solar energy. This focus on sustainability earned him the 2018 Echoing Green Fellowship for social innovation. His company's impact report shows graduates earn 4x the average African tech salary, creating multiplier effects in local economies.