Oby Ezekwesili

Nigerian tech entrepreneur empowering African women through digital education since 2021

Oby Ezekwesili is a pioneering Nigerian technologist and founder of Afrochix Academy, a nonprofit organization established in 2021 that has trained over 15,000 African women in coding, AI, and digital skills. Born in Lagos, Ezekwesili identified the critical gap in tech education accessibility for women across the continent and created a scalable model using hybrid learning platforms and partnerships with companies like Google and Microsoft.

Her initiative's flagship program, Digital Changemakers, combines technical training with entrepreneurship support, helping graduates launch tech startups in fintech, health tech, and agritech sectors. By 2023, 67% of program participants had secured tech jobs or started businesses, contributing an estimated $23 million to local economies. Afrochix's success stories include Ugandan developer Aisha Nakato, whose mobile app improved maternal health monitoring in rural areas.

Ezekwesili's work addresses both gender inequality and digital divide challenges, earning her the 2022 Africa Tech Excellence Award. She also co-founded the Africa Digital Alliance, advocating for policy changes to expand broadband access. Her TEDx talk 'Code the Future: Women in Africa's Tech Revolution' has been viewed over 2 million times, amplifying her mission to transform Africa's tech landscape through inclusive education.