Oby Ezekwohou

Nigerian tech advocate empowering women in technology through education and mentorship programs.

Introduction

Oby Ezekwohou is a Nigerian software engineer and founder of Women in Tech Africa (WIT Africa), an organization that trains women in coding, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Her initiatives have equipped over 5,000 African women with digital skills since 2015, fostering economic independence and gender parity in tech.

Background

Ezekwohou grew up in Lagos and developed an early interest in technology. She earned a degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and later worked in Silicon Valley for tech giants like Google and Microsoft. Witnessing the gender gap in tech, she returned to Nigeria to launch WIT Africa in 2015.

Programs and Impact

WIT Africa offers free coding bootcamps, scholarships, and networking opportunities. Its signature program, Code for Change, teaches women to build apps addressing local challenges like healthcare access and agriculture. Graduates have launched startups such as AgroTech Nigeria, which uses AI to optimize crop yields.

Community and Recognition

Ezekwohou has been featured in Forbes Africa and honored by the African Union for her contributions to tech education. In 2022, she partnered with the UN Women initiative to scale WIT Africa’s programs across 15 African countries. Her TEDx talk, "Coding the Future for African Women," highlights the transformative power of tech education.

Future Goals

Ezekwohou aims to establish a pan-African network of tech hubs and scholarships. She envisions a future where 30% of tech leaders in Africa are women. Learn more about her work at WIT Africa's website.