By Prosper Mene, April 5, 2025
The Lagos Innovation Summit transformed into a celebration of female ingenuity today as Nigerian women in tech dazzled attendees with cutting-edge solutions, challenging the male-dominated landscape of the countryโs burgeoning startup ecosystem. Held at the sleek Eko Convention Centre, the event drew over 1,000 participantsโinvestors, policymakers, and tech enthusiastsโwho witnessed a powerful push to bridge the gender gap in an industry where women have long been sidelined.
The star of the day was 29-year-old Chidinma Okeke, a software developer from Enugu, whose app โFarmLinkโ earned her the coveted โInnovator of the Yearโ award. The platform, launched just 18 months ago, connects rural farmersโover 70% of whom are womenโto urban buyers, cutting out exploitative middlemen and boosting incomes. โI built this for the women who feed us, who deserve more than theyโve been given,โ Okeke told a packed audience, her words met with roaring applause. By linking small-scale producers to Lagosโ sprawling markets, FarmLink has already lifted profits for hundreds of farmers, proving tech can be a lifeline for Nigeriaโs agricultural backbone.
Other standout innovators included Aisha Bello, whose AI-driven telemedicine platform is expanding healthcare access in northern villages, and Funmi Adeyemi, who unveiled a blockchain-based microloan system tailored for female entrepreneurs. Their presentations underscored a broader theme: Nigerian women are not just joining the tech revolutionโtheyโre steering it toward solutions that uplift their communities.
The summit, now in its fifth year, has never seen such a strong female presence, with women making up nearly half of the 50 showcased startupsโa stark contrast to the 15% representation reported in Nigeriaโs tech sector by recent industry surveys. Organizers credited deliberate outreach, including mentorship programs and grants from partners like the Tony Elumelu Foundation, for the shift. โThis is a milestone,โ said summit director Tolu Adesina. โThese women are breaking ceilings and rewriting the narrative.โ
Yet, challenges persist. Okeke and her peers spoke candidly about securing funding in a venture capital scene where less than 5% of investments go to female-led startups, according to 2024 data. โWeโre proving our worth, but the system still doubts us,โ she said, a sentiment echoed in X posts praising the summit while lamenting the broader gender bias in tech financing.
Government officials, including Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology Olatunbosun Alake, pledged support, hinting at a forthcoming โWomen in Tech Fundโ to be unveiled later this year. For now, the summitโs energyโfueled by Okekeโs win and the buzz of innovationโleft attendees optimistic. โWeโre not here to participate in the future,โ Okeke declared in her closing remarks. โWeโre here to build it.โ
