20 Women Breaking Barriers in the Blockchain Sector in Africa
Blockchain technology is transforming various sectors and industries across the world, and Africa is no exception. Africa is one of the most promising regions for blockchain adoption and innovation, as it offers solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, such as financial inclusion, remittances, governance, identity, and more.
However, the blockchain space is still dominated by men, and women face many barriers and challenges to participate and contribute to this emerging field. That is why it is important to highlight and celebrate the achievements and contributions of female founders in the blockchain space in Africa, who are not only creating innovative solutions and platforms but also empowering and inspiring other women to join and benefit from this technology.
In this article, we will spotlight some of the female founders in the blockchain space in Africa, who lead the way in various domains, such as education, advocacy, community building, fintech, NFTs, and more. We will also learn about their backgrounds, motivations, challenges, and visions for the future of blockchain in Africa and beyond.
Alakanani Itireleng
Alakanani Itireleng is the founder and director of Satoshicentre Global Group, a fintech and blockchain co-working space in Gaborone, Botswana.
Her story is a remarkable one as she tragically lost her son to illness in the late 2010s, but in her battle to fund her son’s treatment, she heard about Bitcoin as a way to accept international donations. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Alakanani recognized the potential of blockchain technology, particularly Bitcoin. In 2013, she organized Botswana's first successful Bitcoin meetup, marking the beginning of her role as the country's first Bitcoin evangelist. Alakanani's perseverance and commitment to learning have earned her international recognition, including awards in Sandton and Washington DC.
Yaliwe Soko
Yaliwe Soko, Chairwoman of the United Africa Blockchain Association and Founder of Essence Crypto Consultants, is a leading figure in the blockchain and crypto space in South Africa. Previously the South African Ecosystems Lead at CELO Foundation, Ms. Soko was honored as the 2019 Devcon V Queen.
Roselyn Gicira Mwangi
Roselyn holds the esteemed position of Chairwoman at the Blockchain Association of Kenya (BAK), she is also the head of the Kenyan Women in Blockchain Chapter. As a certified member of the Kenya Institute of Directors, Roselyn is part of a prestigious, non-political body that champions the professional standards of corporate governance in Kenya.
Oluchi Enebeli
Oluchi Enebeli is the founder and CEO of Web3Ladies, Africa’s non-profit Web3 community for female developers with over 15,000 members spanning multiple African countries and platforms. Oluchi is Africa’s pioneering female blockchain engineer, she has been named among the Top 10 Women in Web3 Changemakers and celebrated as a Rising Woman in the Crypto Power List
Naadiya Moosajee
Naadiya Moosajee is the co-founder and CEO of WomHub and she co-founded WomEng. As a Global Future Council Member of the World Economic Forum, she addresses Gender, Education, and the Future of Work. She is also a Global Shaper, curator of the Cape Town Hub, a celebrated speaker, and was recognized by Forbes Magazine in 2014 as one of the “Top 20 Young Power Women in Africa.” Her commitment to girls’ education in STEM in Africa was honored at the BRICS Summit by the Government of China.
Bernice Omiunu
Bernice Omiunu is the founding member of Women in Blockchain Africa,working to increase female representation and opportunities in the blockchain space. She is a co-organiser of Web3 Global Conference. Bernice also emerged Women in web3 regional award winner in africa in 2023 by women in tech global https://womenintech-awards.com/women-in-tech-africa-awards-finalists-2023/
Bernice’s dedication to empowering women in tech extends further as she previously held ambassadorial, leadership, and mentoring roles at various prominent tech organizations, including WomenTech Network, AnitaB, She Code Africa, Wetech , Women in Africa, Hult Prize Fondation NG, Google’s Women TechMakers amongst others. She is a YALI-RLC (Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Center) , Academy of Women Entreprenuers and a US Exchange Aluma.
Eman Herawy
Eman Herawy is a blockchain developer and smart contract security auditor. She was named an emerging tech leader by TechWomen in 2022, also a certified Chainlink developer expert and a devcon 5 scholar alumni. She also co-founded NoonDAO, the first Arab women-led DAO.
Alice Anangi
Alice Anangi is the CEO of CrypSense, which provides blockchain and cryptocurrency education, consulting, and advisory services in Kenya and Africa. Alice is a tech entrepreneur who loves blockchain and digital assets. She has been in the tech space for over 12 years.
Nelly Chatue-Diop
Nelly Chatue-Diop is the co-founder of Ejara, a start-up that she co-founded with Baptiste Andrieux. Ejara.io is a mobile platform that lets people invest in cryptocurrencies in France and Africa. She raised US$2 million for her start-up in 2020.
Nelly has won many awards for her work in data and blockchain such as:
She was the “Committed Woman” in mass distribution in France in 2013.
She was one of the Top 10 Chief Data Officers in Europe in 2018.
She was on the global list of women of power in the Data by CDO Magazine in 2020.
She was also in the world’s Top 100 Data Visionaries in 2020.
Ida Nganga
Ida Nganga runs RCD Africa. She also leads the Anglophone Countries division of UNESCO Emerging Technologies for Development, based in France. She is the president of Women in STEM Leaders and a trainer in ESG digital leadership, intrapreneurship & artificial intelligence for social innovation, for all sectors.
Ida advises many innovation initiatives, such as:
Startup Innovation - Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade;
Africa Innovation Challenge - African Telecommunication Union;
Leap Innovation HUBS - Global Peace Foundation;
Digital Innovation Framework - International Telecommunication Union;
Government - AFRINIC;
New Africa Strategy - ICANN;
Online Safety & Security - Communications Authority.
She has also been involved in big innovation contests, like the HULT Prize and the Afri-Plastics Challenge. She is a co-chair of Internet4Dev Global Community and a former chair of the Internet Society Kenya Chapter, the first woman to do so. She is a partner of Google and an ambassador of Africa Code Week by SAP/UNESCO, which has taught coding to over 10 million young people. Ida has won many awards for her work in tech, such as:
IoT Innovation Award by the European Union
Prolific Woman by United Nations
Timeless Woman Governance Award by UN Women
African Leadership Top Award ‘Outstanding Mentor’
Top 100 Global Women in Leadership Award by GCPIT
ISOC Africa Internet Development Fellow, Africa Rising - Women in Innovation
CIO Africa's Most Influential Women in Tech
Future of Tech Women in STEM Award & 100 Most Influential Leaders in Tech 2023
Candice Whelpton, presently holding the position of Global Head of Product at JUMO, brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments in the financial and tech sectors. With a distinguished career path encompassing pivotal roles including Head of Financial Product Design, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Capital Optimization, and Head of Pricing Governance, she has consistently showcased her expertise and leadership acumen. Her remarkable achievements have garnered recognition, notably her nomination as a finalist for the Woman In Web3 Award at the Women in Tech Africa Awards in 2023.
An inspiring Jordanian entrepreneur on a mission to revolutionise the digital finance landscape in the Middle East. As the Co-Founder and Managing Director of CoinMENA, her passion for fostering financial inclusion and driving innovation knows no bounds. Beyond her professional endeavours, she generously contributed her expertise as a board member of Princess Sumaya University for Technology and provided invaluable guidance as an Advisory Board Member for Women in Tech Bahrain. Since its inception in 2019, CoinMENA has emerged as a pioneering force in the region, offering secure cryptocurrency solutions licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain and Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority. With a sharp focus on navigating regulatory complexities, she tirelessly works to provide regional investors with compliant pathways for engaging in digital asset investments.
Salwa Radwi is an innate entrepreneur with a boundless creative spirit, Salwa spearheads Nuqtah, driving Saudi Arabia's innovative and technological resurgence. Serving as the founder and CEO of Nuqtah, the kingdom's leading blockchain pioneer, Salwa is dedicated to reshaping the tech landscape, empowering local businesses, and catalysing a wave of enterprise transformation through blockchain innovation.
Ola Doudin, co-founder and CEO of BitOasis, leads the pioneering digital asset platform, the first and largest of its kind in the Middle East. With an engineering background, Ola honed her expertise in technology and security advisory at Ernst & Young in London, alongside previous roles in engineering research. Upon returning to the region, she immersed herself in tech entrepreneurship, culminating in the inception of BitOasis. Notably, Forbes Middle East recognized Ola among the 'Top 10 Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands 2021'.
Sarah Idahosa is a seasoned professional excelling in Web3 community development, token economics, education, and decentralized finance research. She founded WomenInDeFi, dedicated to empowering women with blockchain knowledge and skills in the Web3 ecosystem, and serves as the community manager of Cassava Network. A proficient public speaker, Sarah has graced numerous prestigious events, and her expertise has been sought by renowned tech brands including Mara, Myth of Money, and Africa Tech Summit.
Ruth Iselema, a Nigerian entrepreneur and cryptocurrency enthusiast, serves as the founder and CEO of Bitmama. Bitmama is an innovative platform facilitating the buying, selling, and trading of cryptocurrencies and digital assets across Africa.
Yvonne Kagondu, Co-founder of Kushite ICP.Hub East Africa and Founder of Kenya Blockchain Ladies DAO, is a blockchain business consultant. Leveraging her deep understanding and expertise in blockchain and cryptocurrencies, she spearheads initiatives to drive adoption through educational programs and community-building strategies.
Regina Mbodj is recognized as a prominent figure in the African cryptocurrency landscape. She introduced SunoTech, a blockchain-powered platform aiding businesses across various sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. Mbodj has played a pivotal role in advancing blockchain and cryptocurrency industries through public education initiatives and advocacy for widespread adoption in Africa. Additionally, she has been actively involved in organizing blockchain and cryptocurrency conferences throughout the continent.
Deborah Ojengbede, CEO of AFEN Blockchain Group, brings over 5 years of extensive banking experience to her leadership role. She has excelled in various capacities including Business Development, Strategy & Innovation, Project Management, and Women Banking, ultimately transitioning into a leadership position in Decentralized Technology. Leveraging her diverse background both within and outside the traditional banking sector, she has successfully built and scaled her tech startup, AFEN Blockchain Group.
As the Founder and Chairwoman of the Black Women Blockchain Council, Ms. Odeniran brings over 16 years of expertise in compliance, assisting financial firms in navigating both domestic and international regulations. Widely respected as an authority in compliance, cybersecurity, and risk management, she is recognized for her invaluable contributions to the field.
Conclusion
These are just some of the female founders in the blockchain space in Africa, who are making a difference and creating a legacy in this emerging field. They are not only creating innovative solutions and platforms but also empowering and inspiring other women to join and benefit from this technology. They are also contributing to the growth and development of the blockchain ecosystem and community in Africa and beyond.
We hope that this article has shed some light on the achievements and contributions of these female founders, and has also motivated and encouraged you to learn more and get involved in the blockchain space in Africa. Blockchain technology is not only a tool, but also a movement, and we need more women to be part of it. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”