SHATTERING THE GLASS CEILING: THE RISE OF FEMALE CEO'S IN AFRICA'S TECH SECTOR

International Women's Day is a worldwide celebration with a focus on the achievements of women across various industries and raising awareness about the need for gender equality and equity, and this year's event holds March 8, 2023.

In Africa, the technology sector is booming, and Women are breaking barriers to taking up leadership positions.

Despite the fact that women still face challenges in this male-dominated industry, limited access to funding as it is well known that women have received less funding and training opportunities. 

This article will examine the rise in female CEOs in Africa's technology sector, highlight the significance of gender equity and equality, and go over opportunities for female entry into the field in 2023.

The Rise of Female CEOs in Africa's Technology Sector:

With Africa having the highest number of female entrepreneurs it is not strange to see a rise in the number of female CEOs in tech. 

Despite the challenges women face several women have made strides in the industry and taken up leadership positions in prominent companies. 

For instance, Rebecca Enonchong, the founder, and CEO of AppsTech, a global provider of enterprise application solutions, is one of the most influential women in Africa's technology industry. 

She has received numerous awards for her work, including the female leader of the year in 2022 by Business Insider, and Forbes listed her as one of the "10 female tech founders to look out for (2014)"

Another woman crushing it in Africa's technology industry is Funke Opeke, the CEO of MainOne, a leading provider of telecommunications services and network solutions in West Africa. 

Opeke has been acknowledged as one of the most prominent women in Africa, and MainOne has developed into a significant player in the sector under her leadership.

To mention a few more are Yanmo Omorogbe, co-founder of Bamboo an investment platform with over $!5m in assets management, and Tomilola Majekodunmi co-founder of Bankly who has managed over $50m in portfolio and assets.

Challenges Faced by Female CEOs in Africa's Technology Sector:

Despite these successes, women in Africa's technology sector still face significant challenges. One of the most significant challenges is the gender gap in access to funding. 

Women-led startups often have limited access to capital, making it challenging to start and scale their businesses. 

Moreover, investors often overlook women-led startups, and women receive a disproportionately small percentage of venture capital funding. As a result, women are less likely to start businesses in the technology sector, and those who do often struggle to secure funding.

Another challenge women face in the technology sector is biases in hiring and promotions. Women are often overlooked in the hiring process, and they face barriers to promotion and advancement. 

The lack of gender diversity in leadership positions in the industry perpetuates the problem, as women are less likely to be considered for leadership positions and are often excluded from decision-making processes.

Nevertheless, there has been an increase in the number of female-centric opportunities in tech, below are a few examples worth mentioning in 2023:

Coding boot camps and training programs: Many organizations and companies offer coding boot camps and training programs aimed at increasing the number of women in tech. For example, the African Women in Tech (AWIT) organization provides training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for African women in technology.

Women-focused tech conferences and events: There are a number of women-focused tech conferences and events hosted in Africa that provide women the chance to network, get knowledge from tech experts and display their talents. Women in Tech Africa host such conferences yearly.

Incubators and accelerators: There are several incubators and accelerators across Africa that focus on supporting female-led tech startups. For example, She Leads Africa provides funding, mentorship, and training opportunities for African women entrepreneurs.

Tech competitions and hackathons: Several tech competitions and hackathons across Africa provide opportunities for women to showcase their tech skills, network with industry professionals, and win cash prizes. An example is Hack for Naija a hackathon program founded by Florence Olumodimu a renowned personality in the tech and digital marketing space in Nigeria.

Mentorship and networking programs: Mentorship and networking programs are essential for women in tech, as they provide opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and build connections in the industry. An organization like Women Tech Makers provides mentorship and networking opportunities for women in tech.

As the world celebrates international women's day tomorrow, let it be known that all a woman needs is an equal opportunity to thrive and more tech leaders will emerge from Africa in a few years to come.