Telecom Review Africa
Across Africa, women are increasingly taking center stage in the digital revolution. From software development and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence and data analytics, women are driving transformation across the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Their efforts are redefining innovation, inclusion, and leadership, demonstrating that empowering women in technology is not only a social priority but also an economic necessity.
Despite ongoing challenges in access, education, and employment, female innovators are turning obstacles into opportunities, leading startups, conducting research, and influencing policy to reshape the continent’s digital economy.
Notable Figures Empowering the Next Generation
Digital empowerment starts with education, and Telecom Review Africa actively supports this endeavor, having reported on numerous initiatives that are equipping girls and women with the skills needed to thrive in the ICT sector and spotlighting the leading women behind paramount programs.
Reine Mbang Essobmadje stands at the forefront of empowering women in engineering and technology across Africa. Through her initiatives and engagement with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), she champions equal access to technical education and digital skills development, helping dismantle the barriers that have long limited women’s participation in ICT.
In Tunisia, Dr. Houda Chihi, Senior Researcher at Innov’COM Lab of Sup’COM and Chief Engineer at Tunisia Telecom, exemplifies how digital transformation can directly advance gender equality. Her work demonstrates that closing the digital divide through ICT adoption not only enhances national competitiveness but also empowers women to thrive in STEM careers, ensuring inclusivity in the digital economy’s evolution.
In Morocco, Microsoft Country Manager, Salima Amira, is fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Her work with UM6P (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University) aims to equip the next generation with sustainability-driven digital skills, particularly encouraging women to pursue careers in technology.
“Being a woman is no barrier to working in ICT,” affirms Kerstin Jüttner, a veteran at Rohde & Schwarz. She has long championed mentorship and policy initiatives that ensure women have a seat at the table in telecommunications governance. Similarly, Rania Halimeh, former Regional Business Development Manager for Logical Operations & CertNexus, META, highlights the importance of continuous technology learning as a tool for empowerment, emphasizing that training and certifications can unlock leadership pathways for women in ICT.
During an exclusive panel at the 18^th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, Shazia Sobani, Vice President of Fibre Networks at TELUS, noted that achieving gender parity could unlock an estimated USD 12 trillion in value globally, with organizations realizing up to 27% higher profitability through balanced representation. Meanwhile, Verizon’s Jennifer Parkhill called attention to the continued need for mentorship and co-sponsorship programs to support emerging female leaders, ensuring that gender progress remains active, not assumed.
As Somos’s Gina Perini aptly stated, “Creating an inclusive culture benefits everyone.” Inclusion fosters creativity, innovation, and adaptability, wall of which are essential for the ICT sector’s dynamic evolution. Complementing this view, Polistratos Institute’s Lidia Stępińska-Ustasiak emphasized that new frameworks for corporate strategy should be developed to ensure that inclusion is embedded in business models, not appended as policy.
Programs focused on coding, cloud computing, data science, and cybersecurity are transforming the future workforce, enabling young women to compete in a rapidly evolving digital economy. For example, the Women Techsters Initiative trains women and girls in software development and data science across multiple African countries. Similarly, the African Girls Can Code Initiative empowers girls with digital literacy and innovation skills, creating pathways to high-demand tech careers.
Innovation for Sustainable Impact
Women in Africa are not only adopting technology; they are creating, adapting, and leading solutions tailored to local needs. Many are developing innovations that address critical challenges in healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education, proving that impactful technology can flourish, even in resource-constrained environments, when guided by purpose and community insight.
In the agricultural sector, arguably Africa’s most inclusive sector, female subsistence farmers are leveraging mobile tools to enhance crop productivity, as seen with programs like AgriHack, which provides tech-driven solutions for smallholder farmers. In the financial sector, digital platforms such as Flutterwave and mobile banking solutions are creating safe, inclusive access to savings, loans, and payments, empowering women entrepreneurs and small businesses across the continent.
Technology must be accessible, relevant, and inclusive. By focusing on solutions that serve communities and drive impact, women in Africa are reshaping the ICT landscape, improving lives, and fostering equitable growth across the continent.
This progress in ICT innovation is not achieved in isolation; it requires supportive ecosystems, partnerships, and inclusive policy frameworks. Several African nations have introduced national ICT and innovation strategies that specifically address gender equity, such as South Africa’s National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, Kenya’s Digital Economy Blueprint, Rwanda’s Girls in ICT mentorship program, Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), Tunisia’s Digital Tunisia 2025 Strategy, and Morocco’s Digital Morocco 2030. These policies aim to increase female participation in technical education, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles.
The rise of Africa’s startup ecosystem has opened new frontiers for women in ICT. Female entrepreneurs are establishing tech companies that deliver practical solutions to everyday challenges, ranging from mobile banking and e-learning to renewable energy and logistics. Their ventures are not only fueling economic growth but also generating social impact by creating jobs, enhancing digital inclusion, and inspiring others to innovate.
Women at the Forefront of Emerging Technologies
As Africa embraces advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cybersecurity, women are emerging as key contributors to their responsible and sustainable application. In AI research, women are leading projects that leverage machine learning to address challenges in health, agriculture, and education.
In Uganda, the female-led Makerere AI Health Lab is pioneering AI-based diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and cervical cancer using mobile microscopy and low-cost automated systems. Meanwhile, Morocco’s African Women in Tech and AI (AWITAI) initiative, led in partnership with UNESCO and the AI Movement at UM6P, is equipping hundreds of women with AI and digital innovation skills. Complementing these efforts, the AI4WIA (AI for Women in Agriculture) project empowers female farmers across sub-Saharan Africa by using AI to optimize crop yields and manage weather-related risks.
This demonstrates how data-driven innovation can generate insights that improve lives and enhance policymaking.
Building an Inclusive Digital Culture for the Future
Beyond technical innovation, women are reshaping the cultural and social narratives surrounding ICT. They are advocating for digital rights, ethical data use, and diversity in technology design. By promoting digital literacy, online safety, and responsible technology adoption, they ensure that the benefits of the digital era are widely shared.
Organizations led by women often emphasize mentorship, community engagement, and the creation of safe digital spaces. These efforts not only empower individuals but also strengthen the broader digital culture by fostering trust and collaboration.
Digital inclusion also extends to the remote workforce. As remote and hybrid work models become more prevalent, women are championing solutions that enhance flexibility, productivity, and digital security. By integrating human-centric design with cutting-edge technology, they are ensuring that digital transformation benefits both businesses and employees.
The future of ICT in Africa will be shaped by collaboration, creativity, and inclusivity, with women playing a central role. Achieving this requires investment in education, infrastructure, and policies that remove barriers and ensure equitable leadership. Women across the continent are turning ideas into innovation and impact, building a more inclusive and resilient digital future where technology benefits all.
Read More: Women in Cybersecurity: ‘Women for Cyber Africa’ Paves the Way for Success

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