With a youthful population, a growing middle class, and abundant natural resources, Africa is increasingly becoming the world’s next big business frontier. More than ever, technology plays a major role in competing at a global stage, and in recent years, the African tech industry has experienced remarkable growth with innovative startups, hubs, and initiatives emerging across the continent with an incredible youthful, creative, and resilience population. 
According to statistics by Luisa Zhou in her article Women In Technology, the upward trajectory of technology in Africa has seen participation from women across different technological industries with about 22.7% increase in 2022.  Meanwhile, despite this progress, women remain underrepresented in the sector. In this article, we will discuss some of the challenges faced by women in African technology and suggest ways to foster participation.

Challenges Faced by Women in African Technology

According to Raïssa Malu, a Congolese Physicist and Educator, one of the greatest challenges affecting women in technology is the disbelief in their ability to perform in technology. She said “women need to believe that they can perform excellently in technology as much as anyone else”.  While efforts are actively being made by private and public institutions in Africa to change this misconception, many African girls are still caught in this web of thinking STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is exclusive to their male counterparts. 

There are numerous proofs that women can excel in technology and any other field of study just as men.

A Few Women Trailblazers in African Technology

1. Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua (Nigeria): Founder of African Technology and Innovation Institutes, and first woman to earn a PhD in Cybernetics.
2. Rebecca Enonchong (Cameroon): Founder of AppsTech, a leading IT services company, and a vocal advocate for women in Technology.
3. Anne Amuzu (Ghana): Technology entrepreneur and founder of Nandi Mobile, a mobile solutions company.
4. Marie Githinji (Kenya): Founder of Africa’s Talking, a leading technology company providing API solutions.

Getting Everyone Involved

Regardless of the challenges and limitations, women are breaking limits and attaining heights in the technology sector and we can get more women involved by:

1. Challenging Stereotypes/Traditional Roles: Women are redefining traditional gender roles, pursuing careers in tech and innovation.
2. Inspiring participation: Women need to believe that they deserve to be in technology, they need to experience a mindshift and see the need to participate.
3. Creating Inclusive Ecosystems: Initiatives focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering supportive environments.
4. Putting up accessible and affordable platforms for mentorship and networking where women can connect, mentor, and empower each other.
5. Celebrating Success Stories: Sharing achievements and experiences to inspire future generations.

Conclusion

Women in African technology are breaking barriers and stereotypes, defying societal expectations and pushing the boundaries of innovation. We can get more women involved by addressing challenges, celebrating trailblazers, and supporting initiatives. As we commemorate the 2024 edition of the International Day of the Girl Child celebration, we ought to make it a duty to inform more girls of the need to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the opportunities that abound for them. By creating a more inclusive and vibrant technology ecosystem, we can pave a pathway for African girls to embrace and thrive in the field of  technology.

Sources:

1. UN Women: Women in Tech
2. Luisa Zhou: Women in Tech
3. TechCrunch: African Women in Tech
4. Forbes: Women in Tech: Breaking Barriers