By Cynthia Nwanonyiri
Human progress is propelled by innovative ideas. We define innovation as new goods or ways of doing things. Through the strength of their creativity, female innovators and visionaries have revolutionized our world from the beginning of time.
Today, new innovations and forms of artistic expression are affecting our lives at a breakneck speed. All of the items we use today are the result of years of testing, development, and innovation.
They’re all the result of these women innovators’ creative minds. Women from all around the world have demonstrated this time and time again, and Nigerian women are no different.
Nigerian women are actively participating in amazing innovations that benefit the economy of the country and neighboring countries, while also opening the way for young and aspiring female innovators to follow in their footsteps.
Meet female innovators from Nigeria:
Nkemdilim Begho
Nkemdilim Begho is the founder and managing director of Future Software Resources Limited, a provider of IT solutions specializing in online solutions, e-learning, and IT security.
Her achievement is built on a passion for fostering innovative thoughts, developing a world-known technology brand, and establishing trends in the Nigerian technology field, as one of the few Nigerian women in the business.
Nkemdilim has been named to the Obama African Leadership Council, Forbes’ Top Ten Female Tech Founders in Africa, Global Digital Women’s Top 10 Most Inspiring Women in Africa, Lionesses of Africa’s Top 100 Women, and Ventures Africa’s 42 Most Innovative Africans.
Achenyo Idachaba
Discovering innovative eco-solutions to Nigeria’s challenge of extremely damaging water hyacinth plants invading its waterways resulted in a one-of-a-kind business opportunity for Nigerian entrepreneur Achenyo Idachaba.
MitiMeth, her startup, now transforms these noxious plants into beautiful handcrafted and very sought goods.
She has converted a problem with the environment into a major victory for her company, local people, and the country.
Each handcrafted piece is made from weeds that are collected from local waterways and dried in the sun before being woven into very complicated and attractive finished products like baskets, dinnerware, and even jewelry.
She is an experienced public speaker who has delivered presentations to a variety of audiences. BBC, Deutsche Welle TV, CNBC Africa, and CNN’s African Start-Up have all highlighted her.
Her TED Talk has 1.8 million views, and her project has been highlighted in a number of publications, including the UN Environment Programme’s “Exploring the Potential for Adopting Alternative Materials to Reduce Marine Plastic Litter,” published in 2018.
Adenike Akinsemolu
Nigeria, like many other African countries, faces a number of environmental concerns that require innovative thought and action to solve.
Adenike Akinsemolu’s Green Campus Initiative is her answer for motivating young people in Nigeria to think green and become eco-conscious citizens.
Through creative academic research, effective-based green programs, and the development of a generation of ecologically aware, socially-minded student leaders, the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) addresses the concerns of climate change and environmental sustainability.
It was founded with the goal of educating, engaging, and enlightening young people about the importance of living green, as well as providing them with the tools they need to positively impact their neighborhoods, nation, and generation.
The programs motivate learners to use bicycles and other environmentally friendly modes of transportation, preserve energy and water, use renewable energy, safely dispose of garbage, become social entrepreneurs by developing vocational skills, and become environmentally conscious citizens.
Damilola Solesi
Damilola Solesi is the creator, CEO, and creative director of SMIDS Animation Studios Nigeria, which she established in 2010. Smids Animation Studios is a 3D computer animation, 3D content development, motion graphics, and visual effects business situated in Lagos.
Damilola is also the founder of TechDivaz, now known as Women R.I.S.E, a Co-Creation Hub initiative. TechDivaz is a new innovation that encourages women to pursue their interests in technology through collaboration, networking, training, mentorship, and funding, allowing them to play a larger part in the growth of the Nigerian and African technology startup sector.
She has also been named to the International Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences’ Jury for the 2020 International Emmy Awards. Dami’s leadership and management of SMIDS’ day-to-day strategic and operational activities have been vital to the company’s success.
She’s also a trustee of Animation Nigeria (AN), a non-profit organization dedicated to growing, enriching, and establishing the Nigerian animation industry.
Ugochi Ugbomeh
Ugochi Ugbomeh is a forward-thinking woman who uses technology to create impact. Tranzit, her startup, aspires to be a curator of really world-class transportation, location-based, and mobility services in Africa, efficiently transferring people and goods from one area to another.
Tranzit is an IT-based mobility service provider with this in mind. Presently, the startup offers two products: the first is TaxiPixi Africa, which is a taxi e-hailing and ordering service that allows you to order a cab in under 30 seconds.
The second is a technology-based delivery service that caters to both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar business owners as well as regular customers.
She is a motivated, value-driven, and innovative tech entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in the Nigerian startup scene as a web developer, project & operations manager, and other roles.
She has built new products such as mobile apps and interactive websites, as well as managed teams of varying sizes for large and small businesses, all while adhering to rigorous specifications and budgets.
