2022 was a difficult year for the global tech industry, marked by economic slowdowns, mass layoffs, and market turbulence. Yet, Nigerian women in tech showed remarkable resilience, overcoming setbacks and celebrating achievements. Here’s how five Nigerian women leaders in the tech ecosystem navigated the highs and lows of 2022, sharing insights into their experiences and hopes for the future.
Ire Aderinokun – Co-founder, COO, and VP of Engineering at Helicarrier (Buycoins)
Reflecting on a tough year, Ire Aderinokun shared that 2022 brought unexpected challenges. “Our parents warned us that things would get hard,” she said. “But experiencing it firsthand was eye-opening.” Despite these challenges, she celebrated the return of in-person speaking engagements and took a memorable trip to Seychelles, which became a personal highlight.
Biggest Win: “The fact that we’re still here without having to do mass layoffs. Keeping our team intact has been a major accomplishment.”
Biggest Loss: Aderinokun found it difficult to see her friends and fellow entrepreneurs struggle. “The vibe this year has been rough.”
Christmas Wish: “Bitcoin going to $100k,” she joked, “but travel gifts are always a winner.”
Her Wish for Women in Tech: “More stability and strong support systems for women,” noting the importance of community and stability in challenging time—
Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson – Co-founder/CEO of Healthtracka
For Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, 2022 was a rollercoaster, with both exciting wins and difficult lows. Her health tech startup, Healthtracka, navigated a challenging landscape yet managed to attract strong talent and secure funding, which she counts as her biggest wins.
Biggest Loss: Losing some key hires to international opportunities, a trend in Nigeria’s current “japa” wave, was tough for her team.
Christmas Wish: Dare-Johnson hopes to see more Nigerian women breaking into tech, with the courage and support to tackle the issues they care about.
Her Wish for Women in Tech: “I hope more women find the courage, support, and funding needed to pursue their passions in tech.”
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Adora Nwodo – Software Engineer at Microsoft
Describing 2022 as “the best year yet,” Adora Nwodo’s milestones included securing a book deal with a major publisher and her acceptance into Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
Biggest Win: “Staying employed during turbulent times and achieving my goals,” Nwodo said, highlighting her book deal and grad school acceptance as career-defining wins.
Biggest Loss: While she avoided major losses, Nwodo admitted to feeling burnt out at times.
Christmas Wish: “Billions,” she laughed, “or a relaxing trip.”
Her Wish for Women in Tech: Stability in the industry. “The uncertainty has been overwhelming, and I wish for a more predictable ecosystem.”
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Ruth Ikegah – GitHub Star, Community Lead at CHAOSS
For Ruth Ikegah, 2022 was about bold decisions. Leaving her job as a technical writer to pursue a career in open source, Ikegah encountered new challenges but also experienced exponential growth.
Biggest Win: Receiving the prestigious GitHub Star Award, a validation of her efforts in the open-source community.
Biggest Loss: Visa denials. Ikegah missed several international speaking engagements due to visa issues, including conferences in Dublin and the U.S. “The rejections were disappointing, but they’ve also fueled my determination.”
Christmas Wish:”I’d love new hair or books, especially African literature.”
Her Wish for Women in Tech: “I hope women are empowered to put themselves forward unapologetically, taking every opportunity that comes their way.”
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Yanmo Omorogbe – Co-founder and COO of Bamboo
For Yanmo Omorogbe, the year flew by, bringing significant achievements, including Bamboo’s Series A funding round and the company’s expansion into Ghana.
Biggest Win: “Our launch in Ghana was a long time coming, and seeing it happen was exhilarating.”
Biggest Loss: Reflecting on the year, Omorogbe said, “Nothing particularly bad stands out. I’m just grateful to have made it through.”
Christmas Wish: With a laugh, Omorogbe admitted her dream gift would be “$100 million. But realistically, a luxurious, undisturbed holiday would be perfect.”
Her Wish for Women in Tech: More wins across the industry. “2022 was hard, and 2023 may be equally challenging. I hope we all find ways to come out on top.”
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Looking Ahead
In a year fraught with economic and industry challenges, these Nigerian women in tech have shown remarkable grit, humor, and hope. From celebrating their teams’ resilience to wishing for stability and growth, they are paving the way for a brighter future for women in Nigeria’s tech space. Each has a shared hope for more representation, stronger support networks, and greater opportunities in the year ahead.
