The popularity and market for cryptocurrency keep growing across Nigeria, despite the clampdown by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Albeit male-dominated, some women have stood against the stack odds while paving the way for more African women. These inspirational women are PR experts, tech sisters, co-founders, and feminists, all committed to stepping down the knowledge and improving gender diversity in the industry. Here are five of such women.
- Deborah Ojengbede
Deborah Ojengbede is a 27-year-old business analyst who made headlines in April 2021 for raising $1 million for her crypto start-up. The ex-banker is the Chief Executive Officer of AFEN Group disrupting the crypto space and a foremost platform for NFTs in Africa – reputable for leading in the digitalization of African arts. She graduated from Babcock University with a degree in Accounting. Interestingly, she is also a fantastic drummer and a member of an all-female band of Rudeboy. She has played for many big stars, including Niyola and Frank Edwards.
2. Damilola Odufuwa
Damilola Odufuwa is the Head of PR for Africa at Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. She has previously worked in various roles at CNN, National Geographic, Universal Music Group, Zikoko, Konbini, and on MTV Shuga. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics and a master’s from the University of Kent, Canterbury, in International Finance and Economic Development. She is a proposed speaker at the 2022 Blockchain Africa Conference. The Feminist Coalition co-founder is committed to activism and gender equality through education, representation in public office, and financial freedom.
3. Ire Aderinokun
Ire Aderinokun is renowned as the country’s first female Google Developer Expert and a self-taught front-end developer. The Nigerian-British has a bachelor’s degree in experimental psychology from the University of Bristol. She delved into tech early in life, and at 13, she built her first website. She co-founded BuyCoins and serves as the COO and VP (Engineering). BuyCoins is a foremost cryptocurrency exchange platform in Africa that also built SendCash. She is also at the frontline of reducing the gender gap in the Nigerian tech industry by offering scholarships to women to take the Udacity Nanodegree. She is a founding member of Feminist Coalition (FemCo).
4. Ojuedeire Doris
Ojuedeire Doris was listed in the top 10 influential female leaders in Blockchain and Bitcoin in Africa by Paxful in 2020. The renowned blockchain enthusiast founded Blockchain Ladies Africa (BAL) to promote the involvement of African women in Blockchain technology. Her platform has since raised about 3000 female members getting educated about blockchain. She first heard of cryptocurrency while she was studying accounting in 2015 but did not act on her curiosity until 2016. She has gone on to become one of the most reputable female experts in blockchain technology in Africa.
5. Olayinka Odediran
Olayinka Odeniran was also listed in the top 10 influential female leaders in Blockchain and Bitcoin in Africa by Paxful in 2020. With an MS in Cybersecurity management and policy, she is also committed to fintech, blockchain, and other emerging technologies. She founded CYBSECWATCH to provide compliance, cybersecurity consulting, infosec educational tools to fintechs. She co-founded the Black Women Blockchain Council (BWBC) in 2018. The organisation hopes to bring more black women into blockchain, fintech, and future technology while providing a safe space for talent activation, inspiration, and training. Alongside ConsenSys, BWBC is aiming at increasing women’s participation in cryptocurrency by launching a specialized programming in 2022 for black women.
Deborah Ojengbede, Olayinka Odediran, Doris Ojuedeire, Ire Aderinokun, and Damilola Odufuwa are just five of the growing number of amazing women leading by example, disrupting the blockchain and crypto industry. With such concerted efforts, it is only a matter of time before we see the result with a substantial influx of women.