Cofounder and Executive Director of Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev), a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to creating access to decent work for Africans through digital skilling, Oladiwura Oladepo, has been honoured with the HerExcellence Trailblazer Award (South category) by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria.
The announcement was made at a recent Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association panel session on women’s empowerment, themed ‘Count Her In: Inspiring Inclusion and Empowerment’ held in Lagos.
This award serves as a testament to Oladepo’s unwavering dedication to not just create access to decent work but to also bridge the digital divide and create a more inclusive tech landscape in Africa.
Under her leadership, Tech4Dev pioneered the Women Techsters Initiative, which is currently the largest free digital skills to employability programme for women in Africa. This groundbreaking initiative has extended its impact across 22 African countries, equipping women with the necessary technical and people skills to excel in the technology landscape.
“I am incredibly grateful for this recognition,” says Oladepo. “This award is a tribute to the dedication and hard work of the entire team at Tech4Dev, our partners, and most importantly, the phenomenal women who participate in the Women Techsters Initiative. Together, we’re making a real difference in the lives of countless women across Africa.”
Oladepo was recently recognised in the STEM category of the Guardian newspaper’s Seven Wonder Women Awards alongside renowned track and field athlete Tobi Amusan, beauty and wellness expert Tara Fela-Durotoye, actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele, social impact entrepreneurs Chioma Ohakwe, and Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi as well as CEO of Transcorp Hotels, Dupe Olusola.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a prestigious programme of the United States Department of State which empowers young African leaders through leadership training and networking opportunities.
