Wetech 2024 Highlights: Women Redefining Technology and Entrepreneurship

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the Wetech community proudly celebrated its fifth year of existence “Five years of women redefining technology and entrepreneurship.” The event was held at the Landmark Conference Center in Lagos, Nigeria and attracted nearly 1,500 women from Nigeria and possibly beyond. The event was highly purposeful as women connected, exchanged ideas and learned from some of the most influential female leaders in the technology industry.

Founded by two sisters, Gabriella and Flora Uwadiegwu, Wetech was founded with the unique mission of eliminating gender inequality in the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Since its founding in 2018, the organization has made significant efforts to break down barriers for women in the technology industry and provide them with access to resources, mentorship and career opportunities.

Panel and breakout sessions

Wetech2024 started with an inspiring fireside chat moderated by multimedia journalist Lady Kay, the co-founder Gabriella Uwadiegwu And Flora Uwadiegwu shared their journey of building Wetech despite all odds. Gabriella spoke about the importance of being a little “delusional,” explaining that believing in something bigger than yourself – often when it seems impossible – is essential to pushing beyond perceived limitations. Flora, who transitioned into engineering from a non-traditional background in chemistry, shared valuable insights on persistence and encouraged participants to stay true to their goals despite setbacks.

Breakout sessions provided practical insights including Mastering tech interviews in an AI-driven worldwhich focuses on how women can scale AI-driven hiring processes, and The Art of Design: Creating Inclusive and Accessible Productswhich explored the importance of inclusive technology design. Another breakout session, Sustainable business practices for African startups, provided strategies for building sustainable technology companies in Africa.

Wetech Startup PitchHER: Empowering women entrepreneurs

The event also included a PitchHER Competition that brought together female entrepreneurs who pitched their innovative business ideas for a chance at funding and mentorship. The main prize of ₦4 million, generously sponsored by Flutterwave, was awarded Middleman coFounded by Omalara Sanni, a company that connects Nigerians to the Chinese market and acts as a bridge for seamless transactions and services.

Networking and career fair

The event concluded with a networking session and a career fair where participants had the opportunity to interact with industry leaders, technology experts and recruiters. It was a unique opportunity for the women to get in direct contact with representatives of the event's sponsors and partners, learn more about available job opportunities and discuss possible collaborations.

Overcoming barriers and empowering the next generation

As Africa's population continues to grow and 70% of people in sub-Saharan Africa are under 30 years old – many of them women – there are initiatives such as Wetech are critical to bridging the gender gap and promoting inclusion in technology.

Here at TechAfrica NewsWe're really excited about initiatives like this Wetech who are driving digital transformation across Africa. We look forward to seeing how these efforts will continue to shape the future of technology on the continent, bridge the gender gap and empower more women to make their mark in the technology ecosystem.

Congratulations to everyone Wetech Team and all the women who made this event possible. We can't wait to see what the future holds for women in tech!