Africa produces more female STEM graduates than any other region in the world. So why do women hold only 23–30% of tech roles on the continent?
That gap, between who's trained and who's actually building, is the problem
@getBusha and Women in DeFi are trying to close with a new partnership, "Building Tomorrow Together," unveiled at the Women in DeFi Summit 2026 in Lagos.
According to McKinsey's 2025 report on gender parity in African tech, women make up roughly 47% of STEM graduates across the continent. Employment numbers don't come close to reflecting that.
The partnership launched with five laptop scholarships, and will expand into three ongoing programmes:
→ WiD Goes to School - introducing young women to careers in blockchain, tech, and digital finance before they've even chosen a degree path.
→ A Six-Month Savings Challenge - built on Busha's savings product, aimed at strengthening financial habits early.
→ An Introduction to Web3 Programme - practical education on blockchain and decentralized finance for women entering the space.
"The future of Africa's digital economy depends on the talent we invest in today," said Ngozi Okonye, Busha's Head of Brand and Communications.
"Access to the right tools, education, and opportunities often determines who gets to participate."
Sarah Idahosa, founder of
@womenindefi_org, put it plainly: "Women belong at every level of the digital economy, not only as users, but as builders, innovators, founders, and leaders."
Worth noting: Busha says women make up 47% of its own workforce and over 30% of its management team, which gives this partnership a credibility the industry doesn't always have when companies talk about closing the gender gap.
The real test now is scale, five scholarships is a start, not a solution. Worth watching how far "Building Tomorrow Together" grows from here.
Full story:
techeconomy.ng/busha-and-wom…
#WomenInTech #DeFi #Web3 #DigitalEconomy #NigeriaTech #GenderGap #Fintech
