DG NITDA with the 3 winners of IgniteHer Bootcamp competition who made it to Japan
At the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, Nigerian women entrepreneurs made a strong case for Africa’s future as a hub of innovation. The global forum, focused on co-creating solutions for sustainable growth, became a stage where female founders from Nigeria demonstrated how homegrown technology can tackle pressing challenges in health, education, and governance.
Among the standout voices were three innovators who emerged from the IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs, a joint initiative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Their pitches highlighted the transformative power of African women in technology, breaking barriers in a sector often dominated by men.
Kemisola Bolarinwa showcased an AI-driven wearable for early breast cancer detection, aiming to save lives through accessible healthcare innovation. Anita Ngeri presented her EdTech platform designed to bring coding, robotics, and AI learning to underserved schools, ensuring young Nigerians are not left behind in the digital economy. Odion Ikyo introduced MaternalRecord Pro, a smart health record system tailored for primary healthcare centers, offering real-time maternal health monitoring to combat preventable deaths.
The session formed part of Project NINJA, JICA’s effort to spotlight African startups and connect them with international investors. By putting Nigerian women at the forefront, the program underscored how inclusion and innovation go hand in hand in shaping Africa’s development.
For many observers, the message from Yokohama was clear: when women in tech are empowered with resources and global platforms, they deliver solutions with impact far beyond borders.
