Nigeria’s female tech entrepreneurs made a bold statement on the global stage as they pitched groundbreaking solutions at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), themed “Co-Create Innovative Solutions with Africa.”
The high-profile event, held in Yokohama, brought together African leaders, global investors, and technology experts to explore partnerships for inclusive development. Nigeria’s delegation was spearheaded by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), under the IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs initiative.
Three women entrepreneurs stole the spotlight with their innovative projects designed to address critical challenges in health, education, and maternal care.
One of the standout moments came when Kemisola Bolarinwa, Founder of Nextwear Technologies, unveiled her AI-powered breast screening device, aimed at early detection of potential abnormalities. The solution, she said, could be a game changer for reducing breast cancer deaths in Nigeria and across Africa.
Another finalist, Anita Ngeri, Founder of Nibi’s Tech, presented her company’s EdTech platform which equips students in the Niger Delta with hands-on training in coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, and web design. “We are preparing Nigerian children for the jobs of tomorrow,” Ngeri told investors.
The third presenter, Odion Ikyo, Co-Founder of PrimeSafePath Solutions, introduced MaternalRecord Pro, Nigeria’s first AI-driven data automation platform for Primary Healthcare Centres. The innovation enables real-time maternal data capture, early risk detection, and aims to cut Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate.
The presence of these innovators reflects Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s startup ecosystem. Their participation supports Project NINJA, JICA’s flagship initiative that builds funding pipelines and creates Japan-Africa partnerships for scalable innovation.
NITDA officials reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, emphasizing that empowering women in tech is not just an equity issue but a strategic economic imperative.
