Inspiration

AFCHIX Role Models

“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”

Only around 30% of people working in the ICT sector are women – and there are even fewer women in senior or management roles. This seems unlikely to change if women continue to represent only 35% of students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study.

AFCHIX realises that we cannot simply encourage girls to enter the tech space. We need to provide them with role models that can help them believe that women can, and do, excel in this field. Girls cannot simply be told to dream. We need to teach them how.

In 2016, AFCHIX won a FIRE Africa Community Development Grant to document the stories of successful African women in the ICT sector. We hope to continue to inspire the next generation of African women in tech as we celebrate those who are breaking barriers in
the field today.

Prof Anicia Peters

Computer Scientist & Researcher

NAMIBIA

“For girls to be successful, they only need to believe in themselves and take up the opportunities. Most importantly, they should never doubt that they can be successful.”

Jane Langoi

Project Manager and Wireless Technician

TANZANIA

“There is this mentality that mathematics and science are tough, so a woman cannot take those studies. But I am telling you, you can do whatever you set your mind to.”

Dr. Kaoutar El Maghraoui

Research Scientist

MOROCCO

“My advice to young women joining our field is: just be yourself and be confident, and you can really do amazing things. The field of computing and STEM is too important to be left to men alone.”

Hejer Kahlaoui

IT Manager

TUNISIA

Stella Uzochukwu-Denis

CEO & Founder, Odyssey Educational Foundation

MUMBAI, INDIA

Fatimata Seye Sylla

Technical Lead

SENEGAL

Grace Pisirai

Electrical Design & Test Engineer

ZIMBABWE

Bih Janet Shufor

Manager, Tassah Academy

CAMEROON

Evelyn Namara

Technologist and Entrepreneur

UGANDA

Prof Anicia Peters

NAMIBIA

As a mom, she studied computer science at night school, but Anicia went on to score 100% on her PhD in the United States and today helps to lead a Namibian university.

Prof Anicia Peters is the pro-vice -chancellor of the University of Namibia and was appointed to head up a Namibian presidential task force on the Fourth Industrial Revolution in 2021. Previously, she was the dean of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FCI) and an associate professor in computer science at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Anicia is internationally known for her research work on human-computer interaction, for which she has received several awards. She completed her PhD under a Fulbright International Science and Technology Award and a Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Women in Science fellowship at Iowa State University. In 2012, she became a Google Anita Borg scholar in the United States and in 2020 she beat out American researchers to clinch a Google AI Award for Inclusion Research. She has widely published on gender and ICT and has initiated numerous events such as Namibian Women in Computing Conference and a Gender Based Violence Hackathon.

“My love for Africa, and Namibia in particular, compelled me to return home because it is here in Africa where I want to plough back into our communities and where we want to achieve much more and where that ICT is going to be the equaliser between the developing countries and the developed world.

For girls to be successful, they only need to believe in themselves and take up the opportunities. Most importantly, they should never doubt that they can be successful. Remember, if at first you fail. You get up and you try again.”

Jane Langoi

TANZANIA

People told her she was crazy to climb Wifi towers as a woman, but Jane overcame her fears because she knew she wanted to work in tech. 

Jane Langoi is a Project Manager at Habari Node, an internet service provider in Tanzania, and previously worked there as a wireless technician. She studied Computer Science at the undergraduate level in Tanzania and completed a MBA in Information Technology through the University of Coventry. Jane is the co-founder of Techchix-Tanzania and vicechair of Arusha Node Marie, an NGO that provides free or almost free internet services to underprivileged schools and higher education institutions.

You don’t see a lot of women in this field, and I think the root of this is in secondary school when a lot of people are choosing their career paths. There is this mentality that mathematics and science are tough, so a woman cannot take those studies. To the young ladies out there who want to give up these studies because of this mentality, I advise you not to. It is just a mentality that convinces you that you cannot do it. But I am telling you, you can do whatever you set your mind to. Don’t be scared.” 

Dr. Kaoutar El Maghraoui

MOROCCO

As an award-winning researcher in AI, Kaoutar works to encourage and support other women to pursue careers in STEM.

Dr. Kaoutar El Maghraoui is a principal research scientist at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Centre in New York. Her work focuses on systems and artificial intelligence. She leads the End-Use experimental AI testbed of the IBM Research AI Hardware Center, a global research hub focusing on enabling next-generation accelerators and systems for AI workloads.

Originally from Morocco, Kaoutar completed a master’s degree in Computer Networks at Al Akhawayn University, where she was a lecturer in Computer Science. She now holds a PhD from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States. She has published several research articles and received several awards. This includes the Robert McNaughton Award for best thesis in computer science, IBM’s Eminence and Excellence award for leadership in increasing Women’s presence in science and technology. More recently, she received theI received the IEEE TCSVC Women in Service Computing Awarda and was recognised as IBM Honoree for 2021.

Kauotor is the co-chair of the Arab Women in Computing Organisation, (ArabWIC) Anita Borg Institute Systers’ community and co-chair of IBM Research Watson Women’s Network. She is also active member of the leadership team of the Grace Hopper Conference (GHC)

“My advice to young women joining our field is: just be yourself and be confident, and you can really do amazing things. The field of computing and STEM is too important to be left to men alone. You can see that computing and software and technology are touching every aspect of our lives, so we have to be part of this revolution that is changing our lives for generations to come.”

Hejer Kahlaoui

IT Manager

Hejer Kahlaoui is from Tunisia. She is 21 years old. Currently, she is the IT Manager in the international leadership development association in Georgia and coordinator of Power & Energy Neighbors Congress of Tunisia in Egypt 2017. She studied Computer Science in the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology of Sousse. She is the chair of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) power and Energy Society in her university.

Her project merged as the second project during the international competition “24 hours of innovation” Certified by ESTIA, Higher School of Advanced Industrial Technologies, FRANCE. Recently, Hejer was elected the president of leadership conference during the IEEE girl day celebrations in March 2017 and she was the representative of her university in IEEE Power and energy meeting in Turkey, April 2017. She was the youngest speaker during the IEEE WIE International leadership summit in Poland Krakow. Hejer represented her university in the 17th annual conference of the International Conference on Environmental and Electrical Engineering and I&CPS 2017 in Milano Italy.

Hejer was also the delegate of Tunisian youth in the African youth Leadership summit in Marrakech, Morroco. She is a member of the International Team in the International Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe, 2017 Torino Italy

At her age, Hejer also took the position of Ranger Regional Commissioner of Tunisian scout .she was the representative of the Tunisian scout during the First Youth European Forum of the Mediterranean Madrid, Spain. Whenever she can, Hejer volunteers her time to participate in projects which have included among others, volunteering for a project at Houens Odde Spejdercenter in Kolding Denmark.

Stella Uzochukwu-Denis

CEO & Founder, Odyssey Educational Foundation

Qualifications: BSc. Electrical Electronics Engineering, Physic Electronics and Educational Technology and a Masters in Telecom Management

Designation: CEO & Founder, Odyssey Educational Foundation

Stella- Dennis Uzochukwu is the founder of Odyssey Educational Foundation. She holds degrees in Electrical Electronics engineering, Physic Electronics and Educational Technology and a Masters in Telecom Management from Aegis School of Business and Telecom Mumbai, India.

She is an ambassador of Girl Rising, Nigerian representative at Technovation Pitch, in San Francisco California, USA. A Master Educator and Regional Ambassador with Technovation.  A mentor with The New York Academy of Science.  Member of Society of Women Engineers heading various projects. A coach with the FIRST LEGO League Robotics competition in Nigeria, A champion in advocacy programs for ensuring that girls choose STEM careers in schools and beyond. She has pool of experience in STEM education

Fatimata Seye Sylla

Electrical Engineer, ZIMBABWE

Since October 2014, Fatimata Seye Sylla has served as the Regional Educational Representative for FHI360 / West and Central Africa. In this role she functions as the technical lead in business development activities for the sub-region as well as provides technical assistance and oversight to education projects and the FHI360 legacy organization (the Senegalese Private Sector Foundation for Education) within her portfolio (primary schools, middle schools and koranic schools).

From October 2008 to September 2013, she served as the National ICT Coordinator to connect to the internet hundreds of middle schools in Senegal as part of the USAID-EDB (basic education) project for better quality education. She promoted “ICT in education” teacher training programs and local digital content development in 300 schools by teachers and students and provided assistance to raise funds from private sector companies to support the project ICT in Education initiative. She also led the development of a contribution document to the policy of ICT in Education for Senegal.

Grace Psirai

Electrical Engineer, ZIMBABWE

As a child she wanted to help fix things around the house with her engineer dad. Today, Grace Psirai is an engineer herself.

Grace Pisirai serves as Electrical Design and Test Engineer under the Power Systems department for ZESA Enterprises (ZENT). Grace holds a master’s degree in Renewable Energy Engineering from the University of Zimbabwe, where she also completed her bachelor’s degree and was awarded as the best student in Electrical Engineering. She also holds a diploma in Project Management (CCIP). Grace is UN Women’s Empower Women ​2016-2017 Champion for Change and 2017 Techwomen Emerging Leader. In 2019, she was selected to take part in the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Program. She is a co-founder of Purple Future Trust, which focuses on facilitating the uptake of STEM at all educational levels, especially by women.

“We live in a society that likes things defined. They set limits and definitions of what success is and what it is that a woman is supposed to do. That limits our potential and some of us never discover what we can really be in life. I would advise that you keep trying harder, to keep on going and pursuing your dreams. To all the girls who are intimidated about taking up a career in science or engineering: We as girls can. Here I am, I am a living example.” 

Bih Janet Shufor

Manager, Tassah Academy

Qualification: MSc. Educator/ Electrical Engineering

Designation: Manager, Tassah Academy

Bih Janet Shufor Fofang has been teaching electrical engineering at the government technical institute and in 2009 founded a private primary and secondary school in Cameroon, with 700 students enrolled. She actively demonstrates her dedication to youth education and a strong supporter for girls. 60 percent of the students enrolled in her school are female.

A certified Mentor; she participates and leads a number of talks and panels. A member of several women’s groups including the Tecwomen Alumni, WeTech Africa and is the Managing Director for Girls in technology (GIT) Cameroon.

Bih Janet Shufor Fofang was this year’s winner of the A Richard Newton ABIE Award for innovative teaching practices that encourages more girls in STEM.  http://anitaborg.org/profiles/abie-award-winners/richard-newton/meet-bih-janet-shufor-fofang-2016-richard-newton-educator-abie-award-winner/

She was nominated Africa’s leading women in Tech 2015 by IT News Africa and innov8tiv’s top 100 Women Visionary Leaders to watch in 2016.

Evelyn Namara

Technologist and Entrepreneur

Evelyn Namara is a technologist and entrepreneur with a keen interest in the power the Internet and ICTs have in changing lives, enabling innovation and entrepreneurship to foster long term development. Namara is passionate about Technology for Development (ICT4D), Internet Policy as well as empowering women in technology.

Namara is a global ambassador for iamtheCODE an African-led global movement aiming at enabling 1 million women and girl coders by 2030 as a means to bridge the gender skills digital gap. She also sits on the executive board for Africa Civil Society for the Information Society (ACSIS) – a pan-African network set-up to promote Inclusive Information Society in Africa.

Evelyn is the Policy Outreach Fellow with the Internet Society and works with the global policy team on policy work related to access, trust and human rights. She also does some work supporting the Internet Society’s communications campaign as well as focusing on special initiatives including the Internet Society’s 25th Anniversary.

She’s also founder of !nnovate Uganda a technology start-up based in Uganda that works with partners to develop technology innovations for national development. The Company’s flagship product; The M-Voucher (Mobile Voucher) system has been used by large development agencies such as MercyCorps, GOAL, among others to manage the distribution of agricultural products across Uganda. M-Voucher is a 2016 World Summit Award winning product in the category of fighting poverty, hunger and disease. The product also won at the Uganda Communications Commission’s ACIA awards 2017 in the ICT for development category

Evelyn represented the Internet Society (ISOC) as a 2015 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) ambassador to IGF 10 in João Pessoa, Brazil, and as a 2016 IGF returning ambassador to IGF 11 in Guadalajara, Mexico. She also attended the Africa School of Internet Governance (AfriSIG) class of 2016, in Durban South Africa as well as the Africa Internet Governance Forum also held in Durban, South Africa. She’s interested in topics related to Women and access, as well as women and digital skills.

Evelyn’s involved in ICANN started with ICANN58 Community Forum meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark 2017 where she was a first time fellow, she later secured a second fellowship and attended ICANN59 Policy Forum meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa 2017. She’s interested in the Non-Commercial User’s Constituency because it represents the end-users and most of her work involves interacting and building digital solutions for end-users.

She is the award winner of Anita Borg Institute (ABIE) Change Agent Award, 2012