DIGITAL DISRUPTION: INCLUSION OF NIGERIA WOMEN IN TECH DRIVEN BUSINESSES

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Africa has started riding on the new wave of a digital revolution. From the travel
industry to retail, transportation and entertainment, digital disruption is changing
the face of several industries. The retail industry has in recent times been rattled
by the gradual shift to online shopping. Several brick and motar stores have
been hit by this giant wave, resulting in the folding up of multiple businesses.

Using the music industry as a case study, an industry that has enjoyed the
rewards of digital disruption. A practical example, Sony went from selling vinyl
record albums to selling CDs at walk-in stores and moved to the sales of digital
music to costumers via smart phones. This type of “digital disruption” is hitting
all industries and you have to find out whether you and your company are
prepared for the transformation.

Another dramatic change in the last few years has been how companies now
look forward to a different type of leadership. Several companies are now
looking toward leaders who are willing to embrace new technologies. Therefore,
it is imperative that today’s leaders be prepared (dynamic and forward thinking),
as companies make a shift from traditional ways of doing business to
undergoing a digital makeover.

According to several recent studies, despite the multiple calls from
economic, political and societal experts to promote the inclusion of women in
business, the future of many women in the workforce is uncertain.

While digital disruption means an increase in the number of opportunities, this
also means a number of jobs are in line to be restructured or entirely replaced
by technology in coming years, women in low skilled occupations such as sales
are more likely to be impacted by automation and artificial intelligence
technology.

Therefore it is necessary to equip and prepare women in business
to understand the fundamentals of technology and gain new skill-sets which will
keep them relevant in today’s workforce.

Although women are increasingly becoming key drivers in the rapid expansion
and increasing development of a tech driven market and economy, there is still a
long way to go. A few of the large tech driven companies like Omatek,
Mainstreet Technologies and Jumia Group Nigeria boast of female Nigeria
managing directors and CEOs.

Omatek (founded by the late Florence Seriki, the first Nigerian IT firm to be
listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.)
Juliet Anammah is the CEO of Jumia Nigeria, Africa’s e commerce giant.

Omolara Adagunodo is the MD of Jumia Travel Nigeria, Africa’s largest hotel
booking portal that connect you to  hotels in Nigeria  and several other countries
across Africa.

Olamide Bada is the MD of Jumia Food, a food delivery service that connects
you to restaurants in Nigeria and over 40 countries.

Funke Opeke of Mainstreet Technologies is the CEO of MainOne Cable
Company, a submarine communications cable stretching from Portugal to South
Africa with landings along the route in Accra , Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria.

Nimi Akinkugbe is the CEO of Bestman Games, the leading African games
company and distributor of Hasbro games for over 40 African countries.

These are key examples of women who have risen against all odds to
become the face of some of the giant technology driven brands in the
country with influence across Africa.

The ability to adapt is critical in a constantly changing environment. Women
should seek out mentors who have the knowledge base required to coach them
in new technologies. So that when equipped, women can join the digital
revolution and the world in making quicker, better and more informed decisions.

Written by:
Mariam Banwo Barry