MTN Foundation, in a strategic partnership with Womenovate, formally kicked off the fifth version of the Women in Technology and Engineering Summit (WITESA) at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, on June 23, 2026. The summit, themed, “Engineering Africa’s future: Innovation, Infrastructure, and inclusive technology”, was designed to dismantle boundaries for ladies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields.
The summit serves as a name to motion for company stakeholders, policymakers, and trade leaders to domesticate a extra equitable digital ecosystem for female-led improvements. As a key sponsor, the MTN Foundation strengthened its dedication to nurturing future expertise by integrating feminine college students into the summit the place they engaged instantly with trade consultants and gained publicity to rising applied sciences.
The Lagos State Government, recognising the significance of initiatives like WITESA, highlighted the necessity for inclusive coverage frameworks. Representing the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, famous that the summit aligns completely with the state’s imaginative and prescient for progress. “Innovation and infrastructure alone are not enough; they must be inclusive,” Hon. Alake remarked. “Initiatives such as WITESA are important. They provide the visibility, mentorship, and recognition that inspire young women to pursue careers in engineering, technology, artificial intelligence, data science, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and other emerging sectors.”
Speaking on the corporate’s dedication to gender fairness, the General Manager of Enterprise Marketing at MTN Nigeria, Njideka Jack, highlighted the telecom large’s data-driven strategy to social affect. “MTN is intentional in closing the digital gender gap. With a 41.4% female workforce and 46.4% female representation in executive positions, alongside our matching fund and the empowerment of 5,754 Y’ellopreneurs, we are proud of our journey in empowering women,” she acknowledged. Jack emphasised that MTN’s focus stays agency, including, “We are represented at the intersection of innovation, infrastructure, and inclusive technology, and our presence here today reflects our dedication to creating sustainable pathways for women in tech.”
The occasion concluded on June 24 with an award ceremony celebrating trailblazers who’ve made vital contributions to scientific and technological development in Nigeria. The ceremony honoured distinguished leaders, together with Bukola Ajayi, Chief Information Officer of MTN Nigeria; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group; Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho, CEO of Future Software Resources Limited; and Ude Enebeli, Acting Chief Information Officer of MTN Cameroon, amongst different trade luminaries.
Motunrayo Opayinka, CEO of Womenovate and the convener of the summit, expressed that these awards are essential to normalising ladies’s contributions in high-impact technical fields. She additionally famous that position fashions play a essential position in shaping aspirations and inspiring future generations. “We believe very strongly in role modeling. Seeing is believing. The young ones can see and aspire and be inspired equally,” she mentioned.
The summit marked a major step ahead in the dialog round digital inclusion, translating high-level dialogue right into a concrete roadmap for coverage and follow. By leveraging the mixed strengths of its sponsors and adopting a community-driven strategy, Womenovate established a brand new benchmark for company accountability inside Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. The occasion concluded with an award ceremony celebrating trade leaders and trailblazers, reinforcing a shared imaginative and prescient the place innovation, infrastructure, and inclusivity function key drivers of Africa’s technological future.