How 5 young Nigerian women transitioned into tech in 2025

Having a tech skill doesn’t have to begin with coding at 16 or having a computer science degree. For many Nigerian women, the journey into tech starts with curiosity, courage, and a willingness to try something new.

This reality became more visible during a recent conversation with a group of tech enthusiasts in an online community. I noticed an increasing number of Nigerian women actively transitioning into tech. From career updates on LinkedIn to announcements on Instagram and conversations around tech schools and bootcamps, the signs were everywhere.

I became curious about how widespread this shift truly is, and I decided to dig deeper. I surveyed and interviewed several Nigerian women to understand how far they had gone in their tech journeys and how many of them made the leap in 2025.

From product design and data analytics to Web3 and other emerging fields, these women chose a different path. Not just by money, but by flexibility, problem-solving, impact, and long-term growth.

Out of over 15 young women surveyed and interviewed, this article spotlights 5 women who made bold career transitions into tech in 2025. Meet them below:

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Margaret Uti: From Modelling to Web3

Meet Margaret Oluwafunmilayo Uti, an international runway model who successfully transitioned into the world of technology on March 30th, 2025. 

As an international model who has worked across different countries and markets, Margaret learned discipline, adaptability, confidence, and the power of storytelling. In 2025, she redirected those same skills into an entirely new space.

Like many young Nigerian women who get curious about tech, she began with self-learning by watching YouTube tutorials, picking up insights from TikTok videos, and using AI tools to understand the basics. Instead of waiting to feel “ready,” she started where she was.

Her first entry point into tech was community management, a role that allowed her to blend communication, creativity, and relationship-building. Today, Margaret works as a community manager in the tech and Web3 space, where she supports digital communities through user engagement, moderation, content coordination, and connecting people across global platforms.

Beyond community work, Margaret has continued to expand her skill set. She has experience building digital products using no-code tools for rapid prototyping and automation, while also exploring code-based solutions that allow for more customised and scalable products. Recently, she has begun transitioning into data science, further deepening her place in the tech ecosystem.

To grow faster and gain real-world exposure, Margaret actively attends in-person tech events, using them to build experience, confidence, and clarity about her career direction. 

For her, tech is not just about learning online—it’s about showing up, connecting, and evolving. In 2026, she’s definitely going to keep the ball rolling!

Ghedoni Elemi: From Healthcare to Software Engineering

Ghedoni Elemi’s journey into tech is a story of persistence, timing, and passion. Trained in medical biochemistry at Cross River State University of Technology, Ghedoni never imagined she would one day transition fully into software engineering. But curiosity and later determination led her down a new path.

Her first exposure to tech came during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she was in her final year at the university. Through Side Hustle Academy (now Terra Learning), she was introduced to frontend development, sparking an interest she couldn’t ignore. 

In 2021, after graduating, she enrolled in ALX Africa to study full-stack engineering. However, life had other plans.

Between NYSC camping, relocating from Calabar to Lagos, and the unfortunate crash of her laptop, Ghedoni was forced to pause her ALX journey. With limited resources and a non-computer science background, entering tech felt even more challenging. 

Still, she didn’t stop learning. She took online courses on Coursera, continuing to build knowledge wherever she could, just with her Android phone. Along the way, Ghedoni discovered healthtech, a space that allowed her to connect her medical background with technology. That discovery gave her clarity and renewed motivation. 

In 2025, she decided to go all in by beginning a remote BSc in Software Engineering at Brigham Young University in the UK. By 2026, she is on track to earn her degree.

Looking ahead, Ghedoni hopes to pursue a master’s degree in bioinformatics, further exploring the intersection of health and technology. 

Her advice to anyone considering a move into tech is to start where you are. “The little courses I did back then looked insignificant, but during my BSc, most of my courses felt easier because I had already come across them. Don’t wait for the perfect time or even the perfect laptop. Start by reading or listening. Don’t procrastinate—there’s real joy in starting something and seeing it work out,” Ghedoni said.

Omowunmi Adeoye: From Studying Sociology to Practising Data Analytics

For Omowunmi Adeoye, tech didn’t start with curiosity alone; it started in the classroom. As a final year Sociology student at the University of Lagos, her introduction to tech came during her second year while taking a research-related course. 

At every stage of research, data were essential. In October 2024, she began by exploring courses in data science. Although she completed the first two courses, she soon realised it wasn’t fully aligned with her interests. 

After some reflection, she made a pivot into data analysis in January 2025, a field that felt more practical and relevant to her academic goals.

Her introduction to data science initially came through her brother, who encouraged her to explore the field. That early exposure helped her make an informed decision about what truly worked for her. 

She officially started studying data analysis, balancing her learning with lectures, assignments, and other school commitments.

Like many students, the journey wasn’t smooth. With a packed academic schedule, progress was sometimes slow. Eventually, the pace became overwhelming, especially without a support system to help explain difficult concepts, and she paused her learning for a while.

In September 2025, Omowunmi returned with renewed focus and was fully committed to becoming a Data Analyst. This time, everything felt different. By slowing down, taking her time, and letting go of the belief that tech was “too hard,” the learning process became enjoyable. Tools like Excel, Google Sheets, and SQL are now getting easier for her.

Read also: Meet the top 10 women in tech who made the 2025 Forbes’ list

Ozioma Nwankwo: From Filmmaking to Product Design & Illustration

Ozioma Nwankwo’s transition into tech is rooted in creativity. As a graduate of Creative and Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos, she has always worked in creative spaces. Before tech, she was deeply involved in independent filmmaking, working with a film community where she serves as a Programs Manager and Document Archiver.

In 2025, Ozioma decided to challenge herself by exploring a new creative path, which is product design and illustration. While she didn’t abandon filmmaking, she wanted to stretch her creativity in a different direction, and tech gave her that opportunity.

Her journey into product design has been slow but steady. She trained with AltSchool Africa, where she graduated in November 2025, and also completed a five-week design training with Design with Chike, which ended in May 2025. These learning experiences helped her build structure, confidence, and a clearer understanding of design principles.

Ozioma also became a beneficiary of a tech scholarship in 2025, which played a key role in supporting her transition. She made full use of the opportunity, committing herself to learning and growth. For her, product design isn’t just about tech; it’s a creative skill that pushes her to think deeper, solve problems, and express ideas visually.

Currently, Ozioma is working on a comprehensive design project that will be published on Behance, showcasing how far she has come in her tech journey. Looking ahead, she plans to continue growing in product design and illustration in 2026, building on the strong foundation she has created.

Ogunleye Abiodun: From School Walls to Web Development

Meet Ogunleye Abiodun, a Computer Science student at Federal Polytechnic, Ogun State, Ilaro.

Before getting into tech, she felt unsure about the direction of her career as a Computer Scientist. She was constantly bothered about the need to own a laptop and start coding, which she did not have in her first year in school.

Currently in her third year, Abiodun developed a strong interest in tech. Her journey into the tech space was ignited by a friend. She was highly impressed and amazed when she watched him code and saw the results appear instantly on a Chrome browser. 

This observation sparked a strong interest in technology, leading her to acquire a new laptop and commit to learning. She began her formal training in April 2025 with a scholarship from an online academy called Techyjaunt, where she is currently building skills in both Front-End Development and Blockchain Web Development. 

Although her background in computer science has offered some basic theoretical help, she notes that it did not significantly prepare her for the specific coding demands of web development.

She was candid about the major challenges she faced during her learning experience, acknowledging that the task was, and still is, difficult. The primary challenge she has consistently faced is the repeated breakdown and subsequent repair of her laptop.

However, she finds great enjoyment in creating user-friendly web interfaces and working with decentralised applications. Abiodun is determined to persevere and intends to “keep the ball rolling” into 2026, focusing on continuous growth in her chosen fields.