Biography

Oreoluwa Lesi is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), a nonprofit committed to building a more inclusive technology ecosystem, with the next generation of women technology creators, entrepreneurs and leaders.

She has designed high-quality programming for over 47,000 girls and women – many of whom have been inspired to pursue science, engineering or technology careers.

Oreoluwa has a Bachelors degree in Economics from Essex University, U.K. a Masters degree in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems from the London School of Economics & Political Science, a Certificate in Applied Sciences from Harvard University’s Extension School and a Certificate in Social Sector Management from Pan African University’s Enterprise Development Centre.

Oreoluwa has been recognized as One of the 5 Women Who Defined the Nigerian Tech Space in 2019 by Technext.ng, as well as with the Her Network Technology Woman of the Year 2018 award and as one of Leading Ladies Africa’s 2018 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria. She is a Vital Voices Lead Fellow (awarded to emerging and established women leaders across the world), Ashoka fellow (a network of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs) and a recipient of the Anita Borg Change Agent Award (for her commitment to supporting women in computing in Nigeria).

Bio (Long):

Oreoluwa Lesi is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC). W.TEC is a Nigerian nonprofit organisation committed to building a more inclusive technology ecosystem, with the next generation of women technology creators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Since 2018, W.TEC’s work has expanded to explore how technology can improve learning outcomes and better integrate students with developmental disabilities and special needs, such as Autism and Down’s syndrome.

Through her work at W.TEC, she has designed high-quality programming for 47,000 girls and women – including camps, afterschool clubs and workshops. Through these programmes, they have learnt to create technology – including applications, games, websites, short films and other digital content and use technology safely and productively. Many of these girls have been inspired to pursue technology careers. She has also designed and overseen programmes that support women in their use of technology for entrepreneurship, career development, learning and leadership activities.

Oreoluwa has a Bachelors degree in Economics from Essex University, U.K. a Masters degree in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems from the London School of Economics & Political Science, a Certificate in Applied Sciences from Harvard University’s Extension School and a Certificate in Social Sector Management from Pan African University’s Enterprise Development Centre.

Oreoluwa’s work has also been showcased in the broadcast and print media, including EbonyLife TV, Channels TV, NTA 2 Channel 5, NTA Channel 10, LTV, Guardian, The Nation, Punch, Business Day, Champion, Daily Independent.

Oreoluwa’s publications include ‘Dear Woman in STEM: A collection of advice from STEM leaders to the next generation of female scientists‘ (she authored a chapter), ‘Radio for Women’s Development: Examining the Relationship Between Access and Impact’ (Nokoko: Journal of the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University – Canada, 2013), ‘Networking for Success’ (i4d: Information for Development Online Journal, 2009), ‘Telling Our Own Stories: African Women Blogging for Social Change’ (Gender & Development Journal, 2006) and ‘Making the Most of On-line Learning: An Introduction to Learning on the Internet’ (Education Development Center, 2004).

She is a Vital Voices Lead Fellow (awarded to emerging and established women leaders across the world), Ashoka Fellow (a network of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs) and a recipient of the Anita Borg Change Agent Award (for her commitment to supporting women in computing in Nigeria).

She has been recognized with the following accolades and awards: OkayAfrica 100 Women for 2020, One of the 5 Women Who Defined the Nigerian Tech Space in 2019 by Technext.ng, as well as with Her Network Technology Woman of the Year 2018, Leading Ladies Africa’s 2018 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria, SME100’s 100 Most Innovative Female-Owned Businesses in Nigeria for 2017, one of YNaija!’s Top 100 Young People in Technology of 2016 and 2014, one of New African Woman Magazine’s Top African Women in Technology in 2014 and with a 2014 ‘Chosen Youth’ Leadership Award from LaRoche Foundation.

She has led her organisation W.TEC in winning most recently the 2019 EQUALS in Tech Awards (Skills category), which recognizes innovative solutions across the world, aimed at closing the digital gender gap; the 2019 NEDIS (Nigerian Education Innovation Summit) Gender-Focused Education Intervention Recognition Award and the 2019 NIRA (Nigeria Internet Registration Award) Presidential Award for Women’s Development.

Outside of her work with W.TEC, Oreoluwa is interested in connecting gender issues to internet governance and is an active member of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) community. She served as Secretariat of an ICANN constituency (the Not for Profit Operational Concerns Constituency – NPOC) and was selected as an ICANN Fellow for the 2019 Annual General Meeting.

She is cuurently a board member of the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).