31:
138:
development of young people in the area of science and technology. She established W.TEC in the year 2008, when the technology ecosystem was not as vibrant as it has become over the years. There was also very little awareness of the gender gap in technology and why closing it mattered in 2008, which made her work more challenging.
156:
In 2019, the inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim
Berners-Lee visited W.TEC, as part of a 30-hour tour to 3 cities around the world to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the web. During his visit to W.TEC, he met some of the girls who are participants of W.TEC's programmes. In January 2020, TIME
145:
Some key highlights of her work with W.TEC include partnering with the Dr. Omobola
Johnson-led Federal Ministry of Communication Technology in 2014 to develop a nationwide girls club called Digital Girls Club, which piloted in 12 schools in each geopolitical zone and further scaled to more schools
152:
W.TEC is frequently recognised for its work as a pioneering organisation in trying to close the gender gap in technology. W.TEC has won awards such as the 2019 EQUALS in Tech award (Skills category) and the 2019 Nigeria
Internet Registration Association (NIRA) Presidential Award for Women's
141:
W.TEC now runs several programmes in Lagos, Anambra and Kwara states, including the She
Creates Camps and the W.TEC Academy (technology afterschool clubs) and has impacted over 27,000 young women and teachers. More recently, W.TEC launched the Inclusive Technology for All (IT4All) project in
137:
Lesi worked with the
Education Development Centre, Inc. in the United States as a research assistant and then technology associate. She returned to Nigeria in the year 2005. In Nigeria, she worked with Lonadek Oil and Gas Consultancy where she managed a CSR Initiative-2020 focused on skills
114:
After her years in high school at Queen's
College, Lagos, she studied diploma course in computer programming. She proceeded to United Kingdom where she studied economics and graduated with bachelor's degree in economics from
232:
2013 Ashoka Fellow: Ashoka
Fellows are the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. They champion innovative new ideas that transform society’s systems, providing benefits for everyone and improving the lives of millions of
157:
asked a group of six prominent people (including Sir Tim
Berners-Lee) to write to a young person or people of their own choosing. Sir Berners-Lee chose to write a letter to the girls of W.TEC in a letter.
963:
717:
119:. While at university, she set-up a business typing essays and assignments for students and that lit the first spark about how women could use technology to create economic opportunities.
229:
2014 Vital Voices Lead Fellow: The Vital Voices Lead
Fellowship connects, provides training for and gives visibility to extraordinary women who lead NGOs and companies around the world.
988:
111:. With an electrical engineer father, she fell in love with technology from childhood which led to her developing a software application that was used to run her parents' bookshop.
598:
918:
1310:
146:
across
Nigeria. The Digital Girls Club featured an engaging curriculum, which was hosted on an online portal that teachers could access and use in their respective schools.
1305:
821:"Wonderful energy and creativity — girl power at W.TEC in Lagos — should inspire girls all over the world to get into tech #Web30 #ForTheWebpic.twitter.com/ARNGsG3a3k"
123:
583:
559:
142:
partnership with the Children's Developmental Centre. The project introduces technology and the wider STEM concepts to students with developmental disabilities.
794:
95:
that empowers women and girls socially and economically through education in Information technology. W.TEC was established in the year 2008. She is a fellow of
1325:
942:
1320:
1295:
1209:
1300:
536:
1330:
1345:
1335:
88:
1340:
1232:
482:
380:
219:
community, are assigned a mentor, and receive training across different areas of knowledge and skill building before, during, and after an
127:
1315:
964:"BellaNaija Listed on Invicta Africa & SME100 Nigeria's "100 Most Innovative Female-Owned Businesses in Nigeria" | See Full List"
96:
620:
215:
2020 ICANN 69 Fellow: ICANN fellows are exposed to the workings of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names & Numbers (
1350:
989:"La Roche Leadership Foundation celebrates Tolu Ogunlesi, Ore Lesi, MI Abaga & More Inspiring Entrepreneurs in Lagos"
1290:
352:
892:
943:"Sola Sobowale, Ibidunni Ighodalo, Nkechi Eze…Here are Nigeria's Most Inspiring Women in 2018 – Leading Ladies Africa"
450:
718:"PRESS RELEASE EQUALS in Tech Awards celebrate five outstanding initiatives to promote digital gender equality"
153:
Development. W.TEC also emerged as a 2020 WSIS Prizes Champion (Access to Information and Knowledge Category).
919:"Chinwe Egwin, Ola Brown, Temie Giwa-Tubosun Honored at 2018 Her Network Woman of the Year Awards | Full List"
599:"Exclusive Interview: Oreoluwa Somolu-Lesi, Executive Director, Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC)"
560:"Oreoluwa Lesi gave innov8tiv a walk through of how she found Women's Technology Empowerment Center (W.TEC)"
1064:
1285:
92:
149:
Oreoluwa was honoured as fellow of Ashoka in 2013. In 2009, she bagged an Anita Borg Change Agent Award.
820:
669:
695:
323:
1088:
116:
87:-trained economist and information technology expert. She is the founder and executive director of
1012:
770:
328:
1037:
577:
396:
844:
80:
1265:
483:"My Life In Tech: Oreoluwa Somolu-Lesi's Decade and More of Balancing Tech's Gender Scale"
408:
428:
742:
1163:
196:
Vision 2020 Youth Empowerment & Restoration Initiative Recognition Award – May 2010
122:
She also obtained, master's degree in analysis, design and management information from
1138:
1279:
1233:"Radio for Women's Development Examining the Relationship between Access and Impact"
30:
1187:"Making the Most Of On-line Learning: An Introduction to Learning on the Internet"
537:"CPAfrica Intervies Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi of Women's Technology Empowerment Centre"
301:
Radio for Women's Development Examining the Relationship between Access and Impact
868:
275:
Making the Most of On-line Learning: An Introduction to Learning on the Internet’
304:
Nokoko Institute of African Studies Carleton University Ottawa, Canada) 2013(3)
1270:
1112:
511:
318:
795:"Tim Berners Lee Visits Lagos to Mark 30th Anniversary of the World Wide Web"
172:
One of the 5 Women Who Defined the Nigerian Tech Space in 2019 by Technext.ng
199:
2009 Anita Borg Change Agent Award – Anita Borg Institute, Tucson AZ, U.S.A
76:
645:
108:
99:
and a recipient of the Anita Borg Institute (ABIE) Change Agent Award.
187:
2016 YNaija!’s #YTech100 (Top 100 Young People in Technology of 2016)
1210:"Telling our own stories': African women blogging for social change"
181:
2017 SME100 & Invicta Top 100 Female-Owned Businesses in Nigeria
288:‘Telling Our Own Stories: African Women Blogging for Social Change’
1266:
And Life | Seriously Speaking with Adesuwa (From 2:37) - July 2015
1186:
243:
845:"Letters to Young People Who Inspire Us, By Six Prominent People"
741:
Nigeria Internet Registration Association, NIRA (July 8, 2019).
381:"Anita Borg Institute Announces 2009 Change Agent Award Winners"
178:
2018 Leading Ladies Africa 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria
165:
Oreoluwa has received many awards and recognitions including:
193:
2014 YNaija!’s 100 Top 100 Young People in Technology of 2014
202:
2008 Systers Pass It On Award Winner – Anita Borg Institute
84:
1260:
190:
2014 Leadership Award from La Roche Leadership Foundation
893:"5 Women That Defined the Nigerian Tech Space in 2019"
353:"We're empowering girls for IT devt – Oreoluwa Somolu"
1185:Somolu, Oreoluwa; Kaser, Joyce; Hanson, Katherine.
62:
45:
37:
21:
674:Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics
211:Oreoluwa has received the following fellowships:
175:2018 Her Network Woman of the Year in Technology
124:London School of Economics and Political Science
1065:"Montréal 2019 Fellowship Participants - ICANN"
621:"Group organises summer ICT training for girls"
242:Lesi is married to Gboyega Lesi and resides in
8:
16:Nigerian, UK trained economist and IT expert
582:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
1311:Nigerian expatriates in the United Kingdom
346:
344:
29:
18:
1306:Alumni of the London School of Economics
253:
184:2016 #YTech100 Special Recognition Award
1059:
1057:
670:"How to educate special needs children"
646:"Together We: Are our sisters keepers!"
340:
575:
451:"Raising Digital Women, The W-TEC Way"
404:
394:
512:"Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi: W.TEC founder"
374:
372:
370:
89:Women's Technology Empowerment Centre
7:
505:
503:
477:
475:
473:
471:
422:
420:
418:
1326:21st-century Russian businesspeople
601:. Changing the AFrican Conversation
128:Harvard University Extension School
1321:21st-century Russian businesswomen
1296:Nigerian technology businesspeople
696:"ABIE Award Winners, Change Agent"
126:. She studied Applied Sciences at
14:
1301:Alumni of the University of Essex
597:Africa-ontherise (8 April 2016).
107:Lesi's early years were spent in
1162:Odebiyi, Olatunde (9 May 2014).
351:Vista, Woman (21 October 2012).
291:Gender & Development Journal
1346:Harvard Extension School alumni
1336:Nigerian women company founders
1143:Ashoka | Everyone a Changemaker
819:Berners-Lee, Tim (2019-03-13).
52:Information Technology Literacy
1189:. Education Development Centre
1:
1341:Nigerian social entrepreneurs
1331:Queen's College, Lagos alumni
1164:"Compliment your wife always"
987:BellaNaija.com (2014-09-19).
962:BellaNaija.com (2017-03-09).
917:BellaNaija.com (2018-12-10).
169:OkayAfrica 100 Women for 2020
1271:Close Flow 1 NTA Sept 6 2013
558:Innov8tiv.com (2019-04-07).
278:Education Development Center
1367:
1316:Businesspeople from Lagos
297:
284:
271:
267:
264:
261:
258:
93:a non-profit organisation
28:
869:"OKAYAFRICA - 100 WOMEN"
743:"2019 .NG Press Release"
510:TechHerNG (2016-01-27).
383:. Business Wire Institut
103:Early life and education
873:OKAYAFRICA's 100 WOMEN
698:. Anita Borg Institute
650:preview.mailerlite.com
161:Awards and recognition
1351:Social entrepreneurs
1208:Sweetman, Caroline.
535:Bimbola Segun-Amag.
355:. Vanguard Newspaper
324:Raquel Kasham Daniel
226:2019 ICANN 66 Fellow
73:Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi
1291:Nigerian economists
1113:"TechHer Spotlight"
427:The Administrator.
255:
117:University of Essex
1231:Oreoluwa, Somolu.
1119:. January 27, 2016
771:"WSIS Prizes 2020"
750:NIRA Press Release
407:has generic name (
329:Sandra Chukwudozie
254:
66:Executive director
1139:"Oreoluwa Somolu"
1013:"Oreoluwa Somolu"
310:
309:
70:
69:
55:Girls Empowerment
1358:
1261:Official Website
1248:
1247:
1245:
1243:
1237:
1228:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1217:
1205:
1199:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1182:
1176:
1175:
1173:
1171:
1159:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1149:
1135:
1129:
1128:
1126:
1124:
1109:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1099:
1085:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1075:
1061:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1048:
1034:
1028:
1027:
1025:
1024:
1009:
1003:
1002:
1000:
999:
984:
978:
977:
975:
974:
959:
953:
952:
950:
949:
939:
933:
932:
930:
929:
914:
908:
907:
905:
904:
889:
883:
882:
880:
879:
865:
859:
858:
856:
855:
841:
835:
834:
832:
831:
816:
810:
809:
807:
806:
791:
785:
784:
782:
781:
767:
761:
760:
758:
756:
747:
738:
732:
731:
729:
728:
714:
708:
707:
705:
703:
694:Jerri, Barrett.
691:
685:
684:
682:
681:
666:
660:
659:
657:
656:
642:
636:
635:
633:
632:
617:
611:
610:
608:
606:
594:
588:
587:
581:
573:
571:
570:
555:
549:
548:
546:
544:
532:
526:
525:
523:
522:
507:
498:
497:
495:
494:
479:
466:
465:
463:
462:
447:
441:
440:
438:
436:
424:
413:
412:
406:
402:
400:
392:
390:
388:
376:
365:
364:
362:
360:
348:
256:
222:
218:
33:
19:
1366:
1365:
1361:
1360:
1359:
1357:
1356:
1355:
1276:
1275:
1257:
1252:
1251:
1241:
1239:
1235:
1230:
1229:
1225:
1215:
1213:
1207:
1206:
1202:
1192:
1190:
1184:
1183:
1179:
1169:
1167:
1161:
1160:
1156:
1147:
1145:
1137:
1136:
1132:
1122:
1120:
1111:
1110:
1106:
1097:
1095:
1087:
1086:
1082:
1073:
1071:
1063:
1062:
1055:
1046:
1044:
1036:
1035:
1031:
1022:
1020:
1011:
1010:
1006:
997:
995:
986:
985:
981:
972:
970:
961:
960:
956:
947:
945:
941:
940:
936:
927:
925:
916:
915:
911:
902:
900:
891:
890:
886:
877:
875:
867:
866:
862:
853:
851:
843:
842:
838:
829:
827:
825:@timberners_lee
818:
817:
813:
804:
802:
793:
792:
788:
779:
777:
769:
768:
764:
754:
752:
745:
740:
739:
735:
726:
724:
716:
715:
711:
701:
699:
693:
692:
688:
679:
677:
668:
667:
663:
654:
652:
644:
643:
639:
630:
628:
619:
618:
614:
604:
602:
596:
595:
591:
574:
568:
566:
557:
556:
552:
542:
540:
534:
533:
529:
520:
518:
509:
508:
501:
492:
490:
481:
480:
469:
460:
458:
449:
448:
444:
434:
432:
429:"Ashoka Fellow"
426:
425:
416:
403:
393:
386:
384:
378:
377:
368:
358:
356:
350:
349:
342:
337:
315:
252:
240:
223:Public Meeting.
220:
216:
209:
163:
135:
105:
58:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1364:
1362:
1354:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1323:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1278:
1277:
1274:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1256:
1255:External links
1253:
1250:
1249:
1223:
1200:
1177:
1154:
1130:
1104:
1080:
1053:
1029:
1004:
979:
954:
934:
909:
884:
860:
836:
811:
786:
762:
733:
709:
686:
661:
637:
625:National Light
612:
589:
550:
527:
499:
467:
442:
414:
366:
339:
338:
336:
333:
332:
331:
326:
321:
314:
311:
308:
307:
305:
302:
299:
295:
294:
292:
289:
286:
282:
281:
279:
276:
273:
269:
268:
266:
263:
260:
251:
248:
239:
236:
235:
234:
230:
227:
224:
208:
205:
204:
203:
200:
197:
194:
191:
188:
185:
182:
179:
176:
173:
170:
162:
159:
134:
131:
104:
101:
68:
67:
64:
60:
59:
57:
56:
53:
49:
47:
46:Known for
43:
42:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1363:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1314:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1286:Living people
1284:
1283:
1281:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1254:
1234:
1227:
1224:
1211:
1204:
1201:
1188:
1181:
1178:
1165:
1158:
1155:
1144:
1140:
1134:
1131:
1118:
1114:
1108:
1105:
1094:
1090:
1084:
1081:
1070:
1069:www.icann.org
1066:
1060:
1058:
1054:
1042:
1039:
1038:"Oreoluwa S."
1033:
1030:
1018:
1014:
1008:
1005:
994:
990:
983:
980:
969:
965:
958:
955:
944:
938:
935:
924:
920:
913:
910:
898:
894:
888:
885:
874:
870:
864:
861:
850:
846:
840:
837:
826:
822:
815:
812:
800:
796:
790:
787:
776:
772:
766:
763:
751:
744:
737:
734:
723:
719:
713:
710:
697:
690:
687:
675:
671:
665:
662:
651:
647:
641:
638:
626:
622:
616:
613:
600:
593:
590:
585:
579:
565:
561:
554:
551:
538:
531:
528:
517:
513:
506:
504:
500:
488:
484:
478:
476:
474:
472:
468:
456:
452:
446:
443:
430:
423:
421:
419:
415:
410:
398:
382:
375:
373:
371:
367:
354:
347:
345:
341:
334:
330:
327:
325:
322:
320:
317:
316:
312:
306:
303:
300:
296:
293:
290:
287:
283:
280:
277:
274:
270:
257:
249:
247:
245:
238:Personal life
237:
231:
228:
225:
214:
213:
212:
206:
201:
198:
195:
192:
189:
186:
183:
180:
177:
174:
171:
168:
167:
166:
160:
158:
154:
150:
147:
143:
139:
132:
130:
129:
125:
120:
118:
112:
110:
102:
100:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
65:
61:
54:
51:
50:
48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
27:
23:Oreoluwa Lesi
20:
1240:. Retrieved
1226:
1214:. Retrieved
1203:
1191:. Retrieved
1180:
1168:. Retrieved
1166:. The Nation
1157:
1146:. Retrieved
1142:
1133:
1121:. Retrieved
1116:
1107:
1096:. Retrieved
1093:Vital Voices
1092:
1083:
1072:. Retrieved
1068:
1045:. Retrieved
1043:. 2008-04-20
1040:
1032:
1021:. Retrieved
1019:. 2009-10-11
1016:
1007:
996:. Retrieved
992:
982:
971:. Retrieved
967:
957:
946:. Retrieved
937:
926:. Retrieved
922:
912:
901:. Retrieved
899:. 2019-12-18
896:
887:
876:. Retrieved
872:
863:
852:. Retrieved
848:
839:
828:. Retrieved
824:
814:
803:. Retrieved
801:. 2019-03-13
798:
789:
778:. Retrieved
774:
765:
753:. Retrieved
749:
736:
725:. Retrieved
721:
712:
700:. Retrieved
689:
678:. Retrieved
676:. 2019-05-01
673:
664:
653:. Retrieved
649:
640:
629:. Retrieved
627:. 2019-09-12
624:
615:
603:. Retrieved
592:
567:. Retrieved
563:
553:
541:. Retrieved
530:
519:. Retrieved
515:
491:. Retrieved
489:. 2019-05-07
486:
459:. Retrieved
457:. 2014-07-21
454:
445:
433:. Retrieved
405:|last1=
385:. Retrieved
379:The Editor.
357:. Retrieved
250:Publications
241:
210:
164:
155:
151:
148:
144:
140:
136:
121:
113:
106:
81:entrepreneur
72:
71:
775:www.itu.int
207:Fellowships
38:Nationality
1280:Categories
1242:17 October
1216:17 October
1193:17 October
1170:14 October
1148:2020-04-15
1098:2020-04-15
1074:2020-04-15
1047:2020-04-15
1041:AnitaB.org
1023:2020-04-15
1017:AnitaB.org
998:2020-04-15
993:BellaNaija
973:2020-04-15
968:BellaNaija
948:2020-04-15
928:2020-04-15
923:BellaNaija
903:2020-04-15
878:2020-04-15
854:2020-04-15
830:2020-04-15
805:2020-04-15
780:2020-04-15
727:2020-04-15
702:17 October
680:2020-04-15
655:2020-04-15
631:2020-04-15
605:14 October
569:2020-04-15
543:14 October
539:. CPAfrica
521:2020-04-15
493:2020-04-15
461:2020-04-15
435:14 October
387:17 October
359:13 October
335:References
319:Ommo Clark
1123:April 15,
755:April 15,
564:Innov8tiv
487:TechCabal
455:TechCabal
91:(W.TEC),
1238:. Nokoko
1089:"VVLead"
897:Technext
799:Technext
578:cite web
431:. Ashoka
397:cite web
313:See also
77:Nigerian
41:Nigerian
1212:. OXFAM
1117:TechHer
516:TECHHER
233:people.
109:Nigeria
79:social
722:equals
217:ICANN)
133:Career
97:Ashoka
1236:(PDF)
746:(PDF)
298:2013
285:2006
272:2004
262:Title
244:Lagos
221:ICANN
75:is a
63:Title
1244:2016
1218:2016
1195:2016
1172:2016
1125:2020
849:Time
757:2020
704:2016
607:2016
584:link
545:2016
437:2016
409:help
389:2016
361:2016
265:Work
259:Year
83:and
1282::
1141:.
1115:.
1091:.
1067:.
1056:^
1015:.
991:.
966:.
921:.
895:.
871:.
847:.
823:.
797:.
773:.
748:.
720:.
672:.
648:.
623:.
580:}}
576:{{
562:.
514:.
502:^
485:.
470:^
453:.
417:^
401::
399:}}
395:{{
369:^
343:^
246:.
85:UK
1246:.
1220:.
1197:.
1174:.
1151:.
1127:.
1101:.
1077:.
1050:.
1026:.
1001:.
976:.
951:.
931:.
906:.
881:.
857:.
833:.
808:.
783:.
759:.
730:.
706:.
683:.
658:.
634:.
609:.
586:)
572:.
547:.
524:.
496:.
464:.
439:.
411:)
391:.
363:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
