By: Amira Shuaib, Ibrahim Aishat and John Stephanie
Try walking through any university campus in Africa and ask the average student what comes to mind when they hear the word “entrepreneur.” You’ll hear names like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. You might even hear Aliko Dangote or Tony Elumelu. But ask them to name a woman, an African woman, who has built something from scratch and is changing the game, and the answers come more slowly. Why? Because, for too long, stories of women entrepreneurs have been pushed to the sidelines, buried beneath layers of patriarchy, cultural expectation, and silence.
But that silence is breaking. From Lagos to Kigali, Nairobi to Accra, women are not just starting businesses; they are redefining what business means in Africa. They are using innovation to solve problems, challenge norms, and create opportunities where none previously existed. They are doing all this while facing odds that would cause many to give up before they begin.
Take Temie Giwa-Tubosun in Nigeria, for example. After a traumatic experience during childbirth, she founded LifeBank, a health-tech company that delivers critical medical supplies to hospitals using data and technology. Her business is literally saving lives, and she built it from a deeply personal pain. Or consider Clarisse Iribagiza from Rwanda, who started HeHe Labs to bring mobile technology solutions to businesses across East Africa. She began her journey while still at university, often underestimated in male-dominated tech spaces; yet today, her company serves thousands of users.
These are not isolated cases. Across the continent, African women are building thriving enterprises in sectors like agriculture, technology, fashion, renewable energy, and finance. But their success stories often begin in adversity. Long before the first product is sold or the first investor says “yes,” there’s a struggle that rarely gets celebrated.
For every business pitch, there’s the voice of a relative asking, “Shouldn’t you be thinking about marriage?” For every business plan, there’s someone whispering, “This one’s too ambitious.” Patriarchy isn’t always loud. It’s in the raised eyebrows, the polite dismissals, the unpaid labour, the way women are expected to balance work, home, childcare, and still smile politely through it all.
And misogyny? It’s not just from men. Sometimes, it comes from other women, those who’ve been conditioned to believe that male validation is the ultimate goal, and that an independent, outspoken woman is somehow dangerous or “too much.” These women, male-centred in thought, often reinforce the same structures that hold their sisters back. They ask questions like, “Why is she always so loud?” or “Who does she think she is?” But, thankfully, African women are beginning to unlearn these mindsets, supporting one another instead of competing in silence.
Many have had to fund their businesses from savings meant for rent or school fees. Some were laughed at for selling products from their car boots or working odd hours. Others were manipulated by partners who felt threatened by their ambition. But breakthrough often comes to those who persist.
Tara Fela-Durotoye, one of Nigeria’s beauty industry pioneers, launched House of Tara at a time when make-up was considered frivolous. Now, she employs thousands and has helped legitimise beauty as a serious business sector. Her journey wasn’t smooth, but she dared to follow her path regardless of what people thought.
And that brings us to one of the greatest barriers: the fear of being judged. “What will people say?” “Will they still respect me?” These are questions every ambitious woman faces. But the truth is, people will always have something to say. Whether you fail or succeed, someone will criticise. So, why not succeed anyway?
If there’s one thing young African women must understand, it’s this: you don’t need permission to dream big. You don’t need to shrink yourself to be accepted. You don’t have to explain your goals to people who can’t see your vision.
Instead, find your people, the ones who uplift, challenge, and walk with you. Surround yourself with women and men who believe in possibility. Join communities like She Leads Africa, AWEC, or Women in Tech Africa. Learn from those who came before, and when you win, open doors for those behind you.
African women entrepreneurs are not just running businesses; they’re shifting culture. They’re proving that success doesn’t need to look like a boardroom in a suit. It can look like a mother working from home, a student coding at midnight, or a young woman selling organic skincare on Instagram.
