IWD: Firm spotlights women powering digital infrastructure

Africa Hyperscalers is set to host a virtual session to mark International Women’s Day, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the role of women in shaping Africa’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure sector.

The event, scheduled for 13 March 2026, is themed ‘Give to Gain: Building Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Together’ and will focus on how collaboration, mentorship, and inclusive leadership can create more opportunities for women across Africa’s connectivity, cloud, data centre, and policy ecosystems.

According to the organisers, the session will bring together senior executives from across the digital infrastructure landscape to explore strategies for strengthening women’s participation and leadership in the sector.

Speakers expected at the event include the Country Marketing Manager at WIOCC Group, Adesola Adesugba; Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa at Meta, Sade Dada; EMEA Business Development Manager for West Africa at Equinix, Ayomide Jones; Chief Executive Officer of Smartcomply, Gbemisola Osunrinde; Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton-Idehen; and Co-founder and Chair of the Centre for Women and Children Empowerment, Fatumata Soukouna-Coker.

Other speakers include the Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centres, Ayotunde Coker; the Managing Director of Equinix West Africa, Wole Abu; the Managing Director of Dimension Data Nigeria, Gbenga Olabiyi; the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi; and the Director at Africa Hyperscalers, Temitope Osunrinde.

Organisers said the session will highlight the growing role women are already playing across Africa’s digital infrastructure ecosystem while encouraging stronger collaboration between companies, policymakers, and investors to build a more inclusive leadership pipeline.

Africa’s digital infrastructure market, which includes data centres, fibre networks, cloud platforms, and satellite connectivity, has expanded significantly in recent years as demand for internet services, digital platforms, and cloud computing continues to rise across the continent. However, leadership positions within the sector remain largely dominated by men.

The programme will also feature a discussion involving male industry leaders reflecting on how allies can support women’s advancement within infrastructure organisations and the broader technology ecosystem.

Participants will also examine practical ways organisations can move beyond symbolic support to active sponsorship and structural inclusion ahead of the release of Africa Hyperscalers’ pan-African Women in Digital Infrastructure Report.

According to Africa Hyperscalers, the event forms part of broader efforts to foster dialogue around the partnerships, talent development, and policy frameworks needed to accelerate Africa’s digital infrastructure growth.

Registration for the March 13 virtual session is open to participants across Africa’s technology, telecom, policy, and investment communities.