Justina Nnam Oha is the visionary founder of Digital Equity Africa, a pioneering company dedicated to bridging the digital divide in Africa. With a passion for creating impact and a deep understanding of the digital economy, Oha has been a driving force in promoting digital inclusion and equity across the continent. In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE-KORIEOCHA, Oha shares her remarkable journey, from her early days in communication and international relations to her current role as a leader in the tech industry. She discusses the mission and vision of Digital Equity Africa, the challenges of promoting digital inclusion, and her thoughts on the future of AI in Africa.
Can you tell us about your journey into the tech industry, and what inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
My journey into the tech industry has been shaped by a mix of curiosity, opportunity, and a deep desire to create impact. I actually started out in communication and international relations, but I quickly saw how technology was becoming a driver of growth, inclusion, and transformation across Africa. I was inspired by the idea that tech could bridge gaps, connect people, and open doors for communities that had long been left out of the global digital economy.
Over the years, I moved from roles in marketing and partnerships into ecosystem building and digital inclusion, working with startups, governments, and international organizations. What inspired me most was not just the technology itself, but its potential to change lives, whether by helping a female founder access funding, supporting youth to gain digital skills, or enabling businesses to scale through innovation. That combination of purpose and possibility has kept me grounded in this field.
How did you become the founder of Digital Equity Africa, and what motivated you to focus on digital inclusion and equity?
My journey to founding Digital Equity Africa came from seeing the gaps across different parts of Africa’s digital economy. I had worked in internet infrastructure with a telecom company, in software talent development with an international firm, and later in the development space with the UK government. Each of these experiences was critical but I noticed a common problem: the efforts were happening in silos. For example, we were training young software engineers, but many of them went home to no internet connection or devices to keep practicing, so the skills they learned quickly faded. I also saw funding going into programs that didn’t always build on existing local efforts, which meant impact was often fragmented.
That reality pushed me to act. I realized that true digital transformation requires inclusion at every level, from access to infrastructure, to devices, to skills, to relevant content in local languages. For Africa, with its young and fast-growing population, we cannot afford to leave people behind because of language, location, or economic status.
To me, digital inclusion means meeting people where they are, whether they are fluent in English or not, whether they live in cities or rural areas, whether they can afford devices or not, and creating innovative ways for them to participate in the digital economy. That is why founded Digital Equity Africa: to connect the dots, close the gaps, and ensure Africa is not just a consumer of technology but also a creator of it.
Can you elaborate on the mission and vision of Digital Equity Africa, and how you aim to achieve digital inclusion in Africa?
There is a huge digital disconnect on the continent. Today, only about 38 percent of Africans have internet access, which is the lowest rate in the world. If we wait until Africa reaches the 90 percent connectivity levels we see in places like North America before acting, then millions will continue to be excluded from the opportunities of the digital economy. That is why Digital Equity Africa was created. Our mission is simple: to ensure that every African, regardless of language, location, or income level, has the tools and opportunities to thrive in the digital economy.
Our vision is a digitally inclusive Africa where innovation and opportunity are accessible to all, making the continent not just a user of global technology, but a leader in shaping it. We pursue this through three main approaches. First, partnering with governments to influence digital policies and programs. Second, working with the private sector to expand access and create relevant solutions. Third, driving skills development and advocacy through initiatives like our AI Skill Up program for children and digital literacy training for communities. For us, digital inclusion is not charity. It is a strategy for Africa’s growth and competitiveness.
What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve faced in promoting digital inclusion, and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that digital inclusion is not about a single issue. It is not just about giving people internet access. It is about affordability, literacy, relevance, safety, and equity.
On infrastructure, Africa still faces major connectivity gaps. Even where coverage exists, the high cost of data makes it difficult for many to stay connected consistently. Affordability is as big a barrier as availability. Then there is digital literacy. I have met young graduates who struggle with basic tools like Google Workspace or Microsoft Office. This is not because they lack ability, but because their education systems did not expose them to practical digital skills.
Language is another hurdle. Most digital resources are produced in English, yet millions of Africans are not fluent. If we do not innovate around local languages, then large parts of our population will remain excluded. Policy is also a challenge. For example, while we are pushing to integrate AI education for children, many school curricula have yet to adapt to these emerging skills. The policy lag slows adoption.
Finally, there are issues of sustainability and trust. Too many inclusion initiatives stop once donor funding ends, leaving people trained but unsupported. And once people come online, they are exposed to risks like cyber fraud, yet cybersecurity awareness remains low. This erodes trust and participation. At Digital Equity Africa, we have worked to overcome these challenges by partnering across sectors. We advocate for affordable internet and policy reform, we run skills programs like AI Skill Up for kids, we are exploring multilingual training content, and we raise awareness around safe internet use. Most importantly, we design our programs to connect people to real economic opportunities, so digital skills do not stop at training but translate into livelihoods. Because for us, digital inclusion is not just about access. It is about ensuring that people can move from simply surviving in the digital age to actually thriving in it.
How do you see digital inclusion impacting economic development and social progress in Africa?
I see digital inclusion as one of the most powerful levers for Africa’s economic development and social progress. When people are connected, skilled, and included, they are able to participate in the economy in ways that go far beyond consumption. For example, digital access allows small businesses to sell beyond their immediate communities, farmers to get real-time market prices, and young people to learn skills that open up global job opportunities. This creates new income streams, drives entrepreneurship, and attracts investment into local economies. Socially, inclusion transforms communities. It enables young people to see possibilities beyond their environment, it helps women gain access to financial tools, and it allows children to learn in ways that prepare them for the future of work. It also improves governance because citizens can hold institutions accountable when they have access to information.
The reality is that Africa has the youngest population in the world. If we can include them digitally, then we are not only unlocking innovation and productivity for our continent, we are also shaping the future of the global digital economy. That is why for me, digital inclusion is not charity. It is the growth strategy that Africa needs to secure its economic and social future.
What inspired you to create Kids Tech Fest, and what do you hope to achieve through this initiative?
What inspired Kids Tech Fest really comes from two places. First, at Digital Equity Africa we have always had a strong focus on young people and on gender, because we believe that the future of Africa’s digital economy will depend on how well we prepare our youth, especially girls, for it. Second, I speak as a mother. I often look at my children and ask myself, how am I preparing them for the AI-driven world they are going to inherit? Yes, they are learning traditional skills like coding, but AI is transforming everything around us, almost like a revolution. And I know that while some children are exposed, many others don’t even know what AI means, how it works, or how it affects their lives.
So Kids Tech Fest was designed to be a conversation starter and a platform. It is Africa’s first global AI summit for children aged 6 to 17, but just as importantly, it brings in the key decision-makers in their lives — parents and educators. Because children cannot do this journey alone. Parents need to understand questions like: How do you parent in an AI world? What does cybersecurity mean for your family? What is your AI safety playbook? What devices should your children use, and how do you safeguard them while still giving them access to this amazing world? It was also the perfect launchpad to announce the FutureMind AI Learning Community Initiative, a long-term program for children aged 6 to 17. This ensures that the conversation from Kids Tech Fest does not end at the summit, but continues through structured learning, mentorship,
and opportunities for children to actually practice and build with AI.
Through this initiative, I want children to expand their imagination and see how limitless their futures can be with AI, while also equipping parents and educators to guide and protect them along the way. Ultimately, Kids Tech Fest is about rethinking education, preparing families, and making sure Africa’s children are not just consumers of technology but creators and shapers of it.
Can you tell us about the Future Minds AI Learning Community, and how it aims to educate children about AI and its importance?
The Future Minds AI Learning Community is designed to make AI education accessible to everyone. While we run programs for SMEs, businesses, and even sector-specific areas like oil and gas and media, a key part of our work is focused on children and young people. This past August, we hosted Africa’s first-ever AI Summer Camp for children in partnership with UNESCO and Oracle Academy. In just two weeks, we saw five-year-olds building websites and teenagers designing AI-for-good projects. That transformation showed us what is possible when you give children the right tools, exposure, and guidance. Africa has the fastest-growing youth population in the world. If we only think about the future in terms of numbers, we miss the bigger picture. Early adoption of AI for our young people is about global relevance. It is about preparing them not just to use technology, but to create solutions, to compete in global markets, and to shape the future of work and society. To achieve this, we are building an online learning management system that will be available pan-African in both French and English. This will ensure that children across the continent can learn AI skills in a structured way. We also have an impact expression for Future Minds, where we provide scholarships and free access to children and communities who cannot afford to pay.
Ultimately, the Future Minds AI Learning Community is about democratizing AI education for Africa. It is about making sure that whether you are a child in Lagos, Nairobi, or a rural community, you have the opportunity to understand AI, to use it responsibly, and to imagine how you can apply it to solve problems in your world. For me, this is not just education. This is about positioning Africa’s next generation to be globally competitive and to lead in shaping the digital future.
How do you think AI will shape the future of Africa, and what role can children play in this future?
I believe AI will be one of the biggest forces shaping Africa’s future. It has the potential to transform entire sectors from healthcare and agriculture to education, finance, and governance. But the real question is, will Africa only be a consumer of AI solutions built elsewhere, or will we become active creators and shapers of this technology?
That is where our children come in. Africa has the youngest population in the world. By 2050, one in three children globally will be African. If we start early, exposing them to AI not just as users but as innovators, then we position Africa to leapfrog in development. Children have an imagination that is limitless, and when you give them tools like AI, they start applying it to
real-world problems in ways adults might not even think of. So the role of children is critical. They are not just the future workforce, they are future problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. If we invest in their AI literacy today, we ensure that Africa’s voice and creativity are part of shaping the global AI landscape tomorrow. For me, this is why initiatives like Kids Tech Fest and the Future Minds AI Learning Community are so important. They give children both the exposure and the guardrails they need to thrive in an AI-driven world.
Can you share some highlights from your experience as Country Director at the UK Nigeria Tech Hub, and how you contributed to the growth of the tech ecosystem?
My time as Country Director at the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub was an incredible experience because it gave me the opportunity to directly contribute to building Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and strengthening UK–Africa collaboration.
One of the highlights was brokering a three million dollar partnership with Google for Startups Africa to support women in tech. That program gave female founders access to training, mentorship, and investment readiness support, helping them scale their businesses and access funding opportunities. We also designed and delivered several investment readiness programs that connected Nigerian startups to global investors. Many of those startups went on to raise significant funding,
expand into new markets, and create jobs. Another highlight was our work in digital skills and inclusion. We supported innovation support organisations, trained young entrepreneurs, and worked with local and international partners to
create pathways for talent to thrive in the digital economy. For me, what mattered most was seeing the ecosystem mature, startups becoming investor-ready, women founders breaking barriers, and stronger collaboration between Nigerian
innovators and international partners. That experience reinforced my belief that when we connect local talent with global opportunities, the impact can be transformative, not just for founders but for the wider economy.
How have you leveraged your experience in senior leadership roles to drive growth and innovation in the companies you’ve worked with?
In every senior leadership role I have held, my focus has been on driving growth by aligning innovation with impact. At Tizeti, as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, I played a key role in expanding broadband adoption and building innovative go-to-market strategies that deepened internet penetration in underserved communities. At Decagon, as Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, I worked on building partnerships that unlocked global opportunities for Nigerian software engineers, connecting them with international companies and projects.
Beyond these roles, I have consistently leveraged my skills in strategy, ecosystem building, and partnership development to design programs that not only grow revenue but also empower people. I believe that innovation is not just about technology, but about creating scalable solutions that are sustainable, inclusive, and relevant to the people who use them.
What advice would you give to young professionals looking to break into the tech industry?
My advice to young professionals breaking into the tech industry is to start with curiosity and a willingness to learn. The industry moves quickly, and what matters most is not where you begin but how adaptable you are. Build your foundation whether in coding, design, data, or product but don’t stop there. Pair technical skills with soft skills like communication, problem solving, and collaboration because tech is ultimately about solving human problems.
I also encourage young people to seek out communities, mentors, and networks early. Many opportunities in tech come through ecosystems such as hackathons, accelerators, and professional groups not just formal applications. Finally, think beyond being consumers of technology. Africa’s greatest opportunity is for its youth to be creators, innovators, and problem
solvers. Start small, be consistent, and stay open to growth because the tech space rewards those who keep building.
