Aramide Abe is a business leader committed to driving macroeconomic development through entrepreneurship and job creation. She is passionate about Africa and all aspects of development across the continent. She served as Global Lead for Jobs and Entrepreneurship at the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme, a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the GCA. She holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Nottingham and brings 20 years of experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and strategy. She also earned a full-time MBA from INSEAD in France, focusing on entrepreneurial strategies for emerging markets. Post-MBA, she notably led the strategy implementation of a multi-million dollar programme for the pan-African financial services group Ecobank (ETI) across its 36 countries. As convener of Naija Startups, a network of over 95,000 entrepreneurs and business leaders across Africa and the Diaspora, the platform promotes investment readiness, access to opportunities, and capacity-building for African business leaders. Under her leadership, it has partnered with Google, Microsoft, and the World Bank to support thousands of African entrepreneurs. A key voice in Africa’s SME ecosystem, Aramide contributes to UN private sector development efforts and consults on AfCFTA policy with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). In this interview, she speaks on her passion for building capacity for African youth and entrepreneurs.
You are committed to the growth of Africa’s SME Ecosystem. How are you ensuring that more entrepreneurs have better opportunities to scale and thrive.
Through Naija Startups, I built a platform which served close to 100,000 entrepreneurs across Africa and the Diaspora, focusing on three critical pillars: investment readiness, access to opportunities, and capacity-building. We strategically partnered with global tech giants like Google and Microsoft, as well as the World Bank, to ensure our entrepreneurs gained access to world-class resources and mentorship. While the platform has evolved into a business leader network, our approach is systemic, we do not just focus on individual businesses but on building the entire ecosystem. Furthermore, under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), an initiative championed by the African Development Bank and GCA, I managed a mutli-million-dollar Entrepreneurship and Job Creation portfolio, specifically investing in African youth-led climate adaptation SMEs, demonstrating how we can align entrepreneurship with solving Africa’s most pressing challenges. I also contribute to policy development through my work with UNECA, ensuring that the regulatory environment supports SME growth across borders.
You have a background in Computer Science. What informed the transition to macroeconomic development? How are you applying your background in Computer Science to boost entrepreneurship and job creation?
My Computer Science degree from the University of Nottingham gave me a unique analytical and systems thinking approach that I now apply to macroeconomic challenges. Technology taught me to see problems as systems that can be optimised, which is exactly how I approach entrepreneurship and job creation. The transition wasn’t really a departure it was an evolution. I recognised that technology alone couldn’t solve Africa’s development challenges without addressing the broader economic structures. My technical background helps me understand how digital solutions can scale entrepreneurship, which is why I have been privileged to successfully partner with Big Tech companies to build capacity for African entrepreneurs. I see entrepreneurship through the lens of scalable systems, much like software architecture.
In your experience, what would you say are some of the biggest challenges faced by Nigerian entrepreneurs?
As an ecosystem builder, enabler and investor, I have had the unique honour of working with thousands of entrepreneurs – both through Naija Startups and the AAAP. I have identified three critical challenges founders face: access to appropriate financing, regulatory complexity, and market access beyond local boundaries. Many brilliant entrepreneurs struggle with the gap between seed funding and growth capital; they can get started but cannot scale. The regulatory environment, while gradually improving, still creates unnecessary friction. Entrepreneurs spend too much time navigating bureaucracy instead of building their businesses. Finally, there is the challenge of thinking beyond local markets. Nigerian entrepreneurs often underestimate their potential to serve the broader African market, partly due to limited knowledge about cross-border opportunities. As someone who is based in Francophone Africa, I am continually struck at the vast opportunities we continue to leave on untapped.
What is the role of the government in enacting policies that improve the ease of doing business in Africa?
Governments must focus on three areas: regulatory harmonisation, infrastructure development, and creating enabling policies for cross-border trade. Through my work with UNECA as an advisor on AfCFTA policy in the early days, I have seen how policy frameworks can either accelerate or stifle entrepreneurship. The government’s role isn’t to pick winners but to create a level playing field. This means streamlining business registration processes, ensuring consistent policy implementation, and building digital infrastructure that allows businesses to operate efficiently. Most importantly, governments need to think continentally policies should facilitate intra-African trade, not just protect local markets.
How are you inspiring and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through Naija Startups.
Naija Startups is designed as more than a network, it’s a movement. We focus on practical empowerment: connecting our youth enterprises with business and growth opportunities through our free opportunities’ billboard; by pairing our business leaders with peer mentors and by providing our board-level professionals and entrepreneurs with access to unique global opportunities. What makes us different is our community-driven approach. Our partnerships with global organisations also expose our founders and professionals to international best practices and opportunities.
What would you say is the future of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape?
The future is digital, green, and youth-led. With increased access to mobile technology and policy frameworks, Nigerian entrepreneurs are poised to lead innovation in fintech, agritech, and climate adaptation. The right blend of investment, skills, and policy can turn Nigeria into Africa’s startup capital. Manufacturing also represents an untapped opportunity, a potential cash cow if approached strategically.
You are a highly sought after speaker, having spoken at a number of leading global platforms. How are you shaping thoughts and perceptions about Africa’s entrepreneurial scene?
When I speak at platforms like the United Nations, Bank of Italy G7 or at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, my goal is to shift the narrative from potential to performance. I share concrete examples of African entrepreneurs solving real problems and generating real returns. I focus on data and results rather than stories about potential. Africa’s entrepreneurial scene doesn’t need charity it needs partnership and access. I demonstrate how African entrepreneurs are building solutions that could work globally, not just locally. My active social media engagement also helps maintain this conversation consistently, reaching thousands of decision-makers who shape investment and policy decisions.
You are thriving in a male dominated space. Would you say you have faced any challenges on the road to the pinnacle of your career based on your gender?
I have been fortunate to have strong mentors and to focus on delivering results that speak louder than demographics. However, I’d be naive to say gender hasn’t presented challenges. Early in my career, I sometimes had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously in boardrooms and investment discussions. What I have learned is that expertise and results are the great equalizers. My technical background in Computer Science, MBA from INSEAD, and track record of managing multi-million-dollar portfolios speak for themselves. I’ve also been intentional about creating opportunities for other women through Naija Startups and my broader network.
In your opinion, what are the key traits or habits women need to cultivate to be the best versions of themselves?
Three traits are essential: strategic thinking, authentic networking, and resilience. Strategic thinking means understanding not just what you’re doing, but why it matters in the broader context. This helps you communicate value clearly and position yourself for leadership roles. Authentic networking which I write about weekly is about building genuine relationships based on mutual value, not just collecting contacts. Finally, resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from setbacks; it’s about maintaining your vision while adapting your approach. The combination of these traits, along with continuous learning, creates unstoppable momentum.
Running a successful business requires significant time and energy. How do you maintain a balance between your professional and personal life?
For me, balance isn’t about perfect compartmentalisation it’s about integration and intentionality. I schedule personal time with the same discipline I apply to business meetings, blocking out time to connect with loved ones or simply unwind. My weekly LinkedIn writing, for example, serves both professional and personal purposes it helps me process my thoughts while contributing to the broader industry conversation. I also believe in the strategic power of saying no. Not every opportunity deserves my time, especially if it doesn’t align with my core mission of driving Africa’s development through entrepreneurship. Having clear priorities simplifies decision-making and safeguards time for what truly matters.
When you reflect on your career, what do you hope your legacy will be in the sector?
I hope my legacy will be measured by the men and women who succeeded because of the Africa we built together. For me, success isn’t just about personal achievement it’s about driving systemic change. I want to be remembered as a catalyst for transformation someone who helped shift Africa’s entrepreneurial and employment landscape from potential to performance. Someone who demonstrated that, with the right support, systems, and opportunities, African entrepreneurs can compete globally and create jobs locally, especially for youth and women ultimately redefining how Africa approaches development.
What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders who look up to you as a source of inspiration?
First, invest in your expertise become undeniably good at what you do. Second, build your network intentionally and authentically; relationships are the foundation of leadership. Third, don’t wait for permission to lead; identify problems you’re passionate about solving and start solving them. Most importantly, think beyond yourself. Leadership isn’t about personal advancement; it’s about creating positive change that outlasts you. Focus on building systems, mentoring others, and creating opportunities for those coming behind you. The best leaders are remembered not for what they achieved, but for what they enabled others to achieve.
What is your life mantra?
“Purpose-driven impact through authentic connections and lasting value.” Everything I do is filtered through this lens whether it’s building Naija Startups, speaking on global platforms, or advising on policy. I believe that when you align clear purpose with genuine relationships and a commitment to creating value, you drive sustainable change that transcends individual success. This mantra keeps me grounded in what matters most: using my skills, network, and platform to deliver meaningful development across Africa through entrepreneurship and job creation.
