How Jackleen Nnely empowers and spotlights the next generation of tech innovators through her mentorship platform

Jackleen Nnely is a Project Manager, with over 13 years of experience working in Africa and Europe. Jackleen has worked and contributed to projects for several organisations, including Apple, Netflix, Mara, and MTV Base.

With a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Lagos State University, Nigeria and an MSc in Project Management from the University of Northampton, United Kingdom. She is also the founder of Immigrants in Tech (IiT), a non-profit organisation that aims to empower and connect immigrants in the technology industry as well as working to raise awareness of the contributions that immigrants make to technology.

Speaking on her journey in to tech, Jackleen says, ‘I have always been interested in technology and how it can drive innovation and change. As a result of the stress of finding a job while still in school, I channelled my creative energy into the media space, as certifications and degrees were not required to get a job in media. However, I made certain that I was up to date on all things’ technology. So, the shift from media to tech wasn’t as hard as I had expected. My background in media also helped me understand the importance of storytelling and communication, which I found to be valuable skills in the tech industry. Eventually, I decided to make a career change and continue my role in project management within the tech space. I worked with more tech companies in order to help scale them and eventually got a Master’s degree to broaden my knowledge in project management’.

With her company “Immigrants in Tech” which highlights the achievements of immigrants in the UK, as well as provide mentorship for those who are interested in starting or switching to a career in tech, Jackleen says, ‘we need more Nigerian immigrants to break through the barriers imposed by the government’.

She added that, ‘I started Immigrants in Tech to showcase the achievements and contributions of immigrants in the technology industry, specifically in the UK. The goal of the platform is to provide mentorship and resources for individuals who are interested in starting or switching to a career in tech. While the platform was originally started to highlight the success of Nigerian immigrants in the tech industry, it is open to everyone regardless of their country of origin. I believe that diversity and inclusivity are essential for the growth and success of the tech industry, and I want to provide a supportive community for all individuals, regardless of their background, who are interested in pursuing a career in tech. If I can do it and grow, I believe more people can’.

‘There are so many ways that the Nigerian government can support the tech industry in Nigeria. Firstly, they can invest in education and training programmes such as bootcamps for all individuals, both young and old. They could also promote entrepreneurship, develop infrastructure, and offer tax breaks and other financial benefits to start ups and thriving tech companies. They also need to put in place better policies that will make it easier for companies to attract and retain top talent and encourage the development of a vibrant ecosystem for tech companies to operate, with an emphasis on helping businesses grow and developing a strong community of entrepreneur’ she said.

Jackleen is also a non-executive director of the start-up, Wurah Technologies, an organisation dedicated to transforming the healthcare ecosystem for low-socioeconomic Nigerians through the use of cutting-edge technologies.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Jackleen uses her distinctive identity to coach, motivate, and inspire young people to realise their full potential, be brave, and strive for greater success in the tech space.

She encouraged young Nigerians to learn more about tech as well as her project ‘Immigrants in tech’ saying, ‘you can learn more about Immigrants in Tech on our Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn pages. You can find us on Instagram by searching for @immigrantsintechuk, on YouTube by searching for Immigrants in Tech, and on LinkedIn by searching for Immigrants in Tech. Additionally, you can visit our website at immigrantsintech.org to learn more about our mission, events, and mentorship programs. Follow us to stay updated and be part of our community’.