Eight African women are contributing to the United Kingdom’s digital economy through innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, identity verification, enterprise transformation and technology skills development.

‎The women, who hail from different parts of Africa, have established careers in British businesses, financial institutions, consultancies and public-sector organisations, using their experience to develop solutions to challenges affecting businesses, workers and consumers.

‎Their work spans digital commerce, financial inclusion, healthcare delivery, workforce development and the adoption of emerging technologies, reflecting the growing role of African talent in the UK’s digital transformation.

‎One of them, Bukola Babajide, founder and chief executive officer of Fufilr, is applying her experience in corporate digital transformation to cross-border commerce.

‎Babajide, who previously worked on digital transformation projects for BP, Nationwide, Lloyds Bank and Avon, founded 9jaDelivery in 2017 to improve access to African food and products in Britain.

‎The business has since evolved into Fufilr, a cross-border commerce platform providing African brands with fulfilment, logistics and e-commerce infrastructure to reach customers in the UK and other international markets.

‎The platform seeks to reduce the operational barriers that prevent African businesses from accessing foreign markets while making their products more accessible to British consumers.

‎Babajide also founded Female Techpreneur, a network supporting women building technology businesses.

She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for services to technology, business and inclusion.

‎Another contributor to the UK technology ecosystem is Nkechi Anyanwu, founding engineer at Vouchsafe and founder of Pivotech.

‎Her work focuses on identity verification and financial inclusion, particularly for people who encounter difficulties accessing banking, housing and employment because they lack established credit histories or conventional documentation.

‎At Vouchsafe, Anyanwu joined the founding team after meeting its founders at a London technology event in 2024.

‎In 2025, she led the development of what the company describes as the UK’s first automatic eVisa verification system.

The technology enables banks and lenders to verify eligible eVisa holders, potentially making it easier for new arrivals to open accounts and access financial services.

‎Vouchsafe is also expanding its identity verification infrastructure into fraud intelligence, helping financial institutions identify suspicious activities while reducing the risk of excluding legitimate customers.

‎Beyond her engineering and product strategy responsibilities, Anyanwu founded Pivotech, a community that brings technology professionals from different disciplines together to develop solutions to real-world challenges.

‎In enterprise transformation, Adefarayola Deborah Olugbemisola, chief executive officer and founder of Fael Ltd, advises government departments and multinational companies on restructuring their operations around technology.

‎Having arrived in the UK through the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, Olugbemisola developed expertise in enterprise-wide transformation, intelligent automation and strategic change.

‎Her consultancy specialises in complex business restructuring, including the separation and integration of companies, where systems, data and teams must be reorganised without disrupting operations.

‎She also held a role in the UK Government’s Brexit programme.

‎Olugbemisola maintains that successful digital transformation requires leadership and organisational change, rather than technology investment alone. She argues that businesses that embed AI into their core processes and compliance systems will be better positioned to improve efficiency and remain competitive.

‎Similarly, Darlyn Okojie, founder and chief change intelligence officer of HumaAIne Solutions, is addressing the human challenges associated with technology adoption.

‎Her company is developing the Humaine Transformation Intelligence Engine, known as HTIE, a platform designed to assess how employees respond to organisational change and identify potential resistance or adoption risks before they undermine transformation programmes.

‎The solution is intended to help business leaders identify cultural barriers and workforce concerns that conventional project management tools may overlook.

‎With organisations investing in AI and digital systems, Okojie’s approach seeks to improve the likelihood that employees will adopt new technologies and that businesses will realise the expected returns on their investments.

‎In healthcare, Diana Dwamena, founder and chief executive officer of Mahiri-Telehealth, is using digital technology to support healthcare delivery in the UK and Ghana.

‎Dwamena has been involved in digital business in Britain since 1988, when she established an e-commerce consultancy serving major telecommunications and new media companies.
‎She founded Mahiri-Telehealth in 2014 to provide telehealth and digital transformation solutions across the two countries.

‎Its products include RemoteCare and Mahiri HomeCare. Through a partner, Mahiri HomeCare is expected to provide continuous remote monitoring in the UK for patients discharged following surgery or hospital treatment.

‎The approach is designed to support patients after discharge while helping healthcare providers manage pressure on hospital beds and other resources.

‎The company also operates a research division that supports health research institutions and government health initiatives.

‎Meanwhile, June Angelides, founder of Mums in Technology, is addressing the technology skills gap by helping mothers return to employment through digital training.

‎Established in 2015, the initiative provides child-friendly technology skills training, including coding, to mothers who might otherwise find it difficult to combine education with childcare responsibilities.

‎The model seeks to widen access to technology careers while helping employers reach a broader pool of skilled workers.

‎Angelides was ranked sixth among the most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders in UK technology by the Financial Times in 2018. She received an MBE in 2020 for services to women in technology.
‎Uzo Mkparu, founder and chief executive officer of TechScale Consulting, is also contributing to AI adoption and digital innovation through strategic advisory services.

‎Her career includes experience at Oracle and ICL in the UK, as well as senior positions in Nigeria’s banking sector, where she co-led the integration of two major banks.

‎Through TechScale Consulting, Mkparu advises organisations on identifying opportunities for AI and data-driven innovation and incorporating them into their operating models.

‎The consultancy serves clients across energy, telecommunications, financial services and the public sector, including the United Nations.

‎Mkparu holds an MBA from Cranfield University and a master’s degree in Information Systems from City University, London. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors in the UK.

‎Her work connects expertise developed in the UK with the growing adoption of AI and digital technologies across African markets.

‎Completing the list is Peace Amaechi, founder of Ipathon Technologies, a UK-based company developing digital products for communities in Britain, Nigeria and other markets.

‎The company focuses on AI, user experience and product innovation, with particular attention to career development, education and inclusion.

‎Its work seeks to use technology to improve access to skills, employment opportunities and other resources that can support professional advancement.

‎Amaechi, who is also a global ambassador for the WomenTech Network, advocates broader participation in technology development, particularly among groups that have traditionally had limited access to the sector.

‎Collectively, the eight women represent different aspects of the digital economy, from building technology products and improving access to financial services to helping organisations manage change and strengthening the technology workforce.
‎Their activities also illustrate how professionals with experience across African and British markets can apply their knowledge to business and social challenges in both regions.

‎As organisations continue to invest in artificial intelligence, automation and digital infrastructure, their work highlights the importance of combining technical expertise with an understanding of people, institutions and the practical challenges of adopting new technologies.