The 21st century faces a significant challenge in the form of the gender gap within the global workforce. Numerous initiatives and organizations across various industries are dedicated to addressing this issue. In Nigeria, WomenInDeFi (WID) is at the forefront of bridging the gender gap within the blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. WID achieves this by fostering knowledge and empowerment among women through a diverse array of activities. These include hosting podcasts, conducting online masterclasses, facilitating interactive sessions with industry experts, and organizing offline events. Additionally, WID offers its community members valuable mentorship opportunities, empowering them to enhance their expertise within the blockchain industry.

Established by Sarah Idahosa on February 18, 2022, WID has experienced remarkable growth, boasting a community of 3,000 members, providing training to 2,000 women, establishing 15 chapter locations throughout Nigeria, initiating seven DeFi training cohorts, and organizing three in-person events. Yet, the community's aspirations are even grander, as it strives to educate 2,000,000 women about the blockchain by 2025.

To bring its ambitious vision to fruition, WID plans to expand its reach into other African nations, including Kenya and Ghana, by the final quarter of this year. Furthermore, the organization aims to commence school outreach programs by the first quarter of 2024 and broaden its curriculum to encompass blockchain-related subjects such as smart contract development, tokenomics, product design, and product management before the end of the fourth quarter in 2023.

Since its inception, WID has initiated and nurtured the careers of thousands, with some of them emerging as recognizable figures within the broader blockchain industry.

1. Fareedah Oyewale Abike

Fareedah Oyewale Abike is the State Lead of Women In DeFi Kogi State Chapter. She is a certified DeFi research analyst, public speaker, and educator. With almost two years of experience in DeFi research, she conducts in-depth research and helps analyze tokens.

Being a member of the WID community has assisted her in meeting like-minds and ultimately growing her network. During events she organizes as a WID State Lead, she is able to improve her public speaking skills and contribute to the adoption of blockchain by the larger society.

She has an interest in helping brands improve their ability to reach their target audience and grow their reputation.

2. Ivy Elebesunu

Ivy Elebesunu is the State Lead of Women In DeFi Lagos State Chapter. Her passion for content, data, and finance led her to DeFi, and with the help of WID’s communication and content development courses, she is finally pursuing her passion.

With over two years of experience in content marketing, Ivy developed a fascination for the power of words and visuals to connect, engage, and drive conversions. With this background, Ivy is set out to make a significant impact in the content marketing and brand strategy industries. Ivy’s skill in creating resonant stories, crafting impactful narratives, and elevating brand identities sets her apart for an upward trajectory.

3. Progress Ochuko Eyaadah

Progress Eyaadah is a software developer and technical writer. She is passionate about building enduring software solutions. After joining WID in March 2023, she gained access to developer opportunities and acquired a comprehensive understanding of web3 technologies.

Progress is a Javascript hobbyist coder. She is also a four-time winner of prominent DeFi hackathons across Nigeria. When Promise is not writing code, she is geeking about the latest gadget or tech innovation.

4. Olamide Animasahun Mercy

Olamide Mercy is the State Lead of Women In DeFi Ogun State Chapter. She is the founder of Etherviva, previously called Web3gala, a Web3-focused entertainment and recreation company. As an experienced Web3 operator, she has contributed to over 10 projects in the NFT, GameFi, and DeFi sectors. She has also served as an ambassador for Decentralized Web and community manager and DeFi tutor for Workxie Billionaire and Fly Guyz.

Beyond her work in DeFi, she flexes her muscles as a dedicated content writer and spends time curating special gifts.

5. Kareem Motunrayo

Kareem Motunrayo is a community manager and technical product manager. After learning about DeFi and Web3 at the WID’s first DeFi training cohort, she has worked closely with blockchain founders and contributed to the growth of various Web 3 projects.

After winning Hackathon opportunities shared in the WID community, she secured a job in Web3. She takes joy in guiding other people to do their best work and loves networking with industry experts.