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When Unoma Okorafor started working on her master's degree in computer science at the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja, Nigeria, in the mid-'90s, she had no idea she'd end up in Silicon Valley.
"I didn't know there was such a thing as entrepreneurship in Nigeria," she tells the New York Times.
"I didn't know there was such a thing as women in tech."
But after working at Intel, HP, and IBM, Okorafor founded the nonprofit WAAW Foundation in 2017 to promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for African women, and to ensure that talent is engaged in technology innovation on the African continent, the Times reports.
Now she's working to change that.
Okorafor is the president and founder of WAAW, as well as the founder and CEO of Herbal Goodness, a health and wellness company; she's also the co-founder and principal at Fairview Data Technologies, a data science company operating in manufacturing and supply chain; and she's a grad of INSEAD's social entrepreneurship program and Stanford University Business School's executive program in social entrepreneurship.
She's also worked at Intel, HP
Selected Grant News Headlines
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
"We believe in the transformative power of AI and its potential to create positive change," says Anita Whitehead, head of impact at audit, tax, and advisory firm KPMG, which this week announced an...more
Michigan wants to make its ports more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels. The state's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is seeking proposals to create a maritime...more
The president of the University of Dubai was among dozens of women honored for their achievements in business, health, media, the arts, and technology at the fourth annual Excellence Awards in Dubai...more
Three women from Australia's Indian community have been named in the country's Order of Australia for their contributions to society. Harinder Kaur, 29,Niharika Hiremath, 29, and Sakshi Thakur,...more
It's that time of year again: the time of year when many of us crank up our air-con and head out for a dip in the pool. But what if we told you that summer is also a great time to get outside and...more
Babangida Zama is a 23-year-old college student in Kano, Nigeria. He's also the leader of the group that won the Rising Awareness Action pitch competition on Saturday, receiving a $100,000 grant...more
When Chuck Petersheim heard a high school football team in Pike County, Pa., needed funds for a trip to Florida, he decided to pony up. The Greater Pike Community Foundation recently announced...more
"Politics is like a quilt formed of hundreds of patches that come together, creating security and strength," Michael Mantha writes in the Sault Star. "I know from experience that great things can...more
The city of Fremantle, Australia, has given more than $66,000 to 11 community, youth, and arts organizations in a bid to "make Freo a more inclusive, vibrant, and creative place," Mayor Hannah...more
Foundation: Marin Community Foundation
Over the next three years, the Marin Community Foundation will spend $30 million to support 80 nonprofits in Marin County, Calif., the San Francisco Chronicle reports. That's a big change for the...more
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
Social Entrepreneurs to Get Free WiFi Access
iPass, a telecommunications provider, will give free internet access to 100 non-government organizations (NGOs) for a year as they work in dangerous countries to help its poor and underserved populations.
