by THEMBAKAZI SITHOLE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – AFRICA’S digital transformation will fall short unless women are placed at the centre of efforts to develop the continent’s expanding digital infrastructure, delegates at the Pan African DataCentres Exhibition and Conference 2026 have been told.
Nancy Mwadime of Women in Sustainable Engineering and Technology (WiSET), a Kenya-based non-profit organisation, urged governments, industry leaders and educational institutions to invest in a more diverse talent pipeline capable of supporting Africa’s rapidly growing digital economy.
Addressing delegates from the perspective of a grassroots organisation, Mwadime questioned where women fit into Africa’s ambitious plans to build the digital backbone that will underpin future economic growth.
With investment in data centres and digital infrastructure accelerating across the continent, demand for skilled professionals to design, build and operate these facilities is rising sharply.
However, Africa continues to face significant shortages of specialised technical skills, a challenge compounded by the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Mwadime said female participation declines steadily from secondary school through to tertiary education and into professional careers, largely because of entrenched stereotypes, limited access to mentors and financial constraints.
Drawing on her own experience as a civil engineer, she described how meeting a successful woman in the profession during her school years inspired her career ambitions, illustrating the importance of visible role models in encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers.
She also highlighted the barriers faced by many young women, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where access to educational resources, career guidance and mentorship remains limited.
Cultural expectations and economic hardship continue to prevent many girls from completing their education or pursuing technical professions.
Mwadime stressed that increasing women’s participation in STEM is not only a matter of equality but also a business necessity.
Diverse teams, she noted, consistently produce stronger innovation, better problem-solving and improved organisational performance, qualities essential as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence reshape industries.
She challenged employers to recruit women for their expertise and potential rather than simply to improve gender representation.
Through its outreach programmes, WiSET supports girls and young women with STEM education, mentorship, innovation training and entrepreneurship development, while also helping women who have left formal education find pathways into technology careers.
Delegates agreed that collaboration between governments, industry, academia and civil society will be essential to closing gender gaps and ensuring Africa’s digital future is built on an inclusive, skilled and innovative workforce.
– CAJ News