Women in DeFi Summit 2026 drives Africa’s $1.4 trillion opportunity

The Women in DeFi (WID) Summit 2026 successfully concluded at The Zone Tech Park, Gbagada, marking a historic pivot from digital participation to sovereign ownership for African women.

Under the theme “Beyond the Bridge: African Women Leading the Future of Web3,” the summit convened over 500 builders and leaders to address the critical gender gap in the global decentralised economy.

Opening the summit with a high-energy session on Personal Branding, Bibi Eneje set the stage by declaring that “Visibility is power.” Eneje urged attendees to build authority through their unique perspectives, stating, “Know your season and build for the season ahead; the room is waiting for you.”

This call to action was amplified in a powerful keynote by Tejumade Tejuoso, who challenged the industry’s 94% male founder dominance. Tejuoso moved beyond the standard “access” narrative, identifying Ownership, Community, and Audacity as the pillars of the next decade.

“The DeFi market is projected to grow from $37 billion today to $1.4 trillion by 2033. We must ask: who will hold that wealth and who will build the products that unlock it?” Tejuoso stated. She reframed traditional African mutual aid networks, such as “Ajo,” as foundational blockchain logic. “Ajo is not a soft skill; it is a protocol. The women who built the informal economies of this continent are the same ones who will help us build the decentralised economies of the next one.” In alignment with this vision, the Unstoppable Women of Web3 initiative announced a target to onboard 6 million African women by 2030.

In a candid Fireside Session, WID Founder Sarah Idahosa revealed the deeper mission behind the brand. “I chose the name ‘Women in DeFi’ because it represents independent finance,” Idahosa explained. “Coming into the space, I saw that it was open to everyone with no gatekeepers. You don’t need someone else to grow as long as you have a sound mind and ideas. DeFi made me financially independent, and since we are building financial inclusion for women, it makes sense to use a name that literally means independent finance.” She also cited rigorous time management as a non-negotiable for building a high-impact personal brand and community.

The summit’s commitment to tangible empowerment was solidified by Busha, one of the two SEC-licensed digital asset exchanges in Nigeria and a leading sponsor of the event. In a standout moment of tangible empowerment, Busha sponsored the WID Laptop Scholarships, awarding high-performance laptops to Hannah Kasali, Ebube Achusim, Emmanuela Adio, Peace Omosehe, and Marvelous Olatuga to facilitate their transition into technical engineering roles within the ecosystem.

For more insights, check out the full video of the summit Women in DeFi Summit 2026.