Nigerian social entrepreneur Bisola Alabi reflects on first year at Harvard

Nigerian social entrepreneur Bisola Alabi is redefining what is possible for women-focused innovation in Nigeria, following international recognition for her impact-driven platform, Heels and Tech.

She said her journey at Harvard University has become a strong example of how initiatives centred on women’s empowerment can attract global attention, funding, and institutional support when backed by vision and measurable impact.

According to her, in a statement, she has consistently focused on empowering women and girls with education, digital skills, leadership training, and access to opportunities across Africa through Heels and Tech. “That commitment has now earned recognition at one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions.”

Delighted Alabi said her women-focused project secured approval and support from Harvard, a milestone that further validates the relevance and sustainability of female-centred social innovation emerging from Nigeria.

In recognition of the impact of her work, Alabi was awarded the Education Leadership Fellowship and financial aid support at Harvard, easing the financial burden of her studies by 90% while affirming the value of her mission.

“She also recorded another major achievement after emerging as the winner of the HGSE Hive Innovation Competition at Harvard alongside her team. The competition celebrates innovative ideas with strong social impact potential, and Alabi’s success underscored the growing global interest in solutions targeted at women’s advancement and inclusion.”

According to the statement, her accomplishments send a message to young innovators and social entrepreneurs across Nigeria: building a platform dedicated to women is not only possible, but can also attract international credibility and institutional backing.

At a time when conversations around gender inclusion, economic empowerment, and access to education continue to shape development discussions globally, Alabi’s success story stands as proof that purposeful ideas developed in Nigeria can compete and succeed on the world stage.