The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi was filled with brilliance, ambition, and sisterhood as the Futuremakers Women in Tech Nigeria Accelerator Programme (Cohort 6) hosted its graduation and final showcase ceremony. The event celebrated 12 exceptional female founders building technology-enabled solutions across multiple sectors in Nigeria , each demonstrating resilience, innovation, and a commitment to transforming lives and industries.

The programme, powered by Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University and Village Capital, marked the culmination of a three-month accelerator designed to strengthen and scale women-led startups through business advisory, mentorship, capacity development, and investor readiness support.

Among the standout ventures of the evening was Hafrikplay, a Pan-African music streaming and creative economy platform, co-founded by Omobosola Karimat Alaka. Hafrikplay was announced as one of the Top 5 winning startups, recognized for its innovative model that empowers independent African creators with fair monetization tools, community-driven discovery, and culturally relevant digital access.

A Gathering of Influence, Leadership, and Purpose

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Standard Chartered Bank, EDC faculty and leadership, investors, ecosystem enablers, and members of the media.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Fatumata Soukouna Coker, Chairman of CreditRegistry and Afrinvest Securities Limited, challenged the founders to build boldly and lead with confidence:

“Your network is a strategic asset. Your time, your voice, your story — these are currencies. Be intentional about partnership. Be intentional about value. The business grows when the leader grows.”

Her message set the tone for a gathering rooted not just in celebration — but in elevation.

Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director of EDC, spoke reflectively about the programme’s journey from Cohort 1 to Cohort 6, highlighting how the Women in Tech initiative has helped shape a growing community of forward-thinking female innovators across Nigeria. She reaffirmed EDC’s commitment to continuing to invest in women founders building high-impact solutions.

The evening also featured a fireside conversation between David Lanre Messan and Chioma Ukpabi on “Collaboration Amongst Female Founders.” The dialogue reinforced the importance of shared leverage and collective advancement, urging women to build alliances rather than operate in silos.

A Defining Moment: Hafrikplay’s Founder Speaks for the Cohort

Representing the entire cohort, Omobosola Karimat Alaka, CEO and Co-Founder of Hafrikplay, delivered the official Thank You Speech — a powerful, heartfelt reflection that drew admiration from the room:

“This programme has reshaped how we think, how we build, and how we lead. The learning was not only technical — it was personal and transformative. To Standard Chartered, EDC, Village Capital, and our business advisors — thank you for believing in women who build.”

She went on to celebrate her fellow founders:

“To every woman in this cohort — your work matters. Your vision matters. You are building the future of industries, culture, infrastructure, and community. Today, we rise together.” As Whitney Wolfe Herd, Founder of Bumble, once said: “The future of business is female. The future of tech is female. The future is ours to build.”

In a moment that electrified the room and spoke to the heart of shared empowerment, Karimat announced that Hafrikplay will be extending a $800 support contribution to the remaining seven startups who were not among the grant recipients — a gesture symbolizing collaboration, solidarity, and women lifting women.

“When women build, we don’t just create companies — we create ecosystems. We open doors, we give others room to stand, and we rise together.”

The audience erupted in applause — a defining emotional highlight of the celebration.

A Spectacular Close

The evening concluded with handshakes, warm embraces, photos, champagne toasts, and meaningful networking — the kind that signals not an ending, but the beginning of new partnerships and shared journeys.

The Women in Tech Programme continues to reaffirm one truth:

Women are not just participating in the African tech revolution — they are leading it, shaping it, and scaling it.

And Hafrikplay’s win is not just symbolic — it is a signal of a creative-tech future built in Africa, for Africa, and by Africans.

About Hafrikplay

Hafrikplay is a Pan-African digital music and cultural streaming platform empowering independent African creators with fair monetization, data insights, and global audience access. The platform blends music discovery, distribution, and community engagement to build the digital infrastructure of the African creative economy.