Nigerian tech executive Obiageli Obii Okafor has achieved a milestone as the first African woman to secure the Women in Telecoms Champion award at the 2026 Comms Council UK Awards. This honor celebrates her impactful work in the British telecommunications landscape.
Currently a Senior Product Manager at 8×8, Okafor also founded PMHelp, a non-profit that has guided over 52,000 individuals across 70 nations in their tech career pursuits. Despite her eventual success, her path was not easy; after moving to the UK, she endured numerous job rejections and juggled multiple roles to survive before breaking into the industry.
Reflecting on the award, Okafor expressed profound humility and hope, noting that her achievement serves as proof that talent transcends borders. She emphasized that true representation in technology goes beyond mere participation, insisting that women must hold roles that allow them to drive strategy and business growth.
Industry data from techUK indicates that women occupy less than one-fifth of the sector’s roles. To combat this, Okafor encourages aspiring women in technology to trust their capabilities and proactively claim their space in the field.
This accolade joins an impressive list of previous honors for Okafor, including titles from the She Inspires Awards and recognition as one of the 50 Women Tech Titans in Nigeria.
