Opinion: Women Have a Major Role in Rebuilding Somalia-- the Private Sector Must Support Them

Apr 3, 2020 | Alice Laugher
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When Zahra Ibrahim began studying at a university in Mogadishu, Somalia, she was told that computer science wasn’t for women. Her parents and teachers wanted her to study medicine; being a doctor was much more acceptable for Somali girls. But she remained undeterred and is now the first female computer science lecturer at Somalia’s top university as well as the founder and CEO of SOSTEC, a software solutions provider. She is determined to empower women and close the gender gap in technology by hiring female engineers and offering courses to women on coding and design.