PalmPay’s Purple Woman Program Trains 250 Women for Nigeria’s Tech Sector
By combining technical training with organisational and leadership development, PalmPay is contributing to a more diverse workforce that mirrors the broad customer base driving the country’s digital economy.
In Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy, where fintech companies have seen rapid expansion in recent years, efforts to drive inclusion are increasingly shaping the sector’s talent pipeline. One such initiative is the PalmPay Purple Woman program by PalmPay, which seeks to address the gender gap in technology, where women make up only 17% of the workforce.
The program targets not only technical barriers but also perception challenges that discourage many women from entering the tech space. Through a competitive selection process, 100 women were chosen for a three-day masterclass in the 2025 cohort, designed to introduce participants to opportunities within the fintech ecosystem.
Following the training, a select group of participants advanced into a six-month internship within PalmPay’s internal teams, enabling them to gain hands-on experience across different business functions. The initiative goes beyond traditional coding bootcamps by offering a multidisciplinary curriculum that includes software engineering, data analysis, and UI/UX design, alongside operational areas such as product management, digital marketing, and human resources. It also incorporates modules on personal financial management and workplace policy to strengthen participants’ economic resilience.
The program, now in its third year, is demonstrating measurable impact. Over the past three years, it has supported approximately 250 young women and facilitated 20 internships, helping participants transition from training into real-world roles within one of Africa’s fastest-growing fintech companies.
A key component of the initiative is its exposure to PalmPay’s corporate culture, which promotes openness and reduced hierarchy. Participants are introduced to a “no door” policy that allows direct engagement with senior leadership, fostering collaboration and a more inclusive work environment.
As Nigeria continues to position itself as a leading technology hub, the Purple Woman program reflects how targeted initiatives can support more inclusive growth. By combining technical training with organisational and leadership development, PalmPay is contributing to a more diverse workforce that mirrors the broad customer base driving the country’s digital economy.
