A Nigerian entrepreneur, Biobele Oyibo, was named the winner of the Technology Award at the 2026 Empretec Women in Business Awards, which were presented during the 9th World Investment Forum in Doha, Qatar.
Oyibo, who co‑founded and serves as chief executive officer of the fintech startup Earlybean, was honoured for using technology to advance financial literacy and inclusion among young people.
The awards, organised under the theme “Women‑led businesses and the art of scale,” recognised women entrepreneurs across four categories – Leadership, Sustainability, Innovation and Technology – and brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and business leaders to celebrate the winners and link them with funding, markets, expertise and networks.
In addition to Oyibo’s accolade, the ceremony highlighted the broader impact of women‑led enterprises in creating jobs, deploying new technologies and tackling economic, social and environmental challenges. Sandra Letio of Uganda received the Leadership Award for building an agribusiness that works with more than 5,000 smallholder farmers, while Paula Gianserra of Argentina won the Sustainability Award for advancing forest restoration through artificial intelligence, biotechnology and drone seeding.
The Innovation Award was shared by Aisha Albinali of Qatar, co‑founder of Wafir, for transforming traditional savings practices into a fintech solution, and Adriana Fernandes of Brazil, chief executive officer of Mátrika Special Foods, for improving access to safe, quality food for people with allergies and dietary restrictions.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
