Her Royal Majesty, Khadijat Abdulkadir | Founder & CEO, INGRYD Academy | Tech Entrepreneur Empowering 40,000+ Nigerian Youths | Philanthropist & Queen of Okpella Kingdom | Driving Africa's Digital Future
Meet Her Royal Majesty, Khadijat Abdulkadir from Lagos, Nigeria—a dynamic tech entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the Queen of Okpella Kingdom who has built a remarkable career bridging global corporate expertise with impactful social innovation in Africa. She is addressed by the title HRM as the first wife of His Royal Majesty, Michael Eshironoya Olorunfemi Sado, the current Regent of Okpella Kingdom in Edo State. From hands-on roles at Microsoft and Accenture to serving as CTO at Africa Prudential and advising the Nigerian Police on digital transformation, she now leads INGRYD Academy as Founder and CEO, training and certifying thousands of young Nigerians for global tech careers while championing women’s empowerment through her longstanding foundation, Digital African Woman. With a sharp focus on accessible education and workforce development, Khadijat is quietly reshaping Africa’s digital future one skilled professional at a time.
Early Education and Roots in a Global World
Khadijat Abdulkadir’s story begins with a childhood shaped by movement and exposure. Growing up between Nigeria and the United States, thanks to her father’s role as a Nigerian diplomat. She experienced diverse cultures from an early age. This unique upbringing sparked her curiosity about opportunity and inclusion across borders.
Stepping into the Tech World: Corporate Roles and Global Experience
Khadijat’s professional journey kicked off in the U.S. tech scene. Starting as an SAP SD Business Analyst at Carefusion in San Diego, she quickly moved to Accenture and Microsoft in the Seattle area, where she served as liaison between business and IT teams, managed SAP implementations, and oversaw end-to-end solutions, from requirement gathering to go-live support.
By 2016, based in Brussels, she took on consulting roles at Apside and Candriam, rising to Head of IT Testing and Digital Transformation. Her technical prowess shone through certifications like Advanced ISTQB and Agile Coach, plus skills in ABAP, C++, C#, and Python.
In Europe, her passion for empowerment emerged strongly. She founded Digital African Woman (DAW) in 2016, a foundation supporting women-led African and diaspora tech startups with training, networking, and pitch events.
“DAW provides the opportunity for women to learn, engage and be empowered to participate actively in their respective societies while maximizing the power and use of technology.”
She also volunteered as Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Digital Leadership Institute and contributed to EU-funded projects like ME4Change for migrant entrepreneurs.
These experiences honed her vision: technology isn’t just code, it’s a tool for inclusion.
Returning to Nigeria: Leadership in Digital Transformation
In 2018, a speaking engagement in Nigeria changed everything. Khadijat joined Africa Prudential PLC as Solutions Architect, soon becoming Chief Technology Officer in 2019. There, she tackled capital market platforms and spotted a glaring gap: local tech talent shortages. As Senior Special Adviser on ICT to the Nigerian Police Force (2020-2023), she deployed the Nigerian Police Digital Bank and Cooperative Platform for over 387,000 officers. She states:
“My biggest challenge was getting the people that had the competence to support those products locally.”
This realization fueled her entrepreneurial shift. She founded Xerde Limited in 2019, raising significant funding, and in 2022 launched INGRYD Academy in the U.S., expanding rapidly to Nigeria and beyond.
Founding INGRYD Academy: Bridging the Talent Gap
INGRYD Academy stands as Khadijat’s bold response to Africa’s tech skills crisis. Born from her CTO struggles, it offers intensive, job-ready training in fields like software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and AI—often free or subsidized.
Key milestones include partnerships with Lagos State Employment Trust Fund for thousands of scholarships and an exclusive five-year deal with ISACA, certifying 40,000 youths at steep discounts. “We don’t just teach skills; we embed our learners into the global technology ecosystem.” Graduates gain placements (aiming for 70-80%), visa support, and global networks. By late 2025, INGRYD has trained over 10,000, placed thousands, and become a GDP driver. She reflects:
“This is not charity. It’s a deliberate strategy to build a skilled, export-ready digital workforce for Nigeria.”
A Lasting Legacy of Empowerment and Purpose
Today, as Founder and CEO of INGRYD and leader of Digital African Woman, Her Royal Majesty, Khadijat Abdulkadir, also titled Queen of Okpella Kingdom, balances entrepreneurship, philanthropy, family, and community service. She said:
“I don’t believe in feeding you, but giving you the ability to feed.”
Her work empowers women and youth, proving competence trumps bias in tough fields. “Do not wait for permission to lead.” Through relentless focus on human capital, she’s not just training coders, she’s building Africa’s digital leaders, one opportunity at a time.
The Nectar of Wisdom from Her Royal Majesty, Khadijat Abdulkadir’s Journey
- Empower through skills, not handouts: “I don’t believe in feeding you, but giving you the ability to feed.” She emphasizes building self-sufficiency as the true path to lasting change in communities.
- Step forward without waiting for permission: “Do not wait for permission to lead.” Especially for women in tech, taking initiative drives growth even amid doubt or bias.
- Innovation solves real problems for real people: “Innovation is not just about creating something new; it is about solving problems in ways that create lasting impact.” At INGRYD, this means tying education directly to jobs and global opportunities.
- Purpose must come before profit: “Running an organization is first about purpose before it is about profit.” Aligning teams around a meaningful mission naturally leads to sustainable success.
- Invest in human capital for Africa’s future: “We are building human capital at scale because I firmly believe it is the only way Africa can truly shape its digital future.” Talent development is the foundation of economic progress.
Editorial Note
Her Royal Majesty, Khadijat Abdulkadir stands out as a rare leader who combines deep technical expertise with an unwavering commitment to social good. In an era where many chase quick wins, she has chosen the harder path, building sustainable pathways for thousands of young Africans to thrive in tech. Her quiet determination, sharp intellect, and genuine care for people make her not just an accomplished entrepreneur, but a true force for meaningful change. Executives Diary is proud to feature a woman whose work continues to inspire and uplift an entire generation.
