In a field often seen as tough terrain for women, these powerhouse African entrepreneurs are laying the foundations—literally—for a smarter, more inclusive future.
From eco-friendly housing and smart cities to major roads and bridges, they’re redefining what it means to build infrastructure with impact.
Blending innovation with social purpose, each of these women leads with vision, technical expertise, and a commitment to empowering others.
Meet the five trailblazing female leaders transforming Africa’s construction and engineering landscape—one blueprint, one community, one project at a time.
1. Anne K. Rweyora (Uganda)
- Founder of Smart Havens Africa (launched 2018), an impact-focused firm enabling low-income women to own eco-friendly homes.
- Civil engineer led efforts to deploy sustainable housing solutions tailored for women-headed households.
2. Nneka Ezeigwe (Nigeria)
- Founder & Managing Director of Pink Services Nigeria Ltd, a fast-rising female-led construction and engineering company specializing in roadworks, bridges, estate development, and civil infrastructure.
- A trained engineer and passionate advocate for women in construction, she actively trains young women in masonry, site management, and procurement through her Pink Foundation initiative.
- Her firm is known for cost-effective design-build solutions and is currently exploring green tech integrations for smart community layouts.
3. Sheila Mwarangu (Kenya)
- Managing Partner at Gathara & Partners Consulting Engineers, specializing in civil and structural design.
- Leads major infrastructure engineering projects across Kenya, with recognized leadership in both engineering and business.
4. Tatu Gatere (Kenya)
- Co‑Founder & CEO of Buildher, empowering disadvantaged young women through training in construction.
- With over 15 years of experience, she bridges gender equity and socio-economic development in the built environment.
5. Vere Shaba (South Africa)
- Founder of Shaba & Ramplin Green Building Solutions, specializing in integrated green design.
- Advises on energy-efficient, water-wise, and low-waste building systems to support sustainable smart-city infrastructure.
- Image Credit: BusinessDay
