Regina Honu stands out as one of those rare visionaries who see barriers not as limits but as opportunities for transformation, a Ghanaian software developer, social entrepreneur, and trailblazer reshaping tech education and opportunity across West Africa.
Born Regina Fremah Agyare, she built her foundation at Holy Child High School and later studied Computer Science at Ashesi University.
After university, Regina worked in the IT departments of banks, where she often found herself the only woman, a position that exposed her to gender bias and unequal opportunity.
That frustration ignited a vision to build something that would broaden access to tech for those often excluded, especially women and girls. She left the banking world behind and founded Soronko Solutions, a software company, then laid the groundwork for something bigger.
Regina’s career transformed when she established Soronko Academy, the first coding and human-centered design school for children and young adults in West Africa.
Through the Academy and her initiative Tech Needs Girls, she set out to close the digital gender gap, giving young women and girls the skills, mentorship, and confidence to become tech creators, not just consumers.
Under her leadership, Soronko Academy has grown dramatically. It has trained tens of thousands of women, girls, and young people, including people from under-served areas, girls who traditionally lacked access to tech education, and even children with disabilities.
The programs go beyond coding; they include critical thinking, design, entrepreneurship, and soft skills, equipping graduates to enter the workforce, start businesses, or build technology solutions for their communities.
Regina’s achievements have earned her global recognition. She has been featured by major platforms for her work, celebrated as one of the most inspirational women driving STEM in Africa, and honored with numerous fellowships and awards, among them the 2017 Buffett Award for Emerging Global Leaders, inclusion in the BBC 100 Women list of 2017, and accolades from international and local institutions acknowledging her leadership in social impact, technology, and women’s empowerment.
The impact of Regina’s work goes beyond numbers. She has changed perceptions, proving that tech is not a male-only field, that ability trumps background, and that access matters.
Through her mentorship, training, and advocacy, she has opened doors for thousands who otherwise might never have had the chance to develop valuable skills. Soronko Academy stands as a symbol of hope, inclusion, and possibility for a generation.
Regina Honu is more than a coder or entrepreneur. She is a builder of futures, a champion of inclusion, and a living example that when passion meets purpose, technology becomes a tool of transformation, not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
Image Credit: We Are Tech Africa
