Biography:
Regina Honu (née Agyare), a Ghanaian social entrepreneur and software developer, has made significant contributions to the technology industry in Africa. She is the founder of Soronko Solutions, a software development company in Ghana, and Soronko Academy, the first coding and Human-centered design school for children and young adults in West Africa.
Regina Honu has garnered recognition for her accomplishments and dedication to empowering women in technology. CNN named her as one of the 12 inspirational women who rock STEM, acknowledging her as a leading figure in the field. She has also been lauded as one of the six women making an impact in Tech in Africa and one of the ten female entrepreneurs to watch in emerging economies. Her work has attracted attention from various media platforms, including CNN African Voices, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Aljazeera, and the Impatient Optimist blog by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Notably, Regina Honu’s story was published in Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In book, further highlighting her significant contributions to the tech industry. In an interview with CNN’s African Start-Up, she was described as a Ghanaian tech guru who aims to develop the next generation of women in technology. Her influence extends beyond her home country, as she was named as the 2016 Vlisco Brand Ambassador.
Early life and education played a crucial role in shaping Honu’s path. She was born as Regina Fremah Agyare and attended Holy Child High School in Cape Coast for her secondary education. She then pursued her studies at Ashesi University, where she became an alumna of the 2005 class.
Regina Honu’s career began with the establishment of the Soronko Foundation in 2012. This foundation eventually led to the creation of Soronko Academy in 2017. The academy aims to provide coding and IT skills training, as well as Human-centered design education to children and young adults in Ghana and West Africa as a whole. Its main mission is to bridge the gender gap in technology and equip young people, especially women, with the technical and soft skills necessary to thrive in society.
Through the Tech Needs Girls Ghana movement, Regina Honu also focuses on educating Ghanaian girls in pursuing technology-related courses. She has been instrumental in training over 3,500 girls in Ghana and Burkina Faso through Soronko Academy and the Tech Needs Girls program. Additionally, in partnership with Autism Ambassadors of Ghana, Honu organized an Autism awareness session in 2018, creating awareness about autism and introducing an Autism Aid App to assist families of children living with autism.
In her personal life, Regina Honu got married in November 2015 and now goes by the name Regina Honu.
Awards:
– CNN named Regina Honu as one of the 12 inspirational women who rock STEM.
– She was recognized as one of the six women making an impact in Tech in Africa.
– Honu received recognition as one of the ten female entrepreneurs to watch in emerging economies.
– Her contributions led to her being named the 2016 Vlisco Brand Ambassador.
– Regina Honu is also an Ashoka fellow, a prestigious recognition in the social entrepreneurship field.