Yemi Keri

Yemi Keri 

Yemi Keri is one of Nigeria’s leading women in technology. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Heckerbella Limited, a digital transformation firm that delivers effective, reliable and sustainable information technology solutions to businesses in Africa. 

Yemi Keri is also the co-founder of Rising Tide Africa, a women’s movement initiated with a vision to increase women’s participation in angel investing as an asset class, and promote education, cross-border investing and investor-mentoring across Africa. She is a Director of the Lagos Angel Network and serves as a mentor to various digital and technology-focused start-ups. 

With over 22 years experience in the Information Technology industry, operating at CEO and C-suite level across the public and private sectors, Yemi Keri had served as Consulting Head of IT at the National Pensions Commission (PENCOM), the General Manager for Information Technology and Enterprise Systems for NatCom Development and Investment Company Limited (trading as ntel), Director and Regional Manager, West Africa for SAP Africa, and pioneer Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Edo State Directorate of Information Communications & Technology Agency.

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Yemi Keri is credited with creating the framework of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy in Edo state, broadening the recognition of the values and acceptance of information technology into the public service. She also led the establishment of the first-ever Information Communications and Technology Agency – an enabler for the full delivery of e-governance in the state. 

A graduate of Accounting from the University of Maiduguri with Masters in Information Technology from the American InterContinental University, Illinois, Yemi Keri also completed a Chief Executive Programme (CEP) from the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Executive Education Programme, Corporate Turnaround from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Strategic Decision Making for Management and Investment Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science, London; and is certified from the Wharton School and WBAF Angel Investment Fund.

Yemi Keri is a founding member of IDC West Africa CIO Technology Advisory Council and supports the iAspire Data Science Fellowship Program, an iDAF.ng flagship program training and preparing Nigeria’s bright minds to leverage artificial intelligence, advanced machines, as well as deep learning concepts to tackle business and social problems.

An advocate of women’s participation in Boardroom decision-making and having a voice at the table, Yemi Keri believes that talent and skills are major parameters in measuring performance.

In recognition of her work in technology, she was recognized as Nigeria’s most outstanding Public Sector CIO at the ICT Centenary Awards in 2014.