Aisha Tofa is the Board Chair at Startup Kano Center for Innovation Development, a social
impact hub in Kano, Nigeria, dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and
technology for economic prosperity. With a decade of experience in the startup ecosystem,
innovation, development, and social impact, Aisha has devoted over 5,000 hours to
mentorship guiding over 500 startups and founders across various industries. Under her
leadership, some of these startups have secured over $1,000,000 in funding. She is also a
Managing Partner at Hills & Sands Investments; an investment advisory and management
company focused on supporting women on investing and enhancing their financial
Knowledge.
Aisha and her team have successfully designed/delivered projects for both international
and local partners, including the British Council, UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, United Nations,
Sterling Bank, Enterprise Development Centre, MasterCard Foundation, and Google,
impacting over 100k young people across Nigeria.
Aisha Leads the Women Founders Group, a vertical of the Startup Kano centre, that
promoting women’s education and economic resilience in Africa, She and her team curates
the Women Founders Conference, one of the largest Women in Tech and Entrepreneurship
conferences in Nigeria. This conference brings together influential and experienced minds
to discuss a wide range of subjects, fostering learning, inspiration, and action. Some
notable speakers have included UN DSG Amina J. Muhammad, Halima Dangote, Abubakar
Suleiman (CEO, Sterling Bank), and Amal Hassan (CEO, Outsource Global).
Aisha has a strong background in communications, holding a Master’s degree and
additional training from Voice of America, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, British
Council, and Google. She is a member of Global Shapers at the World Economic Forum and
a Gates Foundation Goalkeeper. A multiple award-winning woman in tech, Aisha’s most
recent award is the United Nations Feature Award for DigitALL: Innovation and Technology
for Gender Equality.
In addition to her role in the startup ecosystem, Aisha sits on the boards of several
companies, providing strategic guidance, mentorship, and support in driving growth and
operational excellence.
Currently, she is engaged as a Special Assistant on Digital Economy to the Minister of
Women Affair, Nigeria and an Expert Adviser on Innovation and Climate Action to the Kano
State Government