Da escassez à possibilidade: as limitações como catalisadores da inovação | Kadwama Lazarus | TEDxJimeta

Kadwama Deborah Lazarus, fundadora e diretora executiva da Northeast Women In Tech (NEWIT), incentiva os nigerianos a agir com os recursos que já possuem, em vez de esperar por condições ideais. Com base na reputação da Nigéria como o "Gigante da África", ela reflete sobre a distância entre o potencial do país e sua realidade atual. Ela também conta como a NEWIT começou como um simples grupo no WhatsApp e cresceu até se tornar uma iniciativa que cria oportunidades em tecnologia para mulheres do nordeste da Nigéria.

• Enxergar desafios como motivação para agir
• Como a NEWIT cresceu a partir de um grupo no WhatsApp
• Trabalho com mulheres em campos de deslocados internos

In her TEDx talk, Kadwama Deborah Lazarus challenges Nigerians to look beyond the limitations around them and take action from where they are. Using Nigeria’s reputation as the “Giant of Africa,” she reflects on the gap between the country’s potential and its present realities, encouraging people to see challenges as motivation to do more rather than reasons to hold back. She shares the story behind Northeast Women in Tech (NEWIT), her tech initiative aimed at creating opportunities for women in technology. What began as a simple WhatsApp group for women already in tech and those interested in the field grew through collaboration and a commitment to inclusion. Born, raised, and educated in Adamawa State, she also challenges the assumption that success requires being in a major city like Lagos. Through her experiences, including an initiative that reached women in IDP camps, she reminds us that meaningful change does not require perfect circumstances. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to start with what we have, from where we are, and the willingness to see possibilities where others see limitations. Kadwama Lazarus is a technology and social impact leader, Founder and Executive Director of Northeast Women In Tech (NEWIT), an initiative of Girma Innovative Technologies. She is passionate about equipping women and girls in Northeast Nigeria with digital skills, leadership opportunities, and pathways to economic inclusion. With a background in Information Technology and product design, Kadwama works at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and community development. Her work has earned recognition from Google, She Leads Africa, and other leadership and technology initiatives, including the 2025 Google/Women Techmakers Community Impact Award and recognition as one of She Leads Africa's 2026 Top 50 Rising Motherland Moguls. Grounded in Northeast Nigeria, she is committed to challenging deficit narratives and demonstrating how communities facing constraints can create innovation, resilience, and new opportunities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx