"To add value to the Nigerian economy through the ‘catch-them-young’ strategy of reaching out to the grassroots for promising students who can drive Nigeria into a position of dominance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by year 2020 and beyond."

"So as we engage, we pick from the issues and challenges we are faced with and we try and translate it to the jobs for the future."

"The issues and challenges we see in oil and gas and energy and infrastructure industry inform our themes."

"People believe it is only non-brilliant individuals that go to technical colleges. So, we need to re-orientate the public to embrace technical education."

"For the country to attain sustainable growth status, the Nigerian engineers need to be adequately engaged in planning, policy formulation, consultancy and construction, as well as industrial process of production and manufacturing."

"As professionals in engineering, we are all role models who can inspire others to join the profession by being engaging living examples, and by creating inclusive and equal opportunities for all."

"“Go for it! Stem subjects provide so many career disciplines to choose from, so I recommend attending careers fairs, seeking work experience opportunities and engaging with people within the industry to get a feel for what’s involved.”"

"Knowing that the work you do contributes to the betterment of society is an added privilege worth experiencing."

"I think mentorship and encouraging more participation in STEM is very important for the continuity and benefit of the industry."

"I understood that there are several challenges and barriers women face working in a predominantly male-dominated industry like engineering, but I did not understand how an award addresses the problem but since winning the award, I am convinced that these awards play a part in helping to attract and retain more young women in the profession by promoting the achievements of female role models across the industry.Ozak after winning the IET award"

"Engineering is a prestigious career with diverse routes and global opportunities that encourages individuality, creativity, ingenuity and collaboration."

"Developing a new method, improving an existing engineering method, mastering a new software, technique, opportunities to travel for work, and successfully managing a project from concept design to construction also excite me about my job."

"Africa's Most Powerful Women In Technology (2013)"

"CNBC All Africa Businesswoman of the Year (2012)"

"The major challenges holding women back from success in this region are the lack of access to educational and professional opportunities and an inadequate number of female role models in the tech industry. However, African women are maximizing the opportunities that improved access to education and technology careers offer. Our representation in the industry is not far behind what you find in more advanced economies.Funke discussing the challenges facing African women in TECH"

"We can promote more female empowerment in startups by creating a larger pool of women in tech, giving women in tech more visibility, and addressing challenges around gender bias with regards to funding.Funke speaking on the increased participation of women in the TECH space in Africa"

"Do not be afraid to take bold steps and ask for help. The most successful people did not make it on their own. You need to find mentors and advisors along the way: experienced, wiser people who know a lot and can help you fulfill your aspirations.Funke's leadership advice to African women and girls in TECH"

"Raising money is the most difficult thing I ever did as an entrepreneur"

"“It’s not really that you are innovating new technologies, but you’re innovating processes. You’re innovating deployment methodologies. You’re being very resourceful in terms of how you get things done to deploy what is already known and established practice in other markets.”Funke speaking in an interview with Harvard business school"

"We can’t leave an entire generation of young people without proper access to the internet."

"While the developed world was fully connected, here in Nigeria the average young person didn’t know what the internet was."

"...Now, of course, there are opportunities here, because we haven’t fully developed our society, that are not available elsewhere as well. So, it’s a risk-reward type of situation."

"So if you are growing a business you have to be very deliberate and you have to do your homework on who exactly has the capacity to buy, how much money do you need, where should you prioritise your efforts."

"For anything you are trying to do, there are a thousand other people trying to do the same thing. Even if it costs a billion dollars."

"Every entrepreneur has to raise capital. If your business is going to grow, you have to raise capital. You have to be smart about raising capital, you have to be determined about raising capital."

"“If we’re going to transform our society, our society needs to be developed. It’s a youth population, it’s education, access to information, it’s the ability to innovate. It’s giving young people access that is going to bring about the full benefits of this.”Speaking on her vision and the importance of internet connectivity for the African youths"

"“I came back from the US and the Internet had been exploding over there, but in Nigeria there was no Internet and no infrastructure. So we decided to put the pieces together and make this happen."Funke speaking on her vision to bridge the Digital divide in west africa"

"There is so much opportunity, there is so much need here that we need to transform our society, when you look around us. No one is going to do it for us and we also have to get our government on board with us to meet the aspirations of Nigerians because that’s what democracy is all about."

"I believe mentorship programs for girls will provide the exposure, encouragement to acquire the foundational skills, and networks required for higher education and future career opportunities in technology.Funke on encouraging young Africans girls to pursue careers in tech"

"Through MainOne, my goals and ambitions have become more focused on improving Internet access for the citizens of West Africa in order to drive economic growth and human development.Funke speaking on her aspirations for starting MainOne"

"“I don’t know that I am unique in that regard. It is all the things we learn: hard work, integrity and focus, but it is really about value creation. Each individual has to think about how they can utilize the opportunity and the assets they have to generate value and if you create value, you will be successful in business. That is what I strongly believe.Funke on the secret of her success"

"When you look at the original vision and the potential and where we are, you will know that there is so much to do. If I get complacent I may have to step aside so that the vision can move forward.Funke speaking on the need to stay motivated"

"A connected Nigeria is a more economically prosperous Nigeria."

"Before you know it, we have an army of strong and powerful women that can stand and compete anywhere in the world."

"I incorporated it in 2016, and it has grown beyond my wildest dreams."

"Government’s focus mainly on research findings from institutes is not encouraging to the young ones who have fresh and modern ideas that can help fast tract socio-economic development."

"Information is out there but local communities don’t have access to it, and they will rely on the next alternative."

"Also, available seminars and conferences are expensive and not flexible, so to address this problem, I designed O’track to enable health workers to easily choose courses online."

"Over the years, people have gotten inappropriate medical advice from some practitioners, especially at the local council level and of course the consequence was disastrous to their health."

"My Nigeria is where you can find a lot of women doing male-dominated professions. My Nigeria women are strong women."

"My Nigeria is giant of Africa by Nigeria is the first to produce female human mechanic in Africa."

"Our clients keeps coming back because they prefer us because we are determined to be better than a lot of mechanics who take their jobs and salaries for granted."

"The constraints, the obstacles, the challenges they could have driven me back they became my opportunities. The future looks bright."