‘’Africa’s engagement in space must be intentional, collaborative and impact-driven, beyond launching satellites to applying space technology to solve African problems: in agriculture, security, climate monitoring, and broadband access. We must shift from consumers to co-creators in the global space economy,’’.

Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen is a technology executive and angel investor with over 20 years’ experience in telecommunications, satellite and tech industries. She is Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) and previously Head of Sales, Middle East and Africa, META. Jane is founder of Women & Career, an NGO mentoring and empowering women and girls in STEM, and author of “Be Fearless: Give Yourself Permission to Be You”. A frequent speaker on gender inclusion and digital innovation, she has graced platforms like TEDx and continues to champion access, innovation and youth empowerment in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Tech Executive, Angel Investor, Author, Sales Leader — what would you say connects these that’s reflective of who Jane is at her core?

The constant is a passion for impact through innovation and people. Whether I am leading a team, investing in a startup, writing a book to inspire women in tech, or steering a company, what connects it all is my commitment to creating value, empowering others and transforming systems. It has always been about using technology to solve real problems and helping people, especially young Africans to unlock their potential. Each role has allowed me to be a bridge between ideas and impact.

Your career has mostly been in the private sector; and now you are leading a public sector organisation. What was the biggest positive culture shock you experienced at the start of this job and what was your approach to navigating that culture curve?

I was genuinely and pleasantly impressed by the depth of technical talent and institutional knowledge within the public service. Contrary to some stereotypes, I found people passionate about national development but probably constrained by systemic limitations. I spent the early days listening and learning, to understand the system, the people and how things functioned. Drawing from my experience, I introduced private-sector agility to find new ways of driving performance without dismissing the structures already in place.

With a sprawling job such as yours, in what one might argue is a big and challenging market, how do you lead the many strands/domains well and at the right level?

I focus on setting a clear vision and empowering teams to deliver. Satellite communications is technical and mission-critical, but I believe in cross-functional collaboration, structured feedback loops, and staying close to the ‘why’ behind every initiative. That helps me stay high-level or dive deep as needed and keep close to both the technical pulse and the people element.

You certainly are thinking big and believe Africa should engage in space. What might that look like and what would be the biggest nut to crack towards making that a reality?

Absolutely. Africa’s engagement in space must be intentional, collaborative and impact-driven, beyond launching satellites to applying space technology to solve African problems: in agriculture, security, climate monitoring, and broadband access. The biggest challenge is sustainable investment in infrastructure, in talent pipelines and regional cooperation. We must shift from consumers to co-creators in the global space economy. NIGCOMSAT has demonstrated this with projects, such as Project LG 777 Connectivity for broadband extension to the 774 Local Government Areas across Nigeria and supporting startups to develop. We have launched the Regional VSAT Trainings, Space-Tech Hackathons, and an Accelerator Programme, each with clear performance goals.

On digital and jobs, where and how do you see the strongest interplay especially for accelerating opportunities for addressing Africa’s youth unemployment?

Digital economy is our best opportunity to convert Africa’s youth bulge into a demographic dividend. I see a strong interplay in digital entrepreneurship, creative tech and smart agriculture, where technology lowers entry barriers. NIGCOMSAT’s work in expanding connectivity is foundational to that future. We have trained over 600 young Nigerians in VSAT installation and space-tech solution, preparing them for ICT and connectivity careers. We are building the foundation that supports remote work, tech-enabled livelihoods and community-based innovation. It is about expanding digital access, creating value locally and equipping young people to lead in emerging sectors. With the right digital infrastructure and policies, we will pave the path to economic inclusion, create digital marketplaces and build capacity in emerging fields like data, cybersecurity and space tech.

Innovation — the tech arena is ripe with it — but more generally what’s your take on innovation?

We need to home-grow solutions that solve African problems, like rural broadband deployment, smart logistics or disaster response systems, but also leverage global expertise and partnerships to accelerate progress. NIGCOMSAT is in conversation with local and international players, exploring knowledge transfer, satellite manufacturing, and next-gen communications infrastructure. The key is blending local insight with global excellence to leapfrog our development challenges.

You’re strong on inclusion and have a bold take on diversity — beyond gender to diversity of experiences, insights etc. Why does this broader view matter, especially in business?

True inclusion is not just about representation; it is about real participation. Inclusion drives better decisions, resilience and relevance. In today’s complex world, the best ideas come from cross-disciplinary, multi-perspective collaboration. I champion diversity of thought, background and experience. NIGCOMSAT’s innovation programmes actively target students from public schools, young female engineers and regional talents. In business, if everyone in the room thinks alike, you miss the magic.

You’ve stayed grounded in tech but taken a strategic approach to growing your career, with learning being key. What lessons from this might be helpful to others — especially young women?

One key lesson is to stay curious and intentional. Do not wait for permission to learn and don’t box yourself in. I have worked across telecoms, sales, tech and now space, not because I had it all figured out, but because I was open to stretch opportunities and value growth. To young women, build your competence, own your voice and seek mentors who challenge you. Say yes to stretch roles, and do not wait to feel 100% ready, you grow into greatness. Build a career map and invest in your visibility and network. Focus on your values and long-term impact and above all, give yourself permission to evolve. Tech is wide enough for your unique story.

What would you say is the most unconventional thing you’ve done in your career and what might that say about Jane and how she makes career moves?

One unconventional move was stepping into a national leadership role in satellite technology, which seemed far removed from my telecoms and enterprise sales background. For me, it was a move grounded in purpose, relevance and national impact and speaks to my leadership philosophy of alignment and impact over titles. Since assuming office in October 2023, I have led the team through several milestone initiatives such as the inaugural Nigerian Satellite Week, creation and expansion of the NIGCOMSAT Accelerator Programme, regional VSAT Trainings and strategic engagements with Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria, as well as national, regional and international satellite companies. These moves reflect my belief in building, disrupting and inspiring transformation, even when the terrain is unfamiliar.

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