Yaliwe Soko is educating Africans, empowering women, and using blockchain to drive inclusive financial access.
Yaliwe Soko did not initially become a tech expert. She lacked formal IT qualifications and stumbled into blockchain accidentally after receiving a payment in bitcoin and choosing to learn what it entailed. What started as a personal educational journey quickly grew into a continent-wide mission to make blockchain understandable, accessible, and inclusive.
Today, she is the Chairwoman of the United Africa Blockchain Association (UABA), a pan-African organisation dedicated to promoting blockchain education, financial inclusion, and technology adoption.
Leading initiatives at the UABA
While many parts of the world are moving towards Web3, numerous African communities remain unsure about what blockchain even is. Yaliwe Soko, however, is not waiting for others to resolve this. As Chairwoman of UABA, she spearheads one of Africa’s most pressing tech education initiatives. She aims to train one million Africans in blockchain.
Under her guidance, UABA has launched key projects such as the “Train the Trainer” programme and the “One Million for Blockchain” campaign, both designed to equip one million Africans with blockchain skills through practical training, grassroots mobilisation, and digital resources.
Soko has conducted training workshops for governments, regulators, banks, and universities, including a notable collaboration with the Zambian government and Zambia National Commercial Bank, where she facilitated a pilot involving 634 participants from ministries, telecommunications, and underserved communities. Her sessions at the University of Zambia reached more than 1,500 students, and she has developed extensive blockchain educational content, including beginner tutorials and learner guides distributed across UABA’s chapters.
Her influence extends beyond training. She previously served as Ecosystem Lead (South Africa) for cLabs, working on Celo, a mobile-first, carbon-negative blockchain platform focused on expanding financial access. This role allowed her to deepen her expertise in product strategy and technological integration, aligning blockchain tools with daily financial needs in low-income areas.
Recognising the gender disparity in the tech industry, Soko founded United Africa Women in Blockchain, a platform aimed at lowering barriers for women entering blockchain through mentorship, training, and visibility. She also launched Umoja, a blockchain-based lending platform that enables women to access affordable loans without falling prey to predatory practices. Umoja was shortlisted by UNICEF Innovation, demonstrating its potential for social impact and scalability.
Soko’s efforts reflect a broader goal to foster a blockchain ecosystem that is local, inclusive, and focused on solutions. Her advocacy involves raising awareness, building frameworks, and community development. Through UABA, she has helped establish chapters across African nations and formed partnerships linking Africa’s blockchain initiatives with regions such as Asia.
Although she does not hold a formal policymaking title, her work influences regulatory discussions by educating key decision-makers and aligning blockchain initiatives with national priorities.
Beyond UABA, she is a Devcon Alumni (Ethereum Foundation 2019) and a recognised voice at conferences, podcasts, and public forums. She consults for various blockchain projects, including initial coin offerings, and leverages her platform to promote the practical applications of blockchain technology in everyday African life.
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