ECOWAS appoints Onyinyechi Precious Onyenaucheya as Youth Ambassador

Onyinyechi Precious Onyenaucheya

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed Onyinyechi Precious Onyenaucheya as a Youth Ambassador, conferring upon her the prestigious Nelson Mandela Leadership Award for Excellence and Integrity. This esteemed honor celebrates African youth leaders whose work exemplifies outstanding integrity, innovation, and impact in their respective fields.

The official announcement, issued by the West African Youth Council on 15th August 2023, recognizes Onyinyechi’s remarkable achievements and sustained contributions to software engineering and digital transformation across the continent.

ECOWAS praised Onyinyechi as a pioneering force in the technology sector, whose work in public digital infrastructure and in fintech industries has created ripple effects that reach far beyond Nigeria and the UK.

Speaking during the award ceremony, Emmanuel Williams Seun, Chairman of the ECOWAS Youth Council, emphasized the importance of the recognition:

“The Nelson Mandela Leadership Award is reserved for young professionals who have shown outstanding vision, integrity, and commitment to Africa’s development. Onyinyechi Precious’s impact in software engineering, particularly in building inclusive and scalable digital systems, makes her a standout figure and a deserving recipient.”

In her acceptance remarks, Onyinyechi expressed deep appreciation for the recognition:

“This award represents a shared responsibility—to continue driving inclusive innovation, to mentor the next generation, and to build systems that improve lives across borders. It’s a personal honour, but also a reminder that our work in tech must always serve people first.

With a career that spans leading contributions to digital systems and driving secure, efficient product development , Onyinyechi has distinguished herself through her technical excellence, community leadership, and passion for accessible technology. Her work has helped improve government services and commercial banks, empower developers through open-source tools, and increase efficiency in international compliance platforms.

This milestone not only celebrates her exceptional career but also positions her as one of Africa’s most influential women in tech—a mentor, changemaker, and inspiration to emerging talents across West Africa and beyond