Nestuge's Head of Marketing Ruth Okoli on Building Africa's Creator Economy

Ruth Okoli is a force to be reckoned with in the African tech landscape. As Head of Marketing and Co-founder at Nestuge, she’s playing a pivotal role in empowering creators across the continent through an all-in-one digital platform that helps them monetize their expertise and build sustainable income streams.

Nestuge has already facilitated millions of dollars in earnings for creators, with one Nigerian creator surpassing $500,000 in sales. This bootstrapped startup began with just five team members—including Nelson Eze (CEO & Co-founder) and Jude Enete (Co-founder)—and now serves as a critical infrastructure component for Africa’s burgeoning creator economy.

Before co-founding Nestuge, Ruth honed her skills in management consulting at EY Nigeria and Verraki Africa, advising both multinational corporations and small businesses. This experience informs her approach to growth—prioritizing scalable systems over chasing vanity metrics.

When asked about her daily routine, Ruth emphasizes flexibility: “Startup life isn’t very predictable, so I’ve learned to be adaptable.” She prioritizes clarity each morning, focusing on the tasks that will move the needle most. For inspiration, she turns to running, music, or conversations with creators and industry experts.

Looking ahead, Ruth envisions a world where basic needs like food and shelter are met for all—believing this foundation is essential for human potential to flourish. If given unlimited resources, she would establish an orphanage and skills center focused on empowering vulnerable children.

Ruth cites Emma Grede (Co-founder of SKIMS) and Fisayo Longe (Founder of Kai Collective) as women in tech who inspire her most—admiring their marketing acumen and brand-building abilities.