Obi Ozor is a Nigerian entrepreneur, business executive, and public servant. He co-founded Kobo360, a Lagos-headquartered digital logistics platform whose investors include Goldman Sachs, the International Finance Corporation, and Y Combinator.[1][2][3]
Obi Ozor | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner for Transportation Incumbent | |
| Governor | Peter Mbah |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Harvard Business School, Wharton School of Business |
| Occupation | Public servant and Entrepreneur |
| Awards | CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA, 2019 Disrupter of the Year by the Africa CEO Forum, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader |
In 2023, Ozor was appointed Commissioner for Transportation in Enugu State by Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu State.[4]
Background and education
editOzor was born and raised as the last of eight children in the farming town of Abor in Enugu State, Nigeria.[5][6] He studied biochemistry at the University of Michigan before graduating from the Wharton School of Business.[7][8]
Ozor is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, having completed its Owner/President Management program.[9]
Career
editPrior to founding Kobo360, Ozor worked as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan & Co. and in operations at Uber Nigeria.[7][8][10]
At Kobo360, he served as CEO & Board Chair before stepping down in 2023 to focus on his appointment as the Commissioner for Transportation for Enugu State.[11][12][13]
Ozor is also a co-founder and strategic advisor of Fig Finance, a provider of credit infrastructure for emerging markets.[14][15][16]
Awards
editIn 2019, Ozor received both the Innovator of the Year and Young Business Leader of the Year awards at the CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA).[17] He was also named the 2019 Disrupter of the Year by the Africa CEO Forum.[18]
In 2020, he was named one of Fortune’s 40 under 40 global technology leaders.[19][20] He was selected to join Endeavor’s global network of high-impact entrepreneurs in the same year.[21][22] Ozor he was also listed as one of Africa’s New Tycoons by Forbes Africa.[23][24]
In 2021, Ozor was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.[10][25]
References
edit- ^ Gerretsen, Isabelle (2020-04-16). "Trucking app Kobo360 wants to halve delivery times across Africa | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "The Problem-solver". IFC. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Kobo360 raises $30mn funding: Interview with Co-Founder Obi Ozor". CNBC Africa. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Oladunmade, Muktar (2023-08-12). "Obi Ozor appointed commissioner in Enugu". TechCabal. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Owoeye, Fikayo (2018-07-28). "Meet Obi Ozor, the man changing Nigeria's logistics space". Nairametrics. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Ugwuede, Kay (2019-10-16). "My Life In Tech: In Obi Ozor's world, audacity is king". TechCabal. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ a b "Obi Ozor". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ a b Unger, Adedoyin Amosun and Deborah. "Keeping African goods moving". Strategy+business. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Obi Ozor". RefinedNG. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ a b Oluwole, Victor (2021-03-10). "Kobo360 CEO Obi Ozor Joins World Economic Forum (WEF) Young Global Leader Class of 2021". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Michael, Chinwe (2023-08-18). "From COO to CEO, Cikü Mugambi leads Kobo360". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ "Kobo360 Founder, Obi Ozor, joins Enugu State cabinet as Commissioner for Transport". 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Kobo360 CEO Obi Ozor Becomes Enugu Transport Commissioner |". Business Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Fig Finance". Pitchbook. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Otta. "Fig Finance". Otta. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Koba, Melchior. "Nigeria : Obi Ozor, PDG de Kobo360, est le nouveau commissaire aux transports de l'Etat d'Enugu". www.wearetech.africa (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Anagor-Ewuzie, Amaka (2019-12-25). "Obi Ozor, Kobo360 boss honoured at CNBC awards". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Q&A With Kobo360 Co-Founder Obi Ozor On His E-Logistics Startups's $30 Million Raise". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ "Obi Ozor". Fortune. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Gbenga, Ajifowoke Michael (2020-09-03). "Nigerian startup founders featured in Fortune 40 under 40 list". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Endeavor selects Kobo360's Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele to join organisation". Ventureburn. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Onwuaso, Ugo (2020-05-27). "Founders of Kobo360 Selected as Endeavor Entrepreneurs". www.nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "The New Tycoons Ready For The Next Normal". www.forbesafrica.com. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ "Forbes Africa profiles Nigeria's new business tycoons". CNBC Africa. 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "YGL2021 Press Release". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2023-08-25.