Uzoma Nwagba, an Eisenhower Fellow and Chief Operating Officer of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI) Growth Platform, who is set To Launch “Nigeria Valley”, recently delivered a powerful keynote speech at the 70th anniversary of the prestigious Global Eisenhower Fellowship in San Francisco, California, USA.
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This globally recognised fellowship, selects influential mid-career leaders from around the world to tackle pressing global challenges.
Nwagba, who was the only Nigerian to make it into the 2023 Eisenhower Fellowship Program, began his speech by commending the Eisenhower Fellowship for bringing them together to address common global issues.
He recollected the significance of growing up in an extended family structure in Aba Nigeria where family went beyond immediate relatives, encompassing a wider network of relatives, in-laws, and close friends.
He noted that background ingrained in him a strong sense of community and collective responsibility.
He reminded other fellows from across 26 countries of their collective responsibility towards each other, “We are a Commonwealth and we all have a collective responsibility to create shared prosperity and lift more people out of poverty – otherwise we would all be victims of a world that is not peaceful, prosperous, and
Nwagba emphasized that his project idea at the fellowship is to launch “Nigeria Valley,” an upskilling program that will train a new generation of software engineers, product designers, Web 3.0 developers, and blockchain professionals.
Through this program, he envisions thousands of Nigerians securing remote jobs in the global tech industry, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
Nwagba’s impressive career journey began as a software engineer at Microsoft, USA, where he designed mobile software for emerging markets.
Following his advanced business degree, he brought his expertise back to Nigeria and joined ACA private equity, where he was one of 11 professionals managing a $600 million fund.
Seeking broader impact, Nwagba transitioned to Nigeria’s public service and played a pivotal role in designing and executing technology-driven interventions for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises.
Notable examples include the World Bank’s NG-CARES and the Federal Government’s GEEP initiatives, all facilitated through Nigeria’s Bank of Industry.
Nwagba holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, he currently oversees the daily operations and management of the BOI Growth Platform, leading a team of 22,000 staff and field-based loan officers.
Nwagba’s selection as a Global Eisenhower Fellow is a testament to the remarkable achievements of Nigerians on the global stage.
