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
GovernorPeter Mbah
Personal details
EducationHarvard Business School, Wharton School of Business
OccupationPublic servant and Entrepreneur
AwardsCNBC 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

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Ozor 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

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Prior 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

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In 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

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  1. ^ Gerretsen, Isabelle (2020-04-16). "Trucking app Kobo360 wants to halve delivery times across Africa | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  2. ^ "The Problem-solver". IFC. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  3. ^ "Kobo360 raises $30mn funding: Interview with Co-Founder Obi Ozor". CNBC Africa. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  4. ^ Oladunmade, Muktar (2023-08-12). "Obi Ozor appointed commissioner in Enugu". TechCabal. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  5. ^ Owoeye, Fikayo (2018-07-28). "Meet Obi Ozor, the man changing Nigeria's logistics space". Nairametrics. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  6. ^ Ugwuede, Kay (2019-10-16). "My Life In Tech: In Obi Ozor's world, audacity is king". TechCabal. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  7. ^ a b "Obi Ozor". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  8. ^ a b Unger, Adedoyin Amosun and Deborah. "Keeping African goods moving". Strategy+business. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  9. ^ "Obi Ozor". RefinedNG. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Michael, Chinwe (2023-08-18). "From COO to CEO, Cikü Mugambi leads Kobo360". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  12. ^ "Kobo360 Founder, Obi Ozor, joins Enugu State cabinet as Commissioner for Transport". 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  13. ^ "Kobo360 CEO Obi Ozor Becomes Enugu Transport Commissioner |". Business Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  14. ^ "Fig Finance". Pitchbook. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  15. ^ Otta. "Fig Finance". Otta. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Anagor-Ewuzie, Amaka (2019-12-25). "Obi Ozor, Kobo360 boss honoured at CNBC awards". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  18. ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Q&A With Kobo360 Co-Founder Obi Ozor On His E-Logistics Startups's $30 Million Raise". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  19. ^ "Obi Ozor". Fortune. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  20. ^ Gbenga, Ajifowoke Michael (2020-09-03). "Nigerian startup founders featured in Fortune 40 under 40 list". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  21. ^ "Endeavor selects Kobo360's Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele to join organisation". Ventureburn. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  22. ^ Onwuaso, Ugo (2020-05-27). "Founders of Kobo360 Selected as Endeavor Entrepreneurs". www.nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  23. ^ "The New Tycoons Ready For The Next Normal". www.forbesafrica.com. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  24. ^ "Forbes Africa profiles Nigeria's new business tycoons". CNBC Africa. 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  25. ^ "YGL2021 Press Release". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2023-08-25.