Nigerian man, 9 other Africans make WEF young leaders list

“These young leaders exemplify what we need most today: hope, empathy, authenticity and the drive to develop solutions.”

Chukwuemeka Ayomide • March 10, 2021

Obi Ozor of Kobo360. [PHOTO CREDIT: Forbes]

The World Economic Forum has listed a Nigerian amongst the nine Africans that made the list of 112 Young Global Leaders for the year 2021.

WEF in a statement on Wednesday explained that the young individuals were selected across the globe for their achievements and contributions to the society in spite of the economic downturn posed by the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The forum said that the selected youths exemplified what is needed to develop solutions that can change the world for the better.

“Over the past year, the world has dealt first hand with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic inequalities, discrepancies in our healthcare systems, economic downturns and education shifting to digital. While many leaders call on the need to ‘fix’ what is broken, the more urgent need is to take immediate action. Young leaders around the world are leading by example and paving the way for action on these issues,” the statement by WEF read.

“These young leaders exemplify what we need most today: hope, empathy, authenticity and the drive to develop solutions that can change the world for the better,” it added.

Obi Ozor the Nigerian on the list is the CEO and co-founder of Kobo360.

A graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Michigan, Mr. Ozor manages key aspects of Kobo360 including operations, investments, compliance, risk management and product growth.

He launched Kobo360 after stepping down as the operations coordinator of Uber in 2016.

Mr. Ozor who worked as an investment banker with J.P Morgan before moving to Uber is also building a Global Logistics Operating System [G-LOS], a blockchain-enabled platform to power trade across the African continent.

In 2019, Mr. Ozor was named innovator of the year and young business leader of the year at the CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Awards.

Other Africans on the list includes Tendayi Achiume (Zambia), Vera Daves de Sousa (Angola), Sangu Delle (Ghana), Clarisse Iribagiza (Rwanda), Terrence Kommal (South Africa), Ronald Lamola (South Africa), Wawira Njiru (Kenya), Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Chad).