Can you give us a potted history of your career journey?

I’ve been in my career for around 20 years now, and recently found myself reflecting on where it all began.

Back then, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to study because I was good at both arts and sciences. I initially planned to become a doctor, but it didn’t feel like quite the right path for me. Then someone mentioned a foundation course in Computer Science to my parents. It was still a relatively new area at the time, and there was a lot of uncertainty about whether it would take off. But once I started the course, I just fell in love with Java. It felt like a second language to me, and that was where I found my flair.

My career kicked off when I got an internship at an investment bank as a software developer. It wasn’t a particularly popular career choice, especially for women! When I first started out there were maybe four or five women, out of around 40 people. It never really bothered me though as I enjoyed what I was doing so much.

From there, I worked at some of the key banks in Europe such as, Dresdner Kleinwort, Commerzbank, and, BNP Paribas before I moved back to Nigeria to lead the digital transformation of one of the country’s biggest banks.

Today, I run my own firm, Afriborder, which enables me to work on a much larger scale. My focus is on advancing digital technologies and digital trade across Africa, making it easier for people to trade and connect, no matter where they are.

What I love most about my work is the impact. It feels meaningful. Innovation changes lives. It saves people time, helps them do things they couldn’t before, and brings ideas to life they never imagined. Seeing the results in real-life is incredibly powerful.

The theme for Black History Month this year is standing firm in power and pride. What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of my ability to evolve and grow. Technology is such a dynamic industry. What was cutting edge three years ago is now completely different, and today we are talking about innovations like AI. It’s a constantly changing industry, so staying relevant means staying up to date.

I’ve made a conscious effort to upskill and respond to changes in the industry. That’s not always easy, especially when life pulls you in different directions or you feel the urge to disconnect.

But that ability to keep learning, evolving and growing is something I am truly proud of!

How can those in leadership use their position to empower others?

Giving people a voice is one of the most powerful things a leader can do. It’s something I’ve always prioritized wherever I’ve worked, especially with those whose roles can often be overlooked. I make a point of asking, “what do you think?”, and you’d be surprised by how powerful that question is. It shows people that their perspective matters and that they have something valuable to contribute.

Ultimately, leadership is about people. If you’re leading an organization, then you are leading people. And beyond that, whatever business or initiative you’re running, it’s still people who will engage with it, use it, and bring it to life. That’s why it’s so important for leaders to understand people – what makes them tick and what drives them.

Of course, you also need to have a passion for your work. When you combine a heart for people with a heart for your work, leadership becomes something truly enjoyable and rewarding.

When people feel that they matter, it changes everything – how they work, how they relate to others and how they show up. And when they see your passion for the work, it inspires them to do more and be better themselves.

Can you tell us about any projects you have been involved with that help break down barriers?

The work I do is so exciting because we are at the forefront of global change. It’s a beautiful vantage point, especially when you are shaping policies or building solutions to real-world problems.

One project I’m particularly passionate about at AfriBorder focuses on increasing intra-African trade. Currently, trade between African countries sits at about 15-17%, compared to over 50% in regions like Europe and Asia. We are working with the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, ODI Global, and other partners to align cross-border payments, digital identity and data systems to seamless enable trade. This includes looking at payment systems within Nigeria and across the continent, digital identity systems, and creating solutions and policies, all to drive meaningful change.

The goal is to increase the amount of trade happening between African countries. For me, that is what breaking down barriers looks like. We’re engaging stakeholders in the public and private sector, conducting research, and working to ensure there is visible, lasting impact.

The objective of trade is to improve lives. When people can trade more easily, they can grow their business and scale beyond borders. A trader in Ghana can sell to the rest of Africa with one click. A trader in Kenya can do the same. That kind of access improves livelihoods and strengthens economies. For me, I hope that can have a huge impact across Africa.

You mentioned you were one of just a few women when you started your career. What action would you like to see taken to encourage more Black women to pursue a career in finance, business and technology?

The first thing I would say is advocacy. From a young age, many girls hear limiting messages like, “This career isn’t really for women” or “It’s going to be really tough, maybe you should consider something else”. I remember being in meetings where people say, “programming is quite hard, would you consider design?” And I’d think “What does that even mean?” Women can do hard things. And what is ‘hard’ anyway? What one person finds difficult, another might find intuitive.

We need to do a lot of work at those early stages, when young people are just starting to consider their career options. There are still so many voices saying, “You’re a woman,” or “You might want to start a family, so choose a career that fits around that.” But women are already out there doing incredible things. That narrative is outdated and needs to change.

We also need to amplify the voices and stories of women who are already thriving in finance, business and tech. When people see someone who looks like them succeeding, they know it is possible, and it helps them visualise it for themselves. 

You have tapped into your creative side by writing a novel, Lagos to London. Can you tell us more about that process?

I’ve always had a way with words, even as a child. That is probably why I struggled to choose between science and the arts growing up. Over the years, I had started several books but never finished them, until I decided my first novel would be Lagos to London.

Although it’s fiction, the story is inspired by my own journey of leaving my family and moving to the UK to study. It was a life-changing experience, and I know so many other people have gone through something similar: leaving their home to pursue new opportunities. The book is about stepping into new environments, thriving and finding success.

I believe that everyone has a story to tell, but too often we put ourselves in a box. We think, “I work in tech” or “I’m an accountant”, and assume writing is something only a professional writer can do.

The writing process wasn’t as straight-forward as I imagined. I think a lot of people assume you sit down and write until the book is done. But for me, I started, and then life happened, and I paused for nearly two years before picking it back up again. I finally completed it during Covid. It took much longer than expected, but I’ve learned life is about the journey. So, if you’re stuck on page one of your book for years, don’t be discouraged!

I’d encourage everyone to explore something outside of their career – whether it’s dancing, writing, poetry, or something else entirely. Writing took me to another world and introduced me to a whole new industry. I didn’t realise that publishing was such a complex ecosystem – there are publishing houses, royalties, marketing, and so much more. I went into it with a story to tell, and came out having learnt and grown during the process.

You joined the Alumni Advisory Council earlier this year. What impact do you hope you can have?

It’s an honour to be part of the Alumni Advisory Council. For me, it’s about making sure there are strong regional ties and that alumni stay connected to the school to drive lasting impact. I believe in the vision of Imperial, especially the commitment to lifelong learning. There are so many ways we can learn beyond the classroom. We learn through networking and the connections we build too.

There’s so much value to be unlocked when alumni and the Business School stay connected. Imperial brings together some of the most innovative minds in the world, and when alumni engage, we can achieve so much more together.

This is a powerful community. There is so much opportunity to connect, build relationships, grow professionally, and share ideas that could have a global impact. Where else would you want to be?

What advice would you give to new students, as they start their Imperial journey?

Be your own competition, not anyone else’s. Wake up every day and ask yourself, “How can I be better than I was yesterday?”. You’re on your own unique path and it’s not about comparing yourself to others. If you approach each day with that mindset, you’ll become unstoppable!