Uju Uzo Ojinnaka

Uju Uzo-Ojinnaka (born 12 February 1978) is a Nigerian entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Traders of Africa, a B2B e-commerce platform focused on driving intra-African trade as well as trade between African countries and the rest of the world through technology,[1][2][3][4] and African Trade Invest, a Pan African trade and investment company.[5][6][7]

Uju Uzo-Ojinnaka
Born12 February 1978 (1978-02-12) (age 42)
Anambra State
EducationUniversity of Lagos
OccupationSerial entrepreneur
Known forFounder and C.E.O Traders of Africa and African Trade Invest
Children4

Early life and education

Uju was born on 12 February 1978 in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. She grew up in Onitsha where she had her primary and secondary education. Uju Ojinnaka explored a lot of activity in secondary school, apart from being the deputy head girl, she was the best speaker of the debating society. She also joined the drama group and other school clubs. Her leadership abilities began to thrive when she was given the role of the food secretary at Queen of Rosary College Onitsha, she was in charge of handling large sums of money for purchasing food for the students. She was also in charge of managing water in the hostel.[2]

Uju Uzo - Ojinnaka finished her secondary education in 1994, she got admission into the University of Lagos in 1995 to study sociology. She got her Bachelor's degree in 1999 as the best graduating student with Second Class Honors. She had always wanted to stay back in the University and develop a career in teaching. She also had bigger dreams of working in the United Nations. She had her mandatory Youth Service Program in Yola, Adamawa where she taught the Biridary Armoured brigade.[2]

Career

Uju was deployed to Lagos during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) where she worked with Fidelity bank. Fidelity Bank retained her after the youth service. She later moved on to work with metropolitan bank around the time she married her husband in 2002. After a few years, she moved on to Broad bank. Having spent nine years in the banking industry, she left to join her husband in the family business.[8]

Traders of Africa (TofA)

After 9 years in the banking sector and co-chairing her husband's company, Beniz group, Uju decided to push for something more. In 2017, her thirst for more led her to the China Europe International Business School, where she was the president for the Class of 2017.[2] While there she discovered that Chinese importers found it difficult to access credible suppliers in Africa.[2]

In September 2017, Traders of Africa was founded to solve this problem. Traders of Africa connect thousands of suppliers and small scale farmers to large market opportunities through their e-commerce platform, making it easier for international importers to discover African manufacturers and producers . Traders of Africa (TOFA) has physically engaged over 8,000 merchants spread over 15 African countries including Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Nigeria.[9][10]

Marriage and children

Uju is married with four children. She is a Christian and a leading figure in her church. She is also a marriage counselor and therapist. When she's not busy being a CEO she loves to sing, dance and meet new people [2]..

Honours and awards
  • 2019 First prize Entrepreneurship World Cup competition, Nigeria.[11][8]
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References
  1. "E-commerce start-up aims to promote made in Africa products". CNBC Africa. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. "My husband and I didn't date before marriage –Uzo-Ojinnaka, ToFA CEO". Punch Newspaper. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. "Traders of Africa raises undisclosed angel funding to launch an 'Alibaba' for commodities to boost intra-African trade". Techmoran. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. "CEO's Interview: Meet Nigerian Woman Who Quit Banking for Farming-Legit TV". LegitTV. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  5. "African Trade Invest launches mobile trading application". Business A.M. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. "Overcoming barriers to intra-African trade". Punch Newspaper. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  7. "Entrepreneurship World Cup Winner takes home $500,000!". Ghana Talks Business. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  8. "Traders of Africa – the Pan African marketplace launches on September 1 in Ghana". Ameyadebrah. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  9. "Traders of Africa – the Pan African marketplace". Techpoint. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. "African startups transforming trade and energy infrastructure are creating rapid innovation for the continent". Global Entrepreneurship Network. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
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