User:Odiah O/sandbox

Early Life and Education

Emeka Orjih is a seasoned financial and development strategist, with 29 years of extensive experience across finance, venture capitalism, strategy, innovation, and technology. Born and raised in Nigeria, Orjih pursued higher education at one of the world's most prestigious business schools, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management in 2004. Wharton, known as the world’s first business school, ranks consistently among the top global institutions, especially in finance. Notably, Orjih was selected as the "Face of Wharton Class of 2004" and earned accolades from his classmates, including awards for "Most Insightful Comments in Class" and "1st Runner-up in Most Likely to Change the World."

Professional Career

Throughout his career, Emeka Orjih has worked at the intersection of the public, private, and international development sectors, operating in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and North America. His career spans major institutions such as the World Bank, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF). His professional engagements have also extended to managing CSR platforms for companies such as NLNG, Mobil, and MTN.

Orjih’s wide-ranging expertise covers development finance, strategy consulting, and enterprise development, particularly focused on creating innovative platforms to solve systemic social challenges like poverty and unemployment in Africa.

Key Roles:

1. World Bank (Washington D.C. and Asia): Orjih worked on several development projects, leading teams in various Asian countries.

2. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Philadelphia: In his role with the SBA, he contributed to the growth of small businesses and innovative enterprises in the U.S.

3. Assistant Country Director, USADF: As the Assistant Country Director, he spearheaded efforts to develop SMEs across Africa, with a focus on empowering local businesses and improving livelihoods.

4. Managing Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Platform (Nigeria): He managed the largest CSR platform in Nigeria, mobilizing and deploying over $31 million into enterprise development, with blue-chip companies like MTN, NLNG, and Mobil. One of his landmark projects was MTN’s award-winning "Phone Ladies" initiative, which created 8,000 female-owned enterprises across Nigeria.

Venture Capitalism and Strategy Consulting

Orjih has worked as a strategy consultant for global organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). His contributions include crafting Nigeria's long-term strategic development plans, including the 20-year blueprint for Abuja Technology Village (ATV), regarded as Nigeria’s version of Silicon Valley.

As a venture capitalist, he has nurtured over 18,000 innovative SMEs in the U.S. and Africa. His focus on enterprise development has led to the growth of key sectors such as agriculture, ICT, and creative industries.

Leadership in Innovation

A key focus of Emeka Orjih's career has been the development of Nigeria's innovation and technology ecosystems. He founded Nest ONE, a business incubation hub focused on incubating and funding female-owned, tech-driven enterprises in Nigeria's agro and creative sectors. Orjih’s leadership extends to his current role as Technical Adviser to Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing innovation and technology in the country.

Notable Initiatives:

- e-Agriculture and e-Health Strategies: Orjih led the development of Nigeria’s national strategies for e-agriculture and e-health, two critical sectors for the country’s future.

- GreenTech Cities Project: As Chairman of the GreenTech Cities initiative, he spearheads efforts to develop "green tech" cities modeled after Silicon Valley, focused on fostering innovation in renewable energy, technology, and other green industries.

- Nigerian Content and Innovation in Technology (NiCIT): As National Coordinator, Orjih promotes the integration of Nigerian local content in technology, ensuring that Nigeria builds its capabilities to innovate and compete on a global stage.

Climate Finance and Renewable Energy

Orjih is also a notable figure in the renewable energy and climate finance sectors. With a strong background in climate technology, he chairs the Steering Committee of the Global CleanTech Innovation Program (GCIP), a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNIDO, and the Nigerian government. The program promotes clean technology innovation and entrepreneurship to drive a low-carbon economy.

He has worked on key renewable energy initiatives, aiming to bring 4,000 megawatts of distributed renewable energy to Nigeria’s grid, equivalent to the total energy currently supplied by the national grid. His goal is to replicate the telecom revolution by creating a multi-billion-dollar renewable energy industry.

Personal Mission

At the core of Emeka Orjih's professional journey is a commitment to mobilizing resources and competencies from both the public and private sectors to solve social problems, particularly poverty, in Africa. His focus on fostering innovation, developing infrastructure, and building sustainable enterprises is a testament to his vision for a prosperous, technology-driven Africa.

References:

1. Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania - [Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania]

2. USADF

3. World Bank Projects in Asia - [https://projects.worldbank.org/]

4. MTN CSR Initiatives - [https://www.gsma.com/]