Innovation overseas: How U of T's Efosa Obano is supporting African entrepreneurs

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:28:28 +0000

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 03/16/2021 - 09:28

Cutline

U of T Scarborough alumnus Efosa Obano helped launch the African Impact Challenge, which recently received recognition from the United Nations, during his undergrad at U of T Scarborough (photo by Ken Jones)

Gilbert Ngabo

Topic

Global Lens

Alumni

Entrepreneurship

Global

ThisIsThePlace

U of T Scarborough

Efosa Obano wants to see more young Black entrepreneurs getting the necessary mentorship opportunities and resources to turn their ideas into solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems.

“It’s already hard enough being Black or being African,” said the ��Ƶ Scarborough management alumnus who is currently working as the social impact pillar lead at Dell Technologies Canada.

“When you combine that with the lack of credibility, lack of experience, lack of financial backing, lack of opportunity and lack of guidance through various projects, it can be crippling.”

Obano helped launch the African Impact Challenge – a youth-focused approach to addressing issues on the African continent through innovation and entrepreneurship – during his undergraduate studies at U of T Scarborough. It was recently recognized by the United Nations, having been named one of the top 50 solutions in the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s 2020 Youth Solutions Report.

The official announcement, which included distinguished guests such as Pope Francis and former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, took place this past December. In the pre-pandemic world, the recognition would have included a trip to the Vatican for an award ceremony.

“It was very fulfilling and very heartwarming,” said Obano. “What really excited me the most was being face to face with all these people who are trying to fix all sorts of problems all over the world.

“It was very inspiring and I was very grateful for it.”

Eight years ago, Obano never imagined being in this position. He arrived in Toronto in 2013 as an international student from Nigeria. He spent his first few months getting used to the cold weather, familiarizing himself with the new environment and making new friends. But he also spotted a need to create a community that would bring together students from Africa like himself. Together with a few of his friends, he started the African Students Association.

William McConkey, an assistant professor, teaching stream, in the department of management who became Obano’s mentor, says Obano displayed two necessary traits for an entrepreneur. “He had the vision to do something worthwhile for a community that wasn’t being done, and he wanted to solve a real problem,” said McConkey, who has supervised dozens of students over the years.

“He also showed a real practical dimension to it. He started off by getting a mentor,and then he started by getting some major contributors from the students’ side.”

In the summer of 2016, Obano and a few colleagues launched the African Impact Initiative. The goal was to create a platform that would help young Africans to do more than just talk about the problems affecting their countries of origin.

Gilbert Ngabo

Innovation overseas: How U of T's Efosa Obano is supporting African entrepreneurs

Read more about Efosa Obano