Meet Nigerian Billionaire Making Waves in Tech World

While many Nigerians are making incredible waves in the tech world, only a small percentage actually rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the tech world where it originated from, the United States of America. One of such people is Tope Awotona, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of a modern scheduling software app for high performance teams and individuals called Calendly. Awotona is the first Nigerian American tech billionaire and the second black tech billionaire in the United States of America (USA) after David Steward. Awotona became a billionaire by simply scheduling meetings for people. The 41-year-old made the Forbes billionaire list for 2022, nabbing the 2076 spot. Like many businessmen, the road to success was not smooth at the beginning for Awotona. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Awotona's life was defined by tragedy. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager after watching his dad get shot and killed by a criminal who stole their car. His mom wanted a better life for him and his siblings and so moved the family there. He fell into deep depression and could not eat or sleep for several months as a result of the horror of seeing his father murdered. While it was a hard transition for him, he was driven to become successful for his dad. Before founding Calendly, Awotona had started a few other businesses, including one that sold projectors and another that sold garden tools, that flopped. Calendly was founded on the backbone of his frustration. After graduating from college and working for many years in tech sales with companies such as Del EMC, he soon realized how much time he was wasting just scheduling sales meetings. He decided to create a tool that will help him schedule appointments without sending emails back and forth. He put all his savings into it, quit his job and started Calendly. He built its first product by hiring a Ukrainian firm for programming help. He moved to Kyiv during anti-government protests eight years ago for a while to ensure his dream saw the light of day. He bootstrapped Calendly for years before taking on a $350 million investment in 2021 that eventually valued the firm at $3 billion.

Only last week, THEWILL listed a few individuals who go way back with the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and who will most certainly find a pride of place in or out of his government. One of such individuals mentioned in the article was Wale Edun. A former commissioner for finance in Tinubu’s cabinet during his time as Lagos State governor, the ex-banker is a notable trusted ally of Tinubu. THEWILL had predicted that owing to his over 25-year experience, which spans merchant banking, corporate

While their bromance lasted, it is pertinent to note that Wike and Makinde's friendship stood out. While the others were more of lackeys to Wike, he related with Makinde as his equal, even though he is older and more experienced politically.

Long before Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu joined the group, Wike regularly interacted with Makinde on a one-on-one basis. Makinde paid him a few courtesy visits and he in turn invited Makinde to Rivers State each time he had an important event to host. One of such televised events was one that he hosted to mark Justice Mary

Odili’s 70th birthday and retirement as Justice of the Supreme Court. Fast forward to their pre-election charade. Of the five governors, Makinde was the only who commissioned a road project, the Woji road and Obagi street. Of the five, Makinde was the only who Wike deemed fit to personally campaign for in Oyo. One may argue that it was because Makinde was seeking re-election for a second term. Well the other three (Ugwuanyi, Ortom, Ikpeazu) were also seeking a place in the Senate and needed to appeal to the electorate. Unfortunately, they all lost.

Also, while Ortom publicly endorsed Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Wike and Makinde both settled for Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Party,

Last week, Chioma, wife of former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim, clocked 60. Ohakim made sure to celebrate the woman who stood by him through thick and thin and did not leave him even at the height of his illicit affair with Abuja-based businesswoman, Chinyere Amuchienwa, a 59-year-old divorcee, which was fodder for the media.

Chioma, a barrister at law began the celebration of her birthday with a photo shoot at their Abuja home, with ace photographer George Okoro manipulating the lens to capture the joy that the mother of five radiated at turning a new age. A get-together was later organised where close friends and family gathered to celebrate her. The ceremony was deliberately kept low-key as the family were only just getting their groove back after an attempt was made to assassinate them on January 2, 2023 at Oriagu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo state. Luckily, Ohakim and two of his children who were with him in his convoy escaped unscathed, but not his four police orderlies whose lives were snuffed out by the gunmen. finance, economics and international finance at national and international levels, he may be recommended for a place in the helm of affairs in the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). True to the prediction, the endorsements have already begun. First, he was nominated by Tinubu as a member of the Presidential Transition Committee for the purpose of ensuring a smooth transition process between the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the incoming government.

APC as their preferred presidential candidate but however kept their choice close to their chest leaving Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu confused as to who to support. Makinde and Wike were the only governors who Tinubu considered significant to his campaign and personally paid them visits. Well, one of the reasons why Wike is smitten with Makinde is because he is married to someone he considers his sister and that further drew him to the Oyo State governor. Makinde's wife, Tamunominini is an Ijaw woman from Buguma, Kalabari kingdom in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers state. An engineer by profession, she has been married to Makinde for over 22 years and they are blessed with three children.

Also, as part of the transition process, four members of Tinubu’s team will be joining the Federal Government delegation to the Spring Meeting of the World Bank. The inclusion of Tinubu's team will be an opportunity for him to engage directly with the international finance organisation early on before he takes the oath of office. No doubt, one of those who will make the FG delegation will be Edun based on his track record as an expert in all things finance. Edun is currently the Chairman of Chapel Hill Denham Group and has been since 2008.

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN