The CEO and Co-founder of Kobo360, a global e-logistics technology platform that connects and advances cargo across Africa and beyond, Mr. Obi Ozor, has been announced as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader 2021.
The Forum of Young Leaders, which has 1,400 members and alumni representing over 120 nationalities, is an independent non-profit foundation that brings diverse, dynamic, and global representative leaders together for a personalized leadership program which will span five years.
As a Young Global Leader, Ozor will embark on a five-year leadership development journey which will be tailored towards helping him attain a higher level of excellent achievements and impact as he continues to build his business and brand into global entity worthy of immense recognition.
The selection process of the Forum is one which seeks to create a truly representative body, candidates are evaluated by a committee mandated to review thousands of publicly nominated candidates and select between 100 – 150 new members.
Elated at the opportunity, Ozor, noted his thrill at joining the program and the recognition it brings as a global honour. He said:
“I am thrilled to be joining the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders program. Being recognised by such a prestigious organisation gives me faith that the work we’re doing at Kobo360 is indeed making an impact, not just in Africa, but globally”
He also commended the efforts and work which have gone into building the initiative he co-founded – Kobo360, noting that it was not the easiest of tasks to introduce a technology-enabled platform in a space that already had existing ways of operating. He also restated the commitment of the brand to steady growth and development as it is being built for the global stage. Speaking on it, he said:
“We still have a long way to go, but we are in it for the long haul! At Kobo360, we have created an African Logistics industry where technology is at the forefront of business, and I am looking forward to collaborating with other Young Global Leaders across the world, in different sectors of business, to tackle global challenges”
Mariah Levin, Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, noted that selected individuals were a class comprising of courageous leaders with a vision towards the Post-pandemic era. According to Levin:
“The YGL Class of 2021 is comprised of thoughtful and courageous leaders who will shape a more sustainable and inclusive post-pandemic era”
Obi Ozor, a leader in the African logistics and technology ecosystem, launched the platform Kobo360 in 2017, as co-founder, alongside Ife Oyedele II, and with over seven years of logistics and supply chain experience, he manages all key aspects of Kobo360 including operations, controlling investments, compliance risk management and product growth. Before Kobo360, Obi worked as the Operations Coordinator at Uber Nigeria as well as an Investment Banker at J.P. Morgan.
In his endeavours, he has channeled his focus and efforts into creating mass-employment for Africa through job creation, with Kobo360 working with over 50,000 trucks and drivers across the continent. He has been conferred and recognized with several awards including CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Awards 2019 ‘Innovator of the Year’ and ‘Young Business Leader of the Year’, and most recently, he was named one of Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40 ‘Global Leaders in Technology for 2020’.
