Orji, NSIA Boss to Keynote BoICT Lecture

Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has agreed to deliver this year’s Beacon of ICT Distinguished Lecture Series, raising the stakes in the flagship event traditionally used to set agenda for the ICT industry, according to Communication Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.
 
Obinna Ihedioha, vice president, Infrastructure Investment & Special Advisor to the MD&CEO, conveyed Orji’s acceptance to share his wealth of global experience in the financial services sector with ICT industry at the event slated for Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos at 6pm.

His experience is particularly useful now that Nigeria is facing increased demand transformative power of high-speed networks to drive socio-economic development.

Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-chief/CEO, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said that Orji will speak on the theme:  “Plugging the Funding Gap in Broadband Deployment”.

“He is qualified to speak on this because of his background and wealth of experience. Broadband is the future and the key to making it affordable and ubiquitous is funding. Am sure he will have a few hints on how networks can go about it” Nwogbo added.

According to Nwogbo,  the NSIA boss has intimidating credentials having joined Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority from Switzerland’s largest bank, UBS Securities, where he was Managing Director in the New York branch of its Equities Division.

Prior to his UBS experience, Orji spent six years at JP Morgan in London, 2001-2006, rising from the position of Vice President to Managing Director within the Equities Division.

Prior to JP Morgan, he worked for Goldman Sachs Asset Management, London, 1998-2001, as an Analyst/Portfolio Manager.

His first banking financial industry experiences were at Diamond Bank Plc., Lagos and Arthur Andersen, Lagos.

Orji studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, graduating in 1990. He also obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1998.

He joins the growing list of lecturers at the Distinguished Lecture Series.

At the inaugural edition, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) delivered the lecture and gazing into the crystal ball, foretold a broadband revolution.

The following year, it was the turn of Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) who x-rayed the digitization of broadcasting.

In 2012, Dr. Jean Luc Fort, CEO at OR System France and a specialist in Counterparty Risk wowed the crowd with expectations from mobile money.

Last year, Professor Chris Nwagboso, Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom delivered the keynote with the Theme: “Technology Adaption; Looking IT Straight In the Eye”.

Nwagboso is one of the best brains in integrated transport and automotive systems in world; with works in innovation and enterprise.

There has never been a dull moment with the event which draws top politicians and government functionaries as well captains in the ICT industry as well financial institutions.