Engineering the future: How Obinna Onyenahazi is bridging STEM and global finance

With  a  foundation  in  engineering   and   experience  at  global  firms,   Obinna Onyenahazi is reshaping how STEM talent drives innovation and impact in business. In this exclusive interview with TRIBUNE ONLINE, Obinna shares his multifaceted journey across engineering,  finance, consulting and technology. He discusses his motivation,  key projects, research advocacy through the GLOBE NASA program, and his vision for integrating tech and finance to create lasting global impact.

Your  academic  and  professional  path has spanned distinct  disciplines including engineering and  finance. What sparked your initial interest in STEM, and  how did that foundation influence your pivot into finance and business?
My journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Federal  University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). I was fascinated by systems—how complex  mechanisms  can  work in harmony  and  solve  problems. I loved solving mathematics and further mathematics in high school  and applied  its principles to develop and design engineering systems during my undergraduate days. That same curiosity also led me to explore financial systems, where numbers and strategy align to create value. The  finance industry  is becoming  increasingly  reliant  on STEM professionals  due  to the growing need  for data  analysis,  artificial  intelligence,  and  machine learning.  I thereafter obtained another Bachelor’s in Accounting and Business and became an ACCA-qualified chartered accountant, CPA (UK).  Over time, I realized that the analytical  discipline  of engineering gave me a unique advantage in finance: a data-driven mindset, structured problem-solving, and an ability to translate complexity into clarity.

You’ve built experience across top firms like PwC, KPMG, and Dangote, and are now completing an  International MBA in the U.S. What were  some defining moments or decisions that shaped your career path?
Each stage  of my career added a new lens. At PwC and KPMG, I was introduced  to  corporate and  organizational  structures by the  best  firms  in the  world.  I learned best  practices  in terms  of how companies are  built and  managed. I refined  my finance,  audit,   and risk  advisory  skills,  gaining  exposure  to  industries  from telecommunications to consumer goods.  At Dangote,  I experienced the  pulse  of African industrial  growth firsthand. A key turning point was realizing I wanted  to shift from being a financial gatekeeper to a value creator—transitioning from audit to investment banking and corporate finance. My International  MBA  program  at  the  University  of South  Carolina

solidified that transition. It’s an intentional move to deepen my strategic finance capabilities and position myself globally.

As  a  Chartered Accountant  and  finance professional  in the U.S.,  how  have  your diverse experiences shaped your perspective on global finance and emerging markets?
My experiences across Nigeria, and now the U.S. have taught me that while financial principles are universal, execution is always local. These roles sharpened my attention to detail, reinforced my commitment to integrity, and taught  me how to translate numbers into strategic decisions.

Throughout  my career, I have  consistently solved  complex  business  challenges through analytical rigor and strategic thinking. During my time at KPMG and PwC, I led complex audits and  financial  reviews  for multinational clients, improving reporting  accuracy and contributing  to over $240M in combined client savings.

Later, at Dangote  Group,  one  of Africa’s largest  conglomerates, I stepped into a broader financial leadership role. I led internal audit and corporate finance initiatives across diverse business units— cement, refinery, and logistics. I served in the team that set up the internal audit  department at  Okpella  Cement  Plc  in  Edo  State,   Nigeria,  a  newly  established subsidiary  of Dangote  Cement Group  Plc,  and  helped  deliver  over $175  million in cost savings through operational improvements and tighter financial controls.

But beyond  cost  savings  and  KPIs, my work contributed to something more  meaningful: enabling  reinvestment into infrastructure, expanding  job creation, and improving financial transparency across critical sectors in Africa.

I  also  supported fast-growing  US-based startups oVering access to crypto,  stocks, real estate, and gold, playing a pivotal role in shaping  the firm’s investor readiness and scaling strategy. I led a successful capital  raise initiative that attracted over $10 million in funding from institutional and  high-net-worth investors. By building robust  valuation  models and crafting compelling investor materials, I positioned these startups as a credible player in the competitive  digital asset brokerage space. My work bridged  technical  finance, business strategy,  and  market  insight—fueling  rapid  growth  and  credibility  with both  users and investors.

My business analytics skills have also fundamentally reshaped how I view global finance, especially within the context of emerging markets. By leveraging data to uncover patterns in market behavior, capital flows, and economic risk, I’ve learned to move beyond surface-level indicators and uncover the deeper forces driving growth or volatility. This analytical lens has also  deepened my appreciation for the  intersection of technology, finance, and  policy—

showing me that real impact  lies not just in capital  deployment, but in informed decision- making grounded in data.

These experiences show that emerging markets like Africa are brimming with potential, but they require nuanced financial innovation—blending global best practices with the realities of on-the-ground execution. My goal is to be that bridge: playing at the intersection of finance and technology  to drive strategic innovation by leveraging financial  expertise and emerging technologies to optimize decision-making, enhance operational eViciency, and unlock scalable value for businesses and society.

You’ve been actively involved in research and  STEM Finance advocacy. How do you see yourself inspiring the next generation of cross-disciplinary professionals?
As part of my engagement with the GLOBE NASA program,  I had the opportunity  to review student science projects and help them see the broader relevance of their work beyond the lab. I emphasized how their research, whether  in climate  monitoring, land use,  or environmental data  collection—could drive business and strategic insights in sectors like  agriculture,  insurance,  and  sustainable  investing.  By showing  them   how scientific data feeds into financial models, risk assessment, and corporate strategy, I helped bridge the gap between STEM exploration  and real-world economic impact. Many students left with a stronger  understanding of how technology  and finance intersect—and how their ideas could shape future industries.

Looking ahead, what’s your  vision for your  career in finance? Are there particular industries, causes, or innovations you’re passionate about driving forward?
In the short term, I’m focused on building a career in corporate finance and investment banking—working on M&A, capital  markets, and strategic advisory across global sectors. In the  long term,  I envision  playing a leadership  role in private  equity  or infrastructure  finance,  particularly   focused   on  high-impact  investments  in  emerging markets. I’m  passionate  about  using  capital  as  a  force  for sustainable  development— whether  it’s financing clean  energy projects in Africa or advising high-growth startups with scalable solutions. My mission  is to build financial  systems that are not just profitable, but transformative.  I  am  currently  a  member of  the  Institute  of  Electrical  and  Electronic Engineers,   the  Association  of  Chartered  Certified   Accountants  (ACCA)  in  the  United Kingdom, and the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) in the United States.

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