Kobo360’s CEO and Co-founder, Obi Ozor, has been honoured as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader 2021 and will now embark on a leadership development journey as he aims to scale the e-logistics company.
The Forum of Young Global Leaders is an independent non-profit foundation bringing together diverse, dynamic, and globally representative leaders for a five-year, personalised leadership program. With 1,400 members and alumni representing over 120 nationalities, YGLs head governments and Fortune 500 companies, are recipients of Nobel Prizes and Academy Awards, and serve as United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors.
With the purpose of creating a truly representative body, candidates are evaluated by a selection committee, which selects between 100 -150 new members each year out of thousands of publicly nominated candidates.
Launched in 2017, alongside co-founder Ife Oyedele II, Kobo360 is a global e-logistics technology platform that connects and advances cargo across Africa and beyond. With over seven years of logistics and supply chain experience, Ozor manages all key aspects of Kobo360 including operations, controlling investments, compliance risk management, and product growth.
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He has also helped create mass-employment in Africa with Kobo360 working with over 50,000 trucks and drivers across the continent. Prior to building Kobo360, Obi was the Operations Coordinator at Uber Nigeria as well as an Investment Banker at J.P. Morgan.
“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,” Ozor said on the milestone. “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.”
Backed by international and African investors including Goldman Sachs, Y Combinator, International Finance Corporation [IFC], Asia Africa Investment & Consulting, and TLcom Capital, Kobo360 has raised over $35 million and scaled across 7 countries on the continent.
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To date, the company’s tech-enabled platform has connected over 50,000 trucks and drivers, who have delivered 2.9 billion tonnes of cargo to over 1,000 SMEs and large enterprises, such as DHL, Maersk, Unilever, Medlog, and OLAM.
“The YGL Class of 2021 is comprised of thoughtful and courageous leaders who will shape a more sustainable and inclusive post-pandemic era,” said Mariah Levin, Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.
A leader in the African logistics and technology ecosystem, Ozor boasts several accolades including CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Awards 2019 “Innovator of the Year” and “Young Business Leader of the Year.” Most recently, he was named as one of Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40 “Global Leaders in Technology for 2020.”
