Omi is a start-up ecosystem expert for Sub-Saharan Africa.

She is an award winning global entrepreneur, wealth expert and advisor with over 21 years experience in finance, startups/entrepreneurship, private equity, venture capital, investment banking, asset management, public private partnerships, corporate finance, project finance, fund raising, financial advisory, financial literacy/education, auditing, accounting and media. 

Omi is the convener of the Do It Afraid Conference a startup initiative aiding the Nigerian Government’s economic diversification plans by transforming the entrepreneurs psychology, giving them courage to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. Since 2015, over 5,000 physical attendees have been impacted with thousands more virtually through seven conferences in Lagos and Abuja focused on sectors such as technology, agriculture, healthcare, media, education, mining and more. Impact includes start-ups such as Anaborhi – Nigeria’s first silicone breast pump; Farm Kart Agri tech platform; The Green Investment Club with investments of more than $3 million and more. Partners include the Nigerian Bank of Industry, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, National Agricultural Seeds Council and more. The conference has had over 100 speakers including The Vice President of Nigeria, who was represented by Jumoke Oduwole (Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Ease of Doing Business), Oswald Osaretin Guobadia (SSA to the President on Digital Transformation ), Laoye Jaiyeloa (CEO, Nigerian Economic Summit Group), Tosin Faniro Dada (CEO, Endeavour Nigeria), Tunbosun Alake (Special Adviser on Innovation & Technology to the Lagos State Governor) and more.

Omi was a Non-Executive Director & Chairman of the Investment & Finance Committee of SoFresh Neighbourhood Foods Market Limited from 2018 – 2021. Sofresh is a 10-year-old medium sized healthy food business with $1Million+ in revenue and 100+ employees. Her notable achievements include advised on business expansion from 5 branches in 2018 to 14 branches in 2020, 85% of revenue pre-lockdown revenue recovered by December 2020 and a return to profitably after a deeply challenging 4 month period during the lockdown as well as guidance on attainment of €300,000 equity investment from Inclusive Impact Investments BV, Netherlands.

Omi was a mentor under the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program (TEEP) between 2016 – 2017.  TEEP is a $100 million Pan-African initiative, funding young African entrepreneurs with business ideas to transform Africa. At TEEP,  Omi mentored a for-profit recycling business in creating and submitting a robust business plan which led to accessing a first seed capital funding of $5,000 non-returnable investment. She also provided consultative guidance on completion of a 12-week Start-up enterprise toolkit program on feasibility, market opportunity, scalability & understanding basic financial principles. 

Between 2015-2017, she was an Independent Business monitor to 15 businesses for the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria scheme, YOUWIN, a multi billion-naira youth development scheme of the Federal Government of Nigeria, established to provide funding for young and aspiring entrepreneurs. She ensured the effective monitoring and facilitation of $600,000 grant for the 15 qualified businesses, facilitated localized workshops to educate and empower the awardees and confirmed businesses’ eligibility for funds & provided quality control for the secretariat.

In 2020 she participated in the Mentoring for women in business program by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. She was also recognised in 2020 as a  “Pride of the Nation” by Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria and in 2019 received the Inspiring Women’s Award of Excellence, Dubai. In 2018, she was recognised as one of 40 “Most Influential Women in Nigeria” by Lancôme Paris and in 2017 the Brand Ambassador for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Her corporate experience includes Asset and Resource Management Company Limited (ARM), FutureView Financial Services, Deloitte West & Central Africa and Royal Bank of Scotland. 

She is an award winning speaker, coach, best selling author and media personality. 

She has been married for over 18 years to her best friend, John Olugbenga Oshikoya and is a mother to four gifted and talented children.