What I Do
Innovation Leadership & Strategy
I help individuals and organizations design bold strategies and systems that turn ideas into scalable impact.
Research Commercialization & Value Creation
I bridge the gap between research and the marketplace by transforming knowledge into products, ventures, and policies that create real value.
AI Governance & Public Sector Innovation
I work at the intersection of technology and governance to shape responsible AI systems and drive innovation in public institutions.
My Portfolio
My Resume
Degrees
MBA, Innovation & Venture Creation –
Tel Aviv University / The George Washington UniversityEarned an MBA in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Venture Creation through a joint program between Tel Aviv University and The George Washington University, focused on turning ideas into scalable enterprises and leading innovation-driven growth.
Master of Public Health
Hebrew University of JerusalemCompleted an MPH in Health Economics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, gaining expertise in health systems management, economic evaluation, and policy design for global public health impact.
MBBS Degree
Abia State UniversityObtained an MBBS degree from Abia State University, building a strong foundation in medicine, clinical practice, and community health.
Executive & Specialized Training
Project Management in Public Health
Washington University, USA
Patent Law and Global Public Health (“PatentX”)
Harvard Law School & WIPO
Diploma in Innovation Management
African University of Science and Technology, Abuja
Diploma in Research Commercialization
African University of Science and Technology, Abuja
InnoSurvey™ Licensed Practitioner
Innovation 360, Sweden
Monitoring & Evaluation of Health Programs
Public Health Foundation of India
Healthcare Technological Innovation
Tel Aviv University, Israel
Consultancy & Executive Leadership
Chief Facilitator – Transformative Innovation Workshop
TETFund/Innov8 Hub, Abuja | 2025 – PresentLeading a nationwide capacity-building program equipping lecturers with design thinking and innovation skills to address institutional and community challenges.
National Coordinator – Intellectual Property & Traditional Medical Knowledge (TMK)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva | 2025 – PresentDirecting Nigeria’s national program on traditional medicine knowledge, helping communities and practitioners protect and commercialize their innovations through IP tools.
Founding Partner – Hutzpa Innovations
Hutzpa Consulting and Innovation Lab, Abuja | 2017 – PresentLeading a multidisciplinary team in innovation consulting, research commercialization, data protection, and program delivery, managing $10M+ in grants across multiple African countries.
National Coordinator – IP SALAYE Project
WIPO, Abuja | 2021 – 2025Designed and implemented a national IP and entrepreneurship program for NYSC members, building youth capacity for innovation-driven enterprises.
Training Manager – Research for Impact Initiative
TETFund/Innov8 Hub, Abuja | 2021 – 2025Created and facilitated innovation management programs that trained 1,000+ lecturers to commercialize research for societal benefit.
Consultant – AUDA-NEPAD (AU High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies)
2022 - 2024Contributed to the development of the African Union’s Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
Country Lead – Google Amplify Project
Nigeria | 2024Led a national expert team to build inclusive datasets that improve fairness and cultural alignment in generative AI models.
Program Manager – Innov8 Hub
Abuja | 2020 – 2022Managed national innovation programs including i-FAIR and TETFAIR, impacting over 500 researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
Founder – Young Innovation Leaders (YIL) Fellowship
Abuja | 2018 – PresentBuilt Africa’s leading innovation leadership hub, training 1,500+ young professionals in 30 countries.
President & Chief Executive - Obichi PitchLab
Abuja | 2024 – PresentLeading Africa’s first research commercialization platform that transforms academic projects into viable ventures.
Assistant Project Manager - Pears Program for Global Innovation
Tel Aviv, Israel | 2015 - 2016Oversaw communication channels for various stakeholder engagements, consistently meeting timelines for scheduled projects, and contributed emerging market insights to support Israeli entrepreneurs and startups.
Academic & Medical Practice
Lecturer – Gregory University Uturu
Abia State | 2022 – PresentTeach Community Medicine to senior medical students (400–600 level) and supervise public health research projects.
Adjunct Lecturer – University of Port Harcourt (ACE-PUTOR)
Port Harcourt | 2025 – PresentTeach Healthcare Innovation and Implementation Science to master’s students.
Adjunct Lecturer – African University of Science and Technology (AUST)
Abuja | 2023Taught Entrepreneurship as part of the General Studies program for undergraduates.
Research Assistant - The George Washington University
Washington DC | 2016 - 2017Conducted research initiatives centered on business model innovation, due diligence methodologies in new venture financing, startup valuation, and the creation of project management business case studies.
Resident Pediatrician – Federal Medical Centre Keffi
Nasarawa | 2014Managed pediatric cases, supervised interns, and coordinated patient-family communications in infectious disease units.
Project Manager – AIDS Care & Treatment Plus-Up Program (CDC-supported)
Keffi | 2012 – 2014Led multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient adherence and expand HIV/AIDS services, achieving a 90% adherence improvement rate.
NYSC Community Projects – Nasarawa State University Medical Centre
Keffi | 2012 – 2013Established an HIV center and borehole water project; trained 77 community health workers. Received the State Merit Award for outstanding service.
House Officer – Federal Medical Centre / Specialist Hospital
Owerri | 2010 – 2012Completed medical internship rotations in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics/gynecology.
Publications & Thought Leadership
Books
Blueprints for Value Creation: A Story-Driven Guide to Innovation Mastery.THE IP PLAYBOOK: 101 Real-World Questions And Answers For Innovators And Academics.
INKTIMACY: Reflections From A Life Still Becoming
Policy & Research
Co-authored strategies on AI governance, health innovation, and research commercialization.Published works on intellectual property, public health, and innovation management.
Keynote Speeches
Convocation Lecture, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (2024) – Launch of Obichi PitchLab.“IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity” (2024 World IP Day), University of Port Harcourt.
Research Innovation Academy Graduation (2024) – “From Bench to Business: Trade Secrets for Ideas Commercialization.”
“Towards a Sustainable Roaring Twenties: Accelerating Growth through Impact”, Milken Institute Global Conference (2021).
Speaking & Training Engagements
Transformative Innovation Workshop (TETFund/ Innov8 Hub, 2025–Present)
Lead facilitator of a recurring capacity-building program equipping lecturers with design thinking to solve institutional challenges.
Research for Impact (TETFund/Innov8 Hub, 2021–2025)
Designed and facilitated Nigeria’s largest innovation management program, training over 1,000 lecturers to translate academic research into market-ready solutions.
NDIC Innovation Unit, 2022 - Present
Consultant delivering strategy workshops and innovation roadmaps for institutional transformation.
Innov8 Hub, 2020 - 2022
Program Manager for i-FAIR, supporting 500+ researchers and entrepreneurs in prototyping and commercialization.
Conference Speaker
Frequent speaker at over 40 international conferences and leadership forums on value creation, AI governance, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
I am a physician, innovation strategist, and executive leader with over a decade of experience driving transformation across public health, technology, and higher education in Africa. As Founding Partner of Hutzpa Innovations, I lead a multidisciplinary team delivering innovation consulting, research commercialization, and data protection solutions supported by over $10 million in grants. I founded the Young Innovation Leaders (YIL) Fellowship and Obichi PitchLab to empower professionals to turn bold ideas into scalable ventures and social impact. My consultancy roles include serving as National Coordinator for WIPO’s IP SALAYE and Traditional Medical Knowledge programs, Chief Facilitator for TETFund’s Transformative Innovation Workshop, and Research for Impact Initiative; and Contributor to the AUDA-NEPAD Continental AI Strategy. My work bridges innovation management, AI governance, intellectual property, and health systems strengthening, and I lecture at Gregory University and the University of Port Harcourt. Through my ventures, books, and speaking engagements, I help people and institutions unlock their potential, translating research, policy, and technology into lasting value and impact.
Testimonials
Dr Tobi Moody
Country DirectorIP SALAYE
2023 - 2025Dr. Obichi is a leader, and his work tells it all. The impact he continues to make within the innovation ecosystem is unparalleled. He effortlessly motivates young talents to rise above challenges and identify solutions that can be commercialized for economic growth. The recognition of his impact has led to him being a part of key regional initiatives, such as his invitation to serve on the African Union AI Continental Strategy Development Team. Most recently and currently, we have had the opportunity to also engage him as the national consultant responsible for implementing our national pilot IP Skills Acquisition, Learning and Youth Entrepreneurship (SALAYE) program – a program designed to promote intellectual property awareness through entrepreneurship engagement for young people in Nigeria.
Dr Barbara Glover
Head of Incubation Hub Cluster, Emerging and Frontier TechnologiesAU Artificial Intelligence Strategy Document
2022 - 2024I have had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Obiajunwa through AUDA-NEPAD's flagship policy initiative on Artificial Intelligence (Al) Governance for Africa. He was selected as a technical author and expert contributor to the continental white paper,
Mr Greg Ibe Jr
MDInnovation Ecosystem Development
2020 - 2025From the outset, what distinguished Dr. Obiajunwa was not simply his expertise in innovation but his rare capacity to deliver ecosystem-level change. Nigeria has long faced the challenge of research stagnating on library shelves, disconnected from the industries and communities it could serve. Dr. Obiajunwa stepped into this vacuum with extraordinary ability, designing and delivering some of the most ambitious national programs in our higher education sector, including the Research for Impact Initiative (R4i), the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR), and the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR). Each program he led did not just train individuals; it built systems, created prototypes, reoriented policy, and established new national benchmarks for commercialization.
