Biography

Nwamaka Nwobi Okoye is an interior architect, author and social entrepreneur who returned to Nigeria from the USA in 2008. Since her return, she has co-founded four businesses and serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Stanford Seed Transformation Network (STN) Nigeria. Her educational background is diverse, spanning architecture, interior design, engineering technology and business management.

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Design

Okoye's career is marked by her design, social entrepreneurship and storytelling roles, with ventures including Design Genre, Housessories Ltd., and Gearshift Africa. As the CEO of Housessories, she has transformed commercial design in Nigeria through collaborations with prominent organisations like Mitsubishi Motors, SystemSpecs, Fidelity Bank, The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and Alliance Francaise. Her design philosophy leans towards sustainable and biophilic design. She incorporates nature into her commercial designs, believing that it contributes to the total well-being of the workforce.  Nwamaka studied Interior Design at Savannah College of Art and Design; Savannah GA, in the MA Programme, and also graduated from the University of Nigeria, with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture. She also has a master’s degree in Engineering Technology, with a specialization in Illustration & Multimedia.

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Storytelling

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Her recent book, Navigating the Return, has received enthusiastic reviews from Business Day Nigeria and The Sun Newspaper, Nigeria. The book provides guidance for aspiring African entrepreneurs in the diaspora considering a return home to start a business. Okoye advocates for critical thinking and business ethics and shares her expertise as a faculty member at Covenant Capital Business School, where she teaches Business Ethics and Corporate Governance. Additionally, she writes a weekly column on Ethical Leadership for Business Day Newspaper called: "Good Business with Nwamaka Nwobi Okoye". Nwamaka is also the producer and host of the highly acclaimed YouTube series: "Seed Diaries".

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Her academic and professional achievements highlight her commitment to ethical business practices and continuous learning. Her book, *Navigating the Return* has been well-received, offering valuable insights to African entrepreneurs abroad. Currently residing in Nigeria, Nwamaka continues to lead her business ventures and engages in various professional and personal collaborations.

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In 2024, she launched the Nwamaka Okoye Literature Prize as a way to give back and encourage unpublished writers. The first edition for short stories and poetry was very successful with almost 400 entries. The 20 shortlisted entries were published in an anthology called Coming of Age. The first 3 in each category were also awarded a cash prize.

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Ethical Leadership

Her leadership emphasizes ethical business practices within Nigeria's dynamic environment. Through her business, Nwamaka is determined to prove that it is possible to do business the right way and succeed in Nigeria. Nwamaka Okoye is deeply involved in advocacy and philanthropic efforts. In 2016, as the pioneer president, Nwamaka led an executive team, to found the Stanford Seed Transformation Network, Nigeria. She serves on the board of Bethesda Skills Acquisition Center and Edna Nwobi Diabetic Care Foundation. She also serves on the Leadership Forum of Apostles in the Marketplace. She mentors emerging entrepreneurs and contributes to educational initiatives, reflecting her commitment to community and professional development.

 

Awards

Nwamaka has won design awards including 3rd place finalist, Hunter Fan design competition, Savannah Georgia, USA; 1st place portfolio scholarship award winner, Organization of Nigerian Building professionals, Chicago chapter; 3rd place, matrix design competition.  Nwamaka is a die-hard believer in the viability of Nigeria as a thriving state and is committed to its success and advancement. Her business, Housessories Limited, was nominated by Business Day, as one of the fastest growing businesses in Nigeria in 2018. For her contribution to the Furniture and Interior Design industry, Nwamaka was awarded the Woman of Gold Merit Award by People and Power. She was also awarded the Icon of Hope Award by the Nigerian Youth Parliament, and the Award of Excellence by the WAAW Foundation. Nwamaka was also recognised as one of the top 100 women SME entrepreneurs in Nigeria by Bank and Entrepreneur Magazine.

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Her journey is enriched by the support of her husband, Anthony, and their three children, intertwining her personal and professional lives.