Member Strategic Advisory Board
Coal City University, Enugu
Patrick O. Okigbo III is the Founder of Nextier, a public policy advisory firm and think-tank, focused on improving governance and development outcomes in Africa. Patrick started his career in Nigeria in 1998 with Diamond Bank Plc. before joining Accenture where he worked with financial services clients across West Africa.
He was part of the team that advised on the first electronic payment processing platform in Nigeria. Patrick joined the Management Associate Programme at Citigroup in New York City in 2003 and worked in different capacities including providing services to the U.S. government. He left Citigroup as a Vice President in 2007 to join Transcorp Plc. in Nigeria as the Chief Financial Officer. He led efforts to restructure the firm’s finances and to start-up two new ventures in agro-processing and hospitality. In 2010, Patrick served as a Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria; focused on reforming the country’s electricity industry. In 2011, he founded Nextier. The firm works with major government institutions and international development programmes. It is the local implementing partner on the two largest infrastructure-focused development programmes in Nigeria. It has grants from top foundations (MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Initiative for West Africa) to support its research and advocacy activities.
Patrick has a Bachelor of Agriculture degree from the University of Nigeria, an MBA from Emory University, and an Executive Masters in Public Administration from the London School of Economics. He sits on the board of Tenece, a technology services firm with operations in four African countries and Dubai. He is a Global Advisor to Energy for Growth Hub, a Washington D.C.-based energy solutions institution. Patrick serves on several government committees and is a trusted advisor to several public officials. He writes a regular blog on public policy and is widely published in newspapers. Patrick is married to Awele and they are blessed with four children.