.jpeg) |
| Austin Okere |
Chahat Chawla accolades Mr. Austin Okere, the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of CWG Plc, Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest systems integration company, being honoured at Columbia Business School (CBS), New York, USA who has been an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the world-class school since 2009 where he has been sharing his perspectives and insights with many cohorts of the MBA program through the CWG Plc case study developed and published by the institution.
“I see Austin Okere not just as an entrepreneur, but also as a world leader – he had a vision that he was trying to bring to life, and it extended more than just a business, I think his philosophy and the culture he created can be extended and applied to other realms as well,”said Chawla.
He also celebrates his ingenuity in transforming lives at the global stage with his Solomon-like knowledge.
Krishna Kurra, at CBS said “Austin is a guy I would love to work for or with. I believe in his belief. I believe in his resolve."
This is the model of CEO that I admire most. I think Austin is like a philosopher and strategist who sees challenges as ample of business opportunities. Trust is a currency of brand where the rule of law is immature, she affirmed.'
“The emerging markets are filled with many successful entrepreneurs but it is very rare to see someone like him who can bridge the emerging markets business environment with the developed markets business environment.”
Also celebrating Austin's recognition award, Elizabeth Jourdan, said: “I thought that Austin Okere was really inspiring in the way he now dedicates his time to mentoring and coaching entrepreneurs and leaders. For him, success is about empowering others and making a positive impact on his community and shared prosperity.
“Austin is a leader. What resonated with me most from Austin’s talk is his perspective on 'building culture'. I thought his emphasis on vision and team were particularly strong. I expect to see Austin running for office! I’m not familiar with how business is done in Africa and Nigeria specifically. I thought it would have been interesting to learn how business is done differently in these cultures and if he had any advice for entrepreneurs looking to start a business in a non-US country.
Okere’s platform tagged ‘Austin’s Fireside Chat’ was quite enlightening, as he demonstrated the entrepreneur’s creed diagram and the transformation five-force model, which are critical to a company’s success.
He also talked about his missionary work, which was moving and provided us with an inside look at who he is. Austin’s chat was genuine and passionate, and I could relate to him on several levels.
Austin Okere' Legacies
Austin Okere started Computer Warehouse Group[CWG] Plc in 1992 as an infrastructure provider, selling and supporting Dell brand of personal computers. His vision and mandate was to make a positive impact in satisfying customer demands for computer hardware with professionalism and integrity that were then lacking in the business.
For over two decade and half now the initial business plan of the company’s operation has changed continually to now lean more on high value added services. This happened in his quest for customer satisfaction, which is the driving force for his decision to set up his own business. He imbibe the culture of regular dialogue with customers at the business inception which now enabled him to identify customers needs and service gaps in the rapidly expanding ICT sector across the global.
In order to be relevant in the emerging ICT world, the company was inspired to diversify from the initial Computer Warehouse Ltd into a group that incorporated two sister companies –DCC Satellite and Network Ltd and Expert Edge Software and Systems. Computer Warehouse Ltd provides hardware and infrastructure solutions.
The move into satellite and networking is another big step forward in the development of Nigeria’s ICT sector by partnering reputable local and international companies with landmark in providing communications and networking solutions.
Also, the Expert Edge segment handles system applications and deployment. The company started with an online banking application that made its mark in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa which was a giant step forward for Okere in providing software for some of the leading banks in the country.
To sustain customer services, CWG offered to manage client services by providing the skill needed to manage and operate clients’ data centres.
Targeting the vast opportunities created with broadband on the mobile phone – e-commerce and inclusive banking the company moved from managed services to cloud software services by taking advantage of the mobile phones pervasiveness and the broadband ubiquity.
The mobile phone revolution made many unbanked people to increase the banking population from about 30% to 60%. The cloud services provide the technology banks needed to serve the increased banking public, beginning with microfinance banks.
Okere' service is designed to afford microfinance banks the opportunity to use the software to service their customers saving them from big amount of money to buy software or run a big IT department.This ensures that the cost of the software is affordable to the banks and the cost of their own services is equally kept low.
The company has also developed software for mobile money in the effort to avail banks the technology to serve inflowing customers.
The result of the product was tremendous, according to Okere, raking in three times the targeted customer accounts to the targeted bank. With the great success recorded, other major banks that are coming on to the platform, Okere said.
Mobile money is targeted at bringing the informal sector into the banking sector and that effort has been considerably empowered by the technology that CWG has provided.
Another fulfilling product of Okere' company is the accounting software designed to help SMEs. It is helped to deal with the challenge of providing bookkeeping records that banks will need to assess their credit-worthiness when they want to expand. CWG accounting software also helps to tracks SMEs’ sales, inventory and balances their books at the end of every day.
The big package in ICT development from Okere to the Nigerian economy is the provision of software to over 36 million Nigeria's SMEs to make it easy for them to build up an accounting records and consequently positioning them for bank credit support.
CWG has grown to become a global business hub with presence in four countries – Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun and Uganda with six partners in Africa exporting its home made products to 28 countries.
The group also includes CWG Academy – an ICT skills development centre that feeds the company as well as outside interests. Its capacity has been expanded with training facilities built in Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja and in other countries where the group operates.
He is credited for great impacts in hardware, software, internet, IT education, IT security and telecommunications.
Okere’s CWG Plc is reputed as the largest systems integration company in sub-Saharan Africa. He stands out in Nigeria’s ICT sector for increasing local contents in ICT products and service.
