Awajimijana Otana’s path to the MBA Health programme at UCL is a testament to resilience, vision and purpose. A First Class graduate in Communication Technology from the National Open University of Nigeria (where he was named Best Graduating Student in both his department and faculty), Awajimijana later earned a Master’s in Audiology from the University of Manchester. Now, as the Roche Scholar at UCL Global Business School for Health, he is pursuing an MBA fully funded by a prestigious scholarship, driven by a mission to harness business as a force for good in global health. His journey reflects not only academic excellence but a deep commitment to transforming healthcare systems in Africa and inspiring purposeful leadership.
“Out of many people who I’m sure deserved the Roche Scholarship to undertake the MBA Health programme at UCL, somehow, I was chosen. I don’t think I could have fully imagined what a transformative opportunity it would turn out to be.”
Over the past nine months, he describes the experience as “a carefully curated learning journey, one that’s allowed me to learn from leaders who have done, are doing, and continue to shape change in their respective fields.” The MBA has not only broadened his strategic thinking but also deepened his conviction that capital can be a powerful tool for social impact.
That belief was already taking shape in 2020 when he co-founded Verified Hearing, a company born from a desire to provide high-quality hearing services in the West while reinvesting resources to build sustainable audiology infrastructure in Africa. As the business grew, so did his interest in the broader potential of impact investing. This led him to an internship with the Growth Equity team at Generation Investment Management, an experience he describes as both humbling and deeply aligned with his values.
“After thinking about it long and hard, I’ve come to believe this is the best way to do the most good, given my capacity.”
For Awajimijana, the MBA has been more than an academic pursuit, it’s been a launchpad into a future where business, health and purpose intersect.
Awajimijana would like to be remembered for three things. First, that he gave everything he had intellectually and financially to contribute towards Africa reinventing itself, becoming more aware of its capabilities, and taking its rightful seat in the world. Second, that he maintained his sense of purpose regardless of how far he progressed, always grounded in the reality that he is merely a steward of resources, accountable to a greater power for how he manages them. And third, that he was a great Dad to his two beautiful girls, and inspired them to lead a life of purpose.