Professor of Enterpreneurship & Innovation
Lagos Business School
Professor Henrietta Onwuegbuzie is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria, and an internationally recognised scholar, executive educator, board director, and management consultant. Her work focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, impact investing, and enterprise-led economic transformation, with a particular emphasis on how entrepreneurial ecosystems can drive inclusive growth, institutional development, and sustainable prosperity across Africa. For over two decades, she has worked at the intersection of academia, business, government, and international development, advancing entrepreneurship as a strategic tool for economic competitiveness. Her scholarship is distinguished by its practical application, bridging rigorous research with innovative models that strengthen entrepreneurs, businesses, and institutions. Professor Onwuegbuzie is the Founder and Director of the Lagos Business School Business Innovation Accelerator (BIA), through which she has championed innovative approaches to enterprise development and supported the creation and growth of over 200 profitable, impact-driven businesses. She has also played a significant role in executive education, designing and directing flagship programmes such as the Owner-Manager Programme (OMP) and establishing Lagos Business School's Impact Investing Initiative, showing how business and investment can deliver both financial performance and measurable societal impact. A highly sought-after keynote speaker and educator, Professor Onwuegbuzie’s expertise spans entrepreneurship, innovation strategy, SME development, entrepreneurial leadership, women's economic empowerment, and sustainable business transformation. Her global academic profile includes serving as one of the first African Visiting Faculty members at the Yale School of Management. She has spoken at leading institutions, including Oxford Saïd Business School, INSEAD, Kellogg School of Management, IESE Business School, Lancaster University Management School, and Stellenbosch Business School, contributing African perspectives to global conversations on entrepreneurship and responsible leadership. Before joining academia, Professor Onwuegbuzie managed strategic initiatives in women's empowerment and in the corporate banking sector. The combination of academic, corporate, and development sector experience enables her to translate research into practical solutions for governments, businesses, and development organisations. She also serves on several corporate and non-profit boards, including the Board of Trustees of the Nigerians in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (NiDCC). Her contributions have earned national and international awards, including the Excellence Award in Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing, appointment as a Distinguished Fellow of the Global Africa Leadership Council, the Distinguished Women of Peace Award, and international Best Paper Awards. She has also been recognised among Leading Ladies Africa's 100 Most Inspiring Women. Professor Onwuegbuzie holds an MSc from the University of Navarra, an MBA from Lagos Business School, and a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Management from Lancaster University. Through her scholarship, executive education, research, and policy engagement, she continues to shape entrepreneurial leaders and influence the ideas, institutions, and innovation ecosystems that will define Africa's economic future.
