Clare Ofodile
At Softcom, I am a Project Manager, Data – one of Softcom’s key foundational areas for enabling people and businesses. Data is crucial for insights, learning, forecasting, and decision making. Also, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more evident that data is essential in boosting resilience and jumpstarting economic recovery.
I have been privileged to lead the execution of public, private, and third sector data projects across the country. These projects range from market research surveys, socio-economic research studies, to the digitization of various public sector surveys and strengthening databases. As an adaptive leader, I take pride in applying effective strategic advisory and stakeholder management to deliver solutions and execute projects that meet customer objectives and Softcom’s vision for the data division.
My proudest moment at work was when one of my projects was nominated in the “Best Delivered Project” category during the 2020 end-of-year retreat. It was unexpected because it was a challenging project and period for my team. Although we didn’t win the category, the recognition alone was quite encouraging and an accomplishment to be proud of.
Choosing to challenge means two things for me. First, seizing opportunities to make the world a better place. I find that having an idea or a vision isn’t merely enough; but having clarity of purpose, a mindset of service, and embodying it in character, equip me with the confidence to challenge norms. Often, you will find me opposing injustices, gender inequalities, and stereotypes in society, challenging traditions of mediocrity, chaos, and inefficiency and constantly innovating in the workplace.
Secondly, it’s staying true to the cause by challenging notions that I cannot or shouldn’t be myself – a woman who speaks up for what is right or pushes for change – otherwise, I am tagged difficult.
An Africa where technological innovations greatly improve the socio-economic outlook of every person susceptible to exclusion. Specifically, an Africa where:
- Low-income families in remote communities and people with disabilities can benefit from social safety programs and other socio-economic interventions because they have been identified and visible as a result of a strengthened national digital identification system.
- Micro, small or medium business owners, particularly women, have access to financial services and products.
- Children and girls in schools in underserved communities and internally displaced persons have uninterrupted learning opportunities because they can benefit from the digital transformation of the education system.
- Businesses have access to easy tools that will enable them to transform data into actionable insights. On the other hand, an Africa that adopts a culture of collecting and keeping relevant primary data for economic sector assessments and evidence-based policy advocacy and design.
In all, an Africa where no one is left behind!
– I play tennis.
– I love cooking.
– I am quite shy.