Orondaam Otto
{{Short description|Nigerian non-profit executive}}
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|08|08}}
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| nationality = Nigerian
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| education = Harvard Kennedy School, University of Port Harcourt
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| occupation = Social entrepreneur, philanthropist
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Orondaam Otto (born 8 August 1987) is a Nigerian social entrepreneur, education advocate and philanthropist.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Tommy |title=Meet Slum2School Africa: Social Enterprise Using Technology To Bring Education To Africa’s Slums |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommywilliams1/2020/08/31/meet-slum2school-africa-social-enterprise-using-technology-to-bring-education-to-africas-slums/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Otto Orondaam – African Philanthropy Forum |url=https://africanpf.org/speakers/otto-orondaam/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |language=en-US}} He is the founder of Slum2School Africa, a nonprofit organization and the first to build a Virtual Learning Classroom in Sub-Saharan Africa.{{Cite web |last=Oluwole |first=Victor |date=2020-07-17 |title=Nigeran social entrepreneur, Otto Orondaam builds virtual classrooms to teach 900+ kids in Africa. |url=https://africa.businessinsider.com/strategy/nigeran-social-entrepreneur-otto-orondaam-builds-virtual-classrooms-to-teach-900-kids/j1tq11v |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Business Insider Africa |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Guy |title=A Slum2School charity’s first Virtual Learning Studio |url=https://www.avinteractive.com/territories-news/mea/slum-2-school-charity-sets-virtual-learning-classroom-22-07-2020/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=AV Magazine |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Angela |first=Ukomadu |title=Nigerian charity tries to salvage a slum's schooling amid pandemic |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/nigerian-charity-tries-to-salvage-a-slum-s-schooling-amid-pandemic-idUSKBN2601B0/ |website=Reuters}} He is also one of the founding members of The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.{{Cite web |title=Ambode appoints ex-FIRS boss, Omoigui-Okauru, others For N25bn ETF board |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/ambode-appoints-ex-firs-boss-omoigui-okauru-others-for-n25bn-etf-board/ |website=Vanguard Newspaper}} Otto is a two-time winner of The Future Awards Africa and a member of the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Board.{{Cite web |title=The unfamiliar winners of The Future Awards Africa 2013, By Chude Jideonwo |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/152012-unfamiliar-winners-future-awards-africa-2013-chude-jideonwo.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}}
Early life and education
Orondaam Otto born on 8 August 1987 in northern Nigeria, originally hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Anatomy from the University of Port Harcourt.{{Cite web |last=Onyeakagbu |first=Adaobi |date=2018-09-10 |title=Meet our Man Crush, Orondaam Otto, founder of Slum 2 School Africa |url=https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/mcm-meet-our-man-crush-orondaam-otto-founder-of-slum-2-school-africa/87b89b5 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}} In 2022, he finished from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master's degree in Public Administration.{{Cite web |title=Orondaam Otto - keynote speaker |url=https://www.gspeakers.com/our-speakers/orondaam-otto/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Global Speakers Bureau |language=en-US}} At Harvard, Otto won the Erik Yankah Award and Lucius N. Littauer Fellowship Award for leadership.{{Cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://hksbaa.org/leadership |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Harvard Kennedy School Black Alumni Association |language=en-US}}
Career
Orondaam Otto started his career in the social sector at the age of 16 by participating in volunteer organizations focused on improving the living conditions of children in poor communities.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-25 |title=Orondaam Otto is Giving Less-Privileged African Kids Hope for the Future |url=https://businesselitesafrica.com/biography-of-orondaam-otto-founder-of-slum2school/?v=7516fd43adaa |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Business Elites Africa |language=en-US}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2020/08/05/african-voices-orondaam-otto-peter-tabichi-education-africa-nigeria-kenya-spc.cnn |title=Meet two changemakers who have dedicated their lives to their students {{!}} CNN |date=2020-08-07 |language=en |access-date=2024-08-15 |via=www.cnn.com}}
In 2011, while undergoing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, Otto discovered the Makoko Community and the substandard living condition of the children who had little or no access to quality education.{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-05-05 |title=OTTO ORONDAAM, Shares with KEMI AJUMOBI on his ardor for change in the lives of young children through his project Slum2School Africa |url=https://businessday.ng/personality/article/otto-orondaam-shares-with-kemi-ajumobi-on-his-ardor-for-change-in-the-lives-of-young-children-through-his-project-slum2school-africa/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Businessday NG |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=Slum2School Founder Laments High Rate Of Uneducated Teachers |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2018/10/01/slum2school-founder-laments-high-rate-of-uneducated-teachers/amp/ |work=Channels Television}} While Otto was in the NYSC camp, he began to think on how to address the issues of education among underprivileged children.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-08-02 |title=Orondaam Otto: Impacting Africa Through Education |url=https://guardian.ng/life/orondaam-otto-impacting-africa-through-education/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}} Later in his youth service program, he officially started Slum2School Africa,{{Cite web |date=2018-03-26 |title=‘I Chose To Serve Instead Of Making Money’ |url=https://www.forbesafrica.com/entrepreneurs/2018/03/26/chose-serve-instead-making-money/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.forbesafrica.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Group helps Makoko children go to school |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/106405-group-helps-makoko-children-go-to-school.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}} a charity organization focused on addressing the increasing number of out-of-school children in Africa, particularly those in slums and underserved communities.{{Cite news |title=How Otto Orondaam helps students make the grade |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/2021/0706/How-Otto-Orondaam-helps-students-make-the-grade |access-date=2024-08-15 |work=Christian Science Monitor |issn=0882-7729}}{{Cite web |last=Omotayo |first=Joseph |date=2020-08-03 |title=Nigerian man Otto builds big virtual classroom to teach 948 kids amid Covid-19 |url=https://www.legit.ng/1347435-nigerian-man-otton-builds-virtual-class-948-kids-africa.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news. |language=en}}
In 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Otto built the first Virtual Learning Classroom in Africa to facilitate remote education for children.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-09 |title=Nigerian charity tries to salvage a slum's schooling amid pandemic |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nigerian-charity-tries-salvage-slums-090322566.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}} He was also featured as an African Change-maker on the CNN African voices documentary.
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| quote = The classes are designed to mimic classroom interactions found in a traditional school setting and are billed as the first of its kind in the country and within the Sub-Saharan region, according to Slum2School.
— CNN on Slum2School Africa Virtual Learning Classroom{{Cite AV media |url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2020/08/07/orondaam-otto-lagos-nigeria-slum2school-africa-spc-upd-2.cnn |title=Slum2School Africa wants to ensure every child has access to education |date=2020-08-07 |language=en |access-date=2024-08-15 |via=edition.cnn.com}}
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In 2016, Otto was a Mandela Washington Fellow, alongside Adebola Williams and Grace Ihejiamaizu.{{Cite web |last=Latestnigeriannews |title=List Of Young Nigerians Selected For 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship |url=https://www.latestnigeriannews.com/news/2940035/a-doctor-who-requested-anonymity-told-nan-that-three-out-of-the-nine-boys-were-b.html |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Latest Nigerian News |language=English}} He served as the chairman of the West and Central African Regional Advisory Board of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) launched by President Barack Obama.{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=U. S. Mission |date=2022-10-09 |title=U.S. Mission Welcomes 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows |url=https://ng.usembassy.gov/u-s-mission-welcomes-2022-mandela-washington-fellows/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=tjohnson |date=2017-10-30 |title=YALI Voices Podcast: Orondaam Otto's Passion and Perseverance in Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://yali.state.gov/yali-voices-with-orondaam-otto-passion-and-perseverance-in-social-entrepreneurship-audio/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Young African Leaders Initiative |language=en-US}} In 2022, he was appointed to the HKS Black Alumni Board, and in 2024, he was appointed to the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Board.{{Cite web |last=Onuoha |first=Millicent Arebun |date=2024-08-12 |title=Nigeria’s Ijeoma Akunyili & Otto Orondaam Join Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Board - LeVogue Magazine |url=https://levogue.leadership.ng/nigerias-ijeoma-akunyili-otto-orondaam-join-harvard-kennedy-school-alumni-board/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Alumni Board Elections Results 2024 |url=https://www.hks.harvard.edu/alumni/about/alumni-leadership/alumni-board/board-elections/alumni-board-elections-results-2024 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.hks.harvard.edu |language=en}}
Recognition
Otto won The Future Awards Africa in 2012 and 2013 for his innovation in education.{{Cite web |title=TFAA 2013 Winners List |url=https://awards.thefutureafrica.com/past-winners/year-2013/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=The Future Awards Africa |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=TFAA 2012 Winners List |url=https://awards.thefutureafrica.com/past-winners/year-2012/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=The Future Awards Africa |language=en-GB}} Otto was named among the Global 100 Most Influential People of African Descent by the United Nations General Assembly.{{Cite web |title=Orondaam Otto |url=https://blog.mipad.org/orondaam-otto/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=blog.mipad.org}} He was also listed in the YNaija 2020 Powerlist of Nigerians in Advocacy .{{Cite web |title=#YNaijaPowerlist2020: Isaac Success, Modupe Odele, Otto Orondaam feature on list of powerful young Nigerians in Advocacy |url=https://ynaija.com/ynaijapowerlist-modupe-odele-otto-orondaam-and-98-others-in-the-2020-list/ |website=YNaija}}
In 2022, he was nominated for the Business Insider Africa Awards in the social entrepreneur of the year category.{{Cite web |last=Africa |first=B. I. |date=2022-03-21 |title=Here are the nominees of the Business Insider Africa Awards |url=https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/leaders/here-are-the-nominees-of-the-business-insider-africa-awards/1bxzk5d |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Business Insider Africa |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://slum2school.org/ Slum2School Africa]
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Category:Nigerian philanthropists
Category:University of Port Harcourt alumni