Evans Woherem

Evans Ejike Woherem (born 8 August 1957) is a Nigerian IT expert, and business executive. He chairs Northlink Insurance Brokers Plc, Compumetrics Solution Limited, and is the founder of Digital Africa Global Consult Limited. He has held senior positions at several multinational companies, including, Lloyd's Register, ABSA Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, and Unity Bank.
==Education==
Evans had his secondary school education at Saint Pius X College, Bodo City (1970-1975) and Baptist High School (1975-1976), Port Harcourt. He then attended the University of La Verne, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science (1983). He continued his studies at the University of Warwick, where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Cognition, Computing, and Psychology (1985) and a Master of Arts degree in Economic and Social Studies (1987) at The University of Manchester. In 1989, he received his Ph.D. in Impacts of Expert Systems from The University of Manchester. His executive education is wide and varied, and includes the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School in 2004. He was conferred with an honorary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and was also elected a Fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society on 1 August 2021.
==Career==
Woherem began his career in academia, serving as an ESRC Research Fellow at the University of Strathclyde, from March to August 1989. He then worked as a Lecturer and Research Consultant at Manchester Polytechnic from June 1988 to March 1989, and as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Manchester's Science and Technology Policy Department from September 1986 to June 1988.
In 1989, he transitioned to the corporate sector, joining Lloyd's Register in the UK, where he worked in software engineering and continuous process improvement until 1994. He then moved to ABSA Bank in South Africa, where he served as a Senior Consultant from 1994 to 1996, managing business architecture and process and technology redesign.
In 1996, Woherem joined FSB International Bank Plc. in Nigeria as General Manager, where he promoted IT literacy, developed internal applications, and championed process improvement. He then moved to First Bank of Nigeria in 2001, where he served as Executive Director of IT & Electronic Banking until 2005. In this role, he oversaw significant initiatives such as the establishment of online branches, data centers, and electronic banking products. He also served as Chairman of Interswitch Limited.
In 2005, Evans joined First Interstate Bank (later part of Unity Bank Plc.) as Deputy Managing Director. From 2006 to 2011, Woherem served as Group Executive Director of Information Technology and Operations at Unity Bank. In this role, he played a crucial role in integrating technology systems and processes following the merger of nine financial institutions into Unity Bank.
Evans was appointed director of Chams Plc in August 2015. He oversaw a number of regulatory matters during his tenure, including the company's compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. He resigned from his position on December 1, 2021, with effect from January 1, 2022.
He is currently the chairman of Digital Africa Group, a company that organizes the annual Digital Africa Conference and Exhibitions. He also sits on the Board of Directors of boards of eShekels and Gamzaki Ltd.
He was a member of Rivers State Economic Advisory Council (2007-2015), and former Chairman, Rivers State Microfinance Agency, ChamsAccess Limited, and Caranda Management Services Limited.
==Honors and awards==
*Evans Woherem was awarded the Champion of Digital Identity award at the 2019 Digital Heroes Award in Lagos.
*He was awarded the Peace Achievers Award during the sixth edition of the Peace Achievers Award ceremony held in Abuja, Nigeria, on September 22, 2018.
 
==Books and selected publications==
===Books===
*Woherem, E. E., (2023). Information Technology and Africa: Riding the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Nigeria. Narrative Landscape Press.
* Woherem E. E. and Odedra-Straub, M. eds. (2017): Expanding Africa’s Capacity for Digital Technology: Proceedings of Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition, 2015, Nsemia Inc Publishers, Nairobi, Kenya.
==Notable speeches and interviews==
===Keynotes speeches===
Keynote speaker at the following events:
*The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) held an International Conference at her Extraordinary General Meeting scheduled for Friday, June 16, 2023.
*2020 Annual Corporate Governance Conference of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria.
*2nd Annual ICT Security Africa.
===Speeches and interviews===
* "Leveraging Nigeria's Ease of Doing Business"| Speech given at the GITEX 2019 Technology week on 6 October 2019, hosted by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
* "Nigeria Open for Business" | He talks on the economy and the transformation agenda. Speech given as a Speaker at the Zenith Global Economic Forum at the Park Hyatt New York in New York City, US. (September 26, 2018).
* "He talks on the economy and the transformation agenda" | Speech given as a Speaker at the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja on 24 May 2014.
* "Why Africa Must Partake In 4th Industrial Revolution" | Interview with Mrs Nkechi Isaac of SCIENCE NIGERIA Newspaper published on 3th June 2021.
* "IT expert advises African entrepreneurs on use of IoT" | Interview with News Agency of Nigeria published on 13 February 2016.
*"Mrs Woherem Goes Home By Chief Dr Evans Woreherem".
==Personal life==
Evans Woherem (Eze Iwhne Zinumba 1 of Apara Kingdom and Eze Omenna Oha 1 of Rumuokwuta Clan, Obio Akpor, Ikwerre, Rivers State) is married to Mrs. Margaret Woherem (nee Watts). They have two children, Chizi and Chioma. His father Chief Edward Woherem, who lived from 1928 - 2013, was a Real Estate Development and business mogul in the Old Rivers State. Evans's mother was Felicia Ihunda Woherem (nee Wopara). Prior to her marriage, she originated from the Wopara's compound in Oroije village, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt. She passed away at the age of 79.. Evans lists his hobbies as theatre, swimming, reading, and traveling.
Category:1957 births
Category:People from Port Harcourt
Category:Nigerian people
Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester
Category:University of La Verne alumni
Category:Business executives