For many ambitious people, success is often measured by achievement. The titles earned, the rooms entered, the milestones reached. But for Jonathan Olufowobi, speaker, author and CEO of MIPAD, success is connected to something deeper: purpose.
Purpose has shaped the way he understands leadership, community and the responsibility that comes with opportunity. It has also driven his commitment to creating access for others. It is a philosophy that would later inform his new book, Tips From The Top. As Jonathan often puts it, “Success without purpose is meaningless.” Growing up in East London as a British Nigerian, Jonathan was raised between two worlds. There was the reality of being raised in the UK, surrounded by different cultures and experiences, while also carrying the values passed down through his Nigerian heritage.
One of those core values was respect for elders and those who came before. “As a British Nigerian, you have more of an African upbringing, which means ways of teaching are different, discipline and punishment are different, and ways of respecting your elders are different from those of the Western world,” he explains. That respect for experience and wisdom has remained an important part of how Jonathan approaches relationships and leadership today.
“When I last went to Lagos in December, I could see that the culture of respecting elders or respecting those in authority was still there, and that’s something that I still aim to respect,” he says. “Those who are older than me, they have a lot of wisdom that they carry.”
,His upbringing in East London also exposed him to a diversity of cultures and communities that would later shape his worldview. Growing up, he moved between different friendship groups and environments, learning to navigate the realities of life as a young Black boy in London while developing an ability to connect with people from different backgrounds.
“It teaches you to be cautious, street smart and aware,” he reflects. “Where I grew up, I was around Black, White and Asian people. I like to be able to interact with people from all different types of backgrounds and my upbringing helped me do that.”
From a young age, Jonathan was drawn towards business and public speaking, two areas he continues to pursue today. He later studied Business Management before completing a master’s degree in International Business at the University of York. But while he had ambition, he did not necessarily have a clear roadmap for reaching his goals.
“I had the desire to succeed. I had absolutely no idea how I’d get there,” he says.
That began to change when he became involved with Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), the UN-aligned global civic organisation recognising influential people of African descent around the world. Through working as a research lead at MIPAD, Jonathan found himself exposed to influential figures, new opportunities and conversations that expanded his understanding of what was possible.
“After joining MIPAD, I suddenly had access to influential figures who had the knowledge and words of upliftment. I was surrounded by people who could help me to succeed with purpose.” For Jonathan, the impact of that access was transformative. “Coming from a place of not having access to then having access I was blessed with through MIPAD, I felt the effect this shift had upon me, and I wanted to give that to other people,” he says.
When Jonathan became CEO of MIPAD at just 25 years old, he stepped into a role that carried both responsibility and personal significance. The organisation was co-founded by his uncle, Kamil Olufowobi, who helped establish MIPAD as a global platform celebrating the achievements of people of African descent and fostering valuable connections across the diaspora.
While Jonathan inherited an institution with an established mission and international reach, he was determined to leave his own imprint on its future. “I had to have a vision of what I wanted to do in my role,” he says. That vision centred around young people. “The unique approach that I had, being a young person, was to prioritise investing in the next generation. That speaks to my mandate as CEO, which was essentially to start recognising influential people aged 25 and under, so we could provide the next generation with opportunities and access.”
Under Jonathan’s leadership, MIPAD established its first-ever ‘Next Gen’ edition, featuring 100 of the most influential young people of African descent around the world. Recognised in the category were individuals aged 25 and under who were making waves across business, finance, policy, media and social impact.
But recognition was only one part of the equation.
Jonathan also pushed to create the organisation’s first scholarships, funded by Ecobank and Nigerian businessman Adewale Tinubu, founder and CEO of Oando PLC. These scholarships gave five young people from the UK the opportunity to travel to New York to attend MIPAD’s 2025 Recognition Week, which convened more than 150 attendees, including trailblazers and industry leaders across a range of sectors.
With Jonathan as CEO, MIPAD has continued to recognise established leaders across the diaspora while creating more opportunities for younger generations to learn from and build relationships with those who have already achieved success in their respective fields. His own journey is evidence of what can happen when opportunity meets ambition.
Speaking opportunities, leadership roles, and international exposure have followed since his involvement with MIPAD. Among the moments that stand out most was the opportunity to speak about youth inclusion at the United Nations in Geneva. “That’s something that was on the bucket list for sure,” he adds. The experience reinforced his belief that exposure can transform a person’s sense of what is possible.
“So far, MIPAD has been a journey of gaining confidence,” he says. “Gaining access to an opportunity, and then taking the opportunity and learning from it.” As Jonathan’s network expanded, so too did his desire to document and share the lessons he was learning from influential leaders across the diaspora.
His book, Tips From The Top, captures conversations and lessons from leaders across the global African diaspora. The book features insights from influential figures including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo, singer and entrepreneur Banky Wellington, Afro Nation co-founder SMADE and former Costa Rican Vice President Dr Epsy Campbell Barr.
The conversations reflect the theme that has most shaped Jonathan’s work: the idea that success carries meaning when it is connected to purpose and used to inspire others.
That belief also shapes how he understands the importance of rebuilding connections across the African diaspora. “People of African descent have been dispersed by slavery and migration,” Jonathan explains.
“You could be in Brazil, which has the largest population of people of African descent outside Africa, but you could be so disconnected from other Africans. You could be in the UK or the US and be disconnected from other people who could be beneficial towards your future.” For Jonathan, part of MIPAD’s mission is restoring those connections. Today, MIPAD’s network spans six continents, creating opportunities for leaders, entrepreneurs and emerging changemakers of African descent to connect across geographical and cultural boundaries.
“If I told you there was a Black African woman in Pakistan who used to be a member of parliament there, you would never know until I told you,” he says, referring to Tanzeela Qambrani, a Pakistani woman whose ancestors came from Tanzania, who became the first lawmaker of African descent in the country. “What we do is highlight people like this and connect them with other amazing individuals so they can collaborate, share opportunities and exchange wisdom.”
The organisation’s work increasingly focuses on creating spaces where those connections can flourish, whether through leadership training, gatherings, fireside chats or recognition programmes. Whether speaking with presidents, entrepreneurs, community leaders or young people looking for direction, Jonathan sees value in learning from those who have already walked the path.
Throughout his journey, the lesson Jonathan returns to most often is that progress rarely happens in isolation. Someone opens a door, shares a lesson, offers encouragement or provides access to a space that once felt out of reach. The opportunities he gained through MIPAD changed the trajectory of his own life. His focus now is ensuring that the next generation benefits from that same transfer of knowledge and opportunity.
In many ways, that is what his work has become: building connections across generations, across borders and across the African diaspora itself. It is a mission rooted in purpose, sustained through access and carried forward through the belief that success means little unless it creates opportunities for others.
Writer: Estelle Uba
Editors: Beatrice Nwoko, Amaka Obioji
Photo: Jonathan Olufowobi
