Ogunkunle Bags Honorary Doctorate For Driving Afrocentric Innovation

Creative entrepreneur and chief executive officer(CEO) of Dropp, Tunde Charles Ogunkunle, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (PhD Honoris Causa) in Impact Entrepreneurship and Strategy by Ominiversity Imperial College, Missouri, USA.
The honour celebrates Ogunkunle’s sustained leadership and track record in building high-impact, Africa-first ventures at the intersection of strategy, technology, design, and culture.
In a double honour, Ogunkunle was also inducted as a Fellow (F.AIMFIN) of the Artificial Intelligence Management and Financial Institute(AIMFIN), recognising his contributions to tech-enabled business models and strategic innovation within emerging markets.
“I love the challenge of solving problems in a multi-dimensional way, especially, where culture meets code, strategy meets design, and vision meets value,” the honouree said at the event.
Over the past decade, Ogunkunle, who earned his first and second degrees in Architecture from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has transformed himself into a significant force in Africa’s innovation economy. He currently leads Dropp, a food-tech company reimagining restaurant operations across the continent.
He is also the founder of Nbari, a growing ecosystem built to empower Africa’s creative talent through education, tools, and community. From growth engineering to brand innovation, Ogunkunle’s portfolio reflects a profound impact across sectors.
Dropp placed 2nd overall at DAAYTA 2025 by ARM HoldCo, Nbari was listed among Yale Africa Startup Review’s Top 30 African Startups for 2025, while Studio Eight, where he began his journey. was named one of Nigeria’s Top 100 Architectural Firms by the Nigerian Institute of Architects. Ogunkunle was also recently nominated as one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in Africa by The Business Executive Media Group.
What sets Ogunkunle apart is his unwavering commitment to action, purpose, and people. Whether he’s scaling startups or shaping ecosystems, his north star remains the same: build solutions that work for Africans by Africans.
Apart from his degrees from the OAU, Ogunkunle has further upskilled by attending the GTAP Growth Accelerator, Orange Academy, and Y-Combinator Startup School.
With this latest recognition, Ogunkunle cements his place as a defining voice in the future of African entrepreneurship, building boldly at the intersection of innovation and purpose.