Nigerian Obiageli Okafor Wins UK Telecoms Champion Award

Obiageli Obii Okafor, a Nigerian-born technology leader, made history by winning the Women in Telecoms Champion award at the Comms Council UK Awards 2026, becoming the first African woman to achieve this recognition. The award honors women making significant contributions to the UK telecommunications industry.

Okafor, a Senior Product Manager at 8×8, also founded PMHelp, a non-profit organization that has empowered over 52,000 professionals in more than 70 countries through mentoring and career development initiatives. After receiving the award in London, Okafor expressed her gratitude and reflected on her journey from Nigeria, emphasizing that her achievement sends a message about the potential of African women in technology.

Prior to her move to the UK, Okafor had a diverse career in Nigeria and Dubai but faced challenges in establishing herself in the UK market. She overcame job rejections and worked multiple jobs before securing leadership roles in the telecoms sector, which inspired her to create PMHelp.