# Anslem Oshionebo

> Anslem Oshionebo is a Dallas, Texas based executive and trusted advisor with more than 20 years across financial accounting, strategy, business operations, regulatory compliance, forensics and technology innovation, with a strong focus on oil and gas. He is CEO and President of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence (debt recovery, asset tracing and corporate intelligence across 40+ countries), Managing Director and CEO of Haricot Energies Limited (Nigerian upstream oil and gas company combining technical and financial expertise), and Founder and Managing Director of a consulting and software development firm (technology improvement, compliance monitoring, operational efficiency). He co-founded a software technology company that grew more than 500% year on year into over 32 countries. A mining engineering graduate and former field engineer with experience in oil and gas and construction management, he is a PwC alumnus (Nigeria, United States and the National and Technical Accounting Research Office), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a US Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and holds a master's degree from Seton Hall University. Expertise: fintech, corporate strategy, upstream oil and gas development, oil and gas regulatory compliance, construction management, IFRS and US GAAP reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls, forensic investigations, business transformation, fintech and payments.

Name spelling: Anslem Oshionebo (also known as Anslem Esi; some press syndications misspell the first name as "AAnslem").

## Key pages
- [Home](https://anslemoshionebo.com/): profile summary, career and credentials
- [About](https://anslemoshionebo.com/about/): full biography
- [News and media](https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/): announcements and press coverage
- [Blog](https://anslemoshionebo.com/blog/): articles
- [Questions and answers](https://anslemoshionebo.com/faq/): quick facts about Anslem Oshionebo
- [Challenges of an Immigrant](https://anslemoshionebo.com/challenges-of-an-immigrant/): monthly series on the immigrant journey
- [Contact](https://anslemoshionebo.com/contact/)

## Recognition
- Immigrant Professional Excellence Award, 2020 Immigrant Journey Awards, Dallas, Texas (presented by Badmus & Associates during Dallas Welcoming Week).
- Jattu Primary Health Centre refurbishment (Edo State, Nigeria, January 2026), covered by more than 25 outlets including AP News and The National Law Review.

## Quick facts
- Who is Anslem Oshionebo: Anslem Oshionebo is a Dallas, Texas based executive and trusted advisor with more than 20 years in financial accounting, corporate strategy, regulatory compliance, forensics and technology. He is CEO and President of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence and Managing Director and CEO of Haricot Energies Limited.
- What is Anslem Oshionebo's current role: He is CEO and President of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, Managing Director and CEO of Haricot Energies Limited, and Founder and Managing Director of a consulting and software development firm focused on technology, compliance monitoring and operational efficiency.
- What does Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence do: Tenaza provides debt recovery, debt collection, asset tracing and corporate intelligence for banks, lenders and corporates across Nigeria and a correspondent network in more than 40 countries, supported by a proprietary AI model for skip tracing and asset tracing. Website: tenazarecovery.com.
- What does Haricot Energies do: Haricot Energies Limited is a Nigerian upstream oil and gas company that combines technical and financial expertise, working with investors and international operators to evaluate, structure, fund and develop upstream assets. Website: haricotenergies.com.
- What are Anslem Oshionebo's qualifications: He holds a bachelor's degree in mining engineering and a master's degree from Seton Hall University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
- What is Anslem Oshionebo's background: He began his career as a field engineer with experience in oil and gas and construction management, then built his finance career at PwC in Nigeria and the United States, including a rotation in PwC's National and Technical Accounting Research Office. He co-founded a software technology company that grew more than 500 percent year on year into over 32 countries.
- What are Anslem Oshionebo's areas of expertise: Fintech and payments, corporate strategy and business development, upstream oil and gas development and financing, regulatory compliance and compliance monitoring, IFRS and US GAAP reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls, forensic accounting and fraud examination, and debt recovery and asset tracing.
- What awards has Anslem Oshionebo received: In 2020 he received the Immigrant Professional Excellence Award at the Immigrant Journey Awards in Dallas, Texas, presented by Badmus & Associates during Dallas Welcoming Week.

## News
- [Anslem Oshionebo Honoured with the 2020 Immigrant Professional Excellence Award](https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-immigrant-professional-excellence-award/): Anslem Oshionebo received the Immigrant Professional Excellence Award at the 2020 Immigrant Journey Awards in Dallas, which honour outstanding immigrant entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders and advocates. (2026-11-06)
- [Anslem Oshionebo Leads Haricot Energies as Managing Director and CEO](https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-md-ceo-haricot-energies/): Anslem Oshionebo is MD/CEO of Haricot Energies Limited, an upstream oil and gas company combining technical and financial expertise with investor and operator partners. (2026-11-06)
- [Anslem Oshionebo Leads Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence as CEO and President](https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-ceo-president-tenaza-asset-recovery/): Anslem Oshionebo is CEO and President of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, Africa's debt recovery and asset intelligence firm across 40+ countries. (2026-11-06)
- [Anslem Oshionebo on Philanthropy and Early Education: Essays and Reading](https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-on-philanthropy-and-early-education/): A collection of Anslem Oshionebo's writing on philanthropy, community, giving back and early education, published on his charity site anslemoshionebo.net. (2026-11-06)
- [Anslem Oshionebo Restores Power and Water to Jattu Primary Health Centre](https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-renovates-jattu-primary-health-centre/): Anslem Oshionebo led the refurbishment of Jattu Primary Health Centre in Edo State, restoring electricity and water and donating medical equipment. (2026-01-27)

## Topics
- [Fintech and Payments](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/fintech-and-payments/): Anslem Oshionebo, fintech executive and founder, writes about cross-border payments, remittances, stablecoins, embedded finance and the future of financial services in Africa and the United States.
- [Artificial Intelligence and Technology](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/): How AI and software are changing finance, recovery, energy and work: Anslem Oshionebo on agentic AI, AI governance, fraud detection, ethics and the skills the next generation needs.
- [Finance, Accounting and Controls](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/finance-and-accounting/): Practical writing on financial reporting, IFRS and US GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls, audit and capital raising from Anslem Oshionebo, chartered accountant, CPA and PwC alumnus.
- [Fraud, Compliance and Debt Recovery](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/fraud-compliance-and-recovery/): Anslem Oshionebo, Certified Fraud Examiner and CEO of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, on fraud prevention, forensic accounting, compliance, data protection and recovering non-performing loans.
- [Children, Education and Community](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/children-and-education/): Anslem Oshionebo on education, financial literacy and technology in the classroom, and how skills for the next generation drive economic development.
- [Nigeria and Africa](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/nigeria-and-africa/): Perspectives from Anslem Oshionebo on building Nigeria and Africa: fintech, energy, regulation, education and the levers for the next generation of growth.
- [Leadership and Entrepreneurship](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/leadership-and-entrepreneurship/): Lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship and careers from Anslem Oshionebo, field engineer turned finance executive, fintech founder and CEO.
- [The Immigrant Experience](https://anslemoshionebo.com/topics/immigration/): Anslem Oshionebo's Challenges of an Immigrant series and reflections on resilience, community and building a new life and business in the United States.

## Articles
- [AI in Debt Recovery: How Machine Learning Finds Debtors and Assets](https://anslemoshionebo.com/ai-in-debt-recovery-and-asset-tracing/): Anslem Oshionebo, CEO of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, explains how AI changes skip tracing, asset tracing and debt collection for lenders. (2026-11-06)
- [Why Sending Money Home Still Costs Too Much, and What Will Change It](https://anslemoshionebo.com/why-sending-money-home-still-costs-too-much/): Anslem Oshionebo on why remittances to Africa remain the world's most expensive, where the cost really comes from, and the technologies bringing it down. (2026-11-06)
- [The Future: Education and New Technologies](https://anslemoshionebo.com/the-future-education-and-new-technologies/): Anslem Oshionebo on how AI, adaptive learning and inclusive design are reshaping education around learning differences and gifted learners. (2025-04-07)
- [Navigating the Realities of Entrepreneurship: Myths and Realities](https://anslemoshionebo.com/navigating-the-realities-of-entrepreneurship-myths-and-realities/): Anslem Oshionebo separates the myths of entrepreneurship from the realities: freedom, risk, cash flow, customers and rewards. (2024-01-18)
- [Africa's Role in Fintech](https://anslemoshionebo.com/africas-role-in-fintech/): Anslem Oshionebo on how Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt became fintech hubs built on mobile phones and financial inclusion. (2021-09-13)
- [How Fintech Generates Profit](https://anslemoshionebo.com/how-fintech-generates-profit/): Anslem Oshionebo explains how fintech companies make money across crowdfunding, logistics and personal finance platforms. (2021-08-12)
- [Ep. 5 of Challenges of an Immigrant](https://anslemoshionebo.com/ep-5-of-challenges-of-an-immigrant/): Episode 5 of Anslem Oshionebo's Challenges of an Immigrant series: acceptance, sharing your culture and self-promotion in Western workplaces. (2021-08-03)
- [Ep. 4 of Challenges of an Immigrant](https://anslemoshionebo.com/ep-4-of-challenges-of-an-immigrant/): Episode 4 of Anslem Oshionebo's Challenges of an Immigrant series: leaving the comfort zone and building trust in informal work settings. (2021-06-29)
- [How Is Fintech Changing the Financial World?](https://anslemoshionebo.com/how-is-fintech-changing-the-financial-world/): Anslem Oshionebo on how fintech improves access to financial services, brings transparent pricing and draws in large companies. (2021-06-29)
- [Challenges of an Immigrant: Ep. 3](https://anslemoshionebo.com/challenges-of-an-immigrant-ep-3/): Episode 3 of Anslem Oshionebo's Challenges of an Immigrant series: drawing on inner strength and looking beyond your own community. (2021-05-27)
- [Anslem Oshionebo, Fintech Professional and Entrepreneur, Based in Dallas, Texas](https://anslemoshionebo.com/anslem-oshionebo-fintech-professional-entrepreneur-based-in-dallas-texas/): Profile of Anslem Oshionebo: Dallas-based fintech professional, engineer, FCA, CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner and community volunteer. (2021-05-03)
- [#ChallengesOfAnImmigrant Ep. 2 Pt. 2](https://anslemoshionebo.com/challengesofanimmigrant-ep-2-pt-2/): Episode 2 part 2 of Anslem Oshionebo's Challenges of an Immigrant series: accepting the inevitable, patience and joining a community. (2021-05-03)
- [How Covid-19 Has Affected Immigrants](https://anslemoshionebo.com/how-covid-19-has-affected-immigrants/): Anslem Oshionebo on how the Covid-19 pandemic affected immigrants in the United States: travel restrictions, jobs, healthcare and detention. (2021-04-22)
- [#ChallengesOfAnImmigrant: Ep. 2](https://anslemoshionebo.com/challengesofanimmigrant-ep-2/): Episode 2 of Anslem Oshionebo's Challenges of an Immigrant series: language, housing, work, status and staying engaged when it is hard. (2021-04-22)

## Organisations
- [Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence](https://tenazarecovery.com/)
- [Haricot Energies Limited](https://haricotenergies.com/)

## Profiles
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anslemo/)
- [X](https://x.com/AnslemOshionebo)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCroCQyPSUZ11nLxysa3lErw)
- [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/anslemoshionebo/)
- [Medium](https://anslemoshionebo.medium.com/)
- [Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/anslemoshionebo)
- [about.me](https://about.me/anslemoshionebo)
- [Quora](https://www.quora.com/profile/Anslem-Oshionebo)
- [Charity work: anslemoshionebo.net](https://anslemoshionebo.net/)

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# Anslem Oshionebo Honoured with the 2020 Immigrant Professional Excellence Award
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-immigrant-professional-excellence-award/
Published: 2026-11-06

Anslem Oshionebo, CEO and President of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence and Managing Director and CEO of Haricot Energies, received the Immigrant Professional Excellence Award at the 2020 Immigrant Journey Awards in Dallas, Texas. The awards celebrate outstanding immigrant entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders and advocates in North Texas.
Because the ceremony took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was held virtually and received less attention than it would have in an ordinary year. This article records the recognition and what it represents.
## About the Immigrant Journey Awards
The Immigrant Journey Awards are presented by Badmus & Associates, an immigration law firm based in Dallas. The 2020 ceremony was held online on Thursday, September 17, 2020, and streamed on Facebook Live and Zoom as part of Dallas Welcoming Week, under the theme "Creating Home Together". Supporting organisations included the Americas Chamber for Business, Communities Foundation of Texas, Jupiter Gardens, and the City of Dallas Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs.
Honours were presented in four categories:
- Immigrant Professional Excellence Award: Anslem Oshionebo and Dr. Fesaha Gebrehiwot
- Immigrant Entrepreneur Award: Veronica Sauto and Nehme William Elbitar
- Immigrant Spirit Award: Mohammed Farshori and Sudip Adhikari
- Immigrant Advocate Award: Adan Gonzalez and Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk
The programme also awards American Dream Scholarships to high school seniors who are immigrants or the children of immigrants.
The 2020 Immigrant Journey Awards honourees, held virtually on September 17, 2020.
## Recognising professional excellence
The Professional Excellence Award recognises immigrants whose careers demonstrate outstanding achievement and whose example opens doors for others. Anslem's path began in Nigeria, where he earned a degree in mining engineering and worked as a field engineer in oil and gas and construction management. He moved into finance with PwC in Nigeria and then the United States, including a rotation in the firm's National and Technical Accounting Research Office, and qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a US Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner.
He went on to co-found a software technology company that grew more than 500 percent year on year and expanded into over 32 countries, and to found a consulting and software development firm focused on technology, compliance monitoring and operational efficiency. Today he leads Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, operating across more than 40 countries, and Haricot Energies, an upstream oil and gas company in Nigeria.
## Giving back to the immigrant community
Alongside his professional work, Anslem has written openly about the immigrant experience through his series Challenges of an Immigrant, which offers practical encouragement on language, culture, workplace visibility, discrimination and resilience. In Dallas he volunteers as a teacher for young children at his church and coaches youth soccer, and in Nigeria he supports education and community health projects, including the 2026 refurbishment of Jattu Primary Health Centre.
## Watch the ceremony
The recording of the 2020 Immigrant Journey Awards is available on YouTube. Anslem's recognition begins at about 32 minutes.
## New episodes of Challenges of an Immigrant
Building on the recognition, Anslem is publishing new monthly episodes of Challenges of an Immigrant, with lessons on character, belonging, courage and leadership for immigrants and the colleagues and leaders who work alongside them.
Read Anslem Oshionebo's full biography.

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# Anslem Oshionebo Leads Haricot Energies as Managing Director and CEO
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-md-ceo-haricot-energies/
Published: 2026-11-06

Anslem Oshionebo serves as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Haricot Energies Limited, and leads the company's team as Project Lead on its upstream opportunities. He brings more than two decades of experience across finance, strategy and oil and gas consulting. A mining engineering graduate with a strong grounding in natural resources, including oil and gas, he combines technical fluency with commercial judgment across the US and Nigerian markets, setting the team's direction and aligning financial strategy with operational delivery, stakeholder management and regulatory compliance.
## Technical and financial expertise in one company
Haricot Energies is an oil and gas company built on dual-track expertise. Its team brings more than 130 years of combined experience across upstream exploration, drilling and well engineering, geology and geophysics, regulatory compliance and corporate finance, with a track record spanning Nigeria, the United States and international markets. In a sector where technical credibility and financial discipline rarely sit in the same room, Haricot brings both.
## Backed by capital partners
Haricot operates in active partnership with venture capital firms, investment institutions and established international oil and gas companies, including Hephzibah and Regions Oil and Gas. Those partnerships give the company the reach to structure, fund and deliver upstream assets from evaluation through development.
## Positioned for Nigeria's licensing rounds
The company is positioned to compete for and deliver upstream opportunities across onshore, shallow water and deep offshore terrains, including licensing rounds administered under Nigeria's Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) framework. Its senior leadership team of finance, engineering and geoscience professionals each brings 15 to more than 20 years of industry experience, several with backgrounds in Big Four advisory practices, international oil and gas operators and regulatory bodies in Nigeria and the United States.
## Capabilities
Technical:
- Seismic acquisition and interpretation
- Basin evaluation and reservoir characterization
- Drilling programme design and well integrity management
- Exploration risk assessment
Financial and regulatory:
- Project finance and capital raising
- Commercial structuring of upstream contracts
- Financial modelling and valuation
- Regulatory reporting and compliance strategy
- Enterprise risk management
## Why it matters
Anslem's own career mirrors the company's model. He began as a field engineer with experience in oil and gas and construction management, built his finance career at PwC in Nigeria and the United States, and has advised oil and gas companies on regulatory compliance, licensing, reporting obligations and operational strategy. That combination is what lenders, investors and regulators look for when deciding which upstream assets get developed.
Learn more at haricotenergies.com.

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# Anslem Oshionebo Leads Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence as CEO and President
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-ceo-president-tenaza-asset-recovery/
Published: 2026-11-06

Anslem Oshionebo serves as CEO and President of Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, a debt recovery, debt collection, asset tracing and corporate intelligence firm operating across more than 40 countries through its correspondent network.
Tenaza is built for creditors that need more than a collection letter: banks, lenders, corporates and investors holding non-performing loans and judgments that require structured recovery. The firm combines field investigation, legal process and its own proprietary AI model for skip tracing and asset tracing, used to locate debtors and assets across Nigeria and the wider network. The firm's working promise is captured in its line: We grip. We hold. We recover.
## Why a finance professional leads a recovery firm
Recovery is a financial problem before it is a legal one. Anslem's career in audit, forensic accounting and fraud examination, including his years with PwC in Nigeria and the United States, his CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner credentials and his status as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), and his experience leading forensic investigations and fraud examinations, informs how Tenaza values portfolios, traces funds and builds cases that hold up.
His experience in international payments adds a direct understanding of how money moves across borders, which is central to tracing assets that move between jurisdictions.
## Technology at the core
Having started his career as an engineer and later built software and payments products, Anslem has led the development of Tenaza's technology stack, from case management and client intake to investigator tooling, so that the firm's recovery work is measurable, auditable and fast.
Learn more at tenazarecovery.com.

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# Anslem Oshionebo on Philanthropy and Early Education: Essays and Reading
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-on-philanthropy-and-early-education/
Published: 2026-11-06

Alongside his work in finance, technology and energy, Anslem Oshionebo writes regularly about philanthropy, community service and children's education on his charity and non-profit site, anslemoshionebo.net, whose motto is "Philanthropy, creating a better society". These pieces are a good place to start.
## Starting your philanthropic journey
Practical first steps for anyone who wants to give with purpose: choosing a cause, starting small and building consistency. Read it on anslemoshionebo.net.
## Empowering Africa's future: the vital importance of education
Why education is the foundation of Africa's progress, and why every child deserves the tools to learn. Read it on anslemoshionebo.net.
## How nonprofits impact local communities
The role non-profit organisations play in strengthening neighbourhoods, families and opportunity. Read it on anslemoshionebo.net.
## Easy steps to be active in your community
Simple ways anyone can get involved, from volunteering to mentoring. Read it on anslemoshionebo.net.
## Incorporating philanthropy in your business
How companies can build giving into the way they work. Read it on anslemoshionebo.net.
## The best philanthropy books everyone should read
A reading list for people who want to understand effective giving more deeply. Read it on anslemoshionebo.net.
## Joy in the midst of little
A reflection on gratitude and generosity. Read it on anslemoshionebo.net.
## Why early education is imperative for success
The case for investing in the earliest years of learning, which also underpins Anslem's volunteer teaching and his support for the Anslem Esi Foundation. Read it on Tumblr.
## In practice
That thinking became action in January 2026, when Anslem led the refurbishment of Jattu Primary Health Centre in Edo State, restoring electricity and clean water and donating medical equipment.

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# Anslem Oshionebo Restores Power and Water to Jattu Primary Health Centre
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/news/anslem-oshionebo-renovates-jattu-primary-health-centre/
Published: 2026-01-27

In January 2026, Anslem Oshionebo partnered with fellow philanthropists to refurbish the Jattu Primary Health Centre in Jattu-Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria. The project marked the first anniversary of the passing of his father, the late Rev. Felix Oshionebo, and was dedicated to the community his father loved.
## Electricity restored after more than eight years
The health centre had operated without electricity for more than eight years. Restoring power means medical equipment can be used safely, medicines can be stored properly, services can continue after dark and emergencies can be handled with far greater confidence. Community leaders described the return of electricity as one of the project's most important achievements.
## Clean water for the centre and its neighbours
The long-dormant borehole was rehabilitated and expanded, with new storage tanks and taps installed along the perimeter fence. The water system serves both the health centre and the surrounding community, giving hundreds of families access to clean water.
## Equipment for maternal and child health
Anslem personally donated an examination couch, a diabetes monitoring machine, a blood pressure machine, a wheelchair and a baby-weighing scale, strengthening maternal and child health services and day-to-day patient care.
Speaking about the project, Anslem said the renovation honours his father's memory and his commitment to Jattu, and expressed the hope that the improvements will bring lasting healthcare benefits to the community.
## Coverage
The announcement, first reported by Afenmai News and distributed through EIN Presswire on 27 January 2026, was carried by outlets in Nigeria, the United States and beyond, including:
- EIN Presswire- AP News- The National Law Review- MENAFN- EIN News- EIN News: Nigeria- Abuja Tribune- Nigeria Daily Journal- The Nigeria Reporter- PR Wire India- Expertini Wire (PDF)- KGET 17 (Bakersfield, CA)- FOX40 (Sacramento, CA)- 8 News Now (Las Vegas, NV)- KHON2 (Honolulu, HI)- WKRN (Nashville, TN)- WREG (Memphis, TN)- Queen City News (Charlotte, NC)- WAVY (Norfolk, VA)- KSN (Wichita, KS)- KSNT (Topeka, KS)- KTAL (Shreveport, LA)- myArkLaMiss (Monroe, LA)- NWA Homepage (Arkansas)- Four States Homepage (Joplin, MO)- Big Country Homepage (Abilene, TX)- KCAU 9 (Sioux City, IA)

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# AI in Debt Recovery: How Machine Learning Finds Debtors and Assets
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/ai-in-debt-recovery-and-asset-tracing/
Published: 2026-11-06

Debt recovery used to depend on persistence: letters, phone calls and investigators knocking on doors. Persistence still matters, but the firms that recover the most today are the ones that know where to knock first. That is where artificial intelligence has changed the industry.
At Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, where I serve as CEO and President, we built our own AI model for skip tracing and asset tracing because off-the-shelf tools were not designed for African data, and because our work spans Nigeria and a correspondent network in more than 40 countries.
## Skip tracing: finding the person
A debtor who has moved, changed numbers or closed accounts leaves fragments behind: company registrations, court filings, property records, social and professional profiles, phone and address histories. Individually each fragment is weak. Machine learning is good at linking weak signals, matching name variants and spellings, scoring the probability that two records describe the same person and ranking the leads most likely to succeed. Investigators then spend their time on the strongest leads rather than the longest list.
## Asset tracing: finding what can be recovered
Locating a debtor is only half the work. Recovery depends on identifying assets that can be attached: property, vehicles, shareholdings, receivables and funds moved to related parties. AI helps map ownership networks, flag transfers that look designed to put assets out of reach and connect entities across jurisdictions. My training as a forensic accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner taught me that money usually tells the truth even when people do not; AI simply reads the trail faster.
## Prioritising a portfolio
Banks and lenders rarely hand over one account. They hand over portfolios of thousands of non-performing loans. Predictive scoring lets a recovery firm segment that portfolio: accounts likely to settle with a structured conversation, accounts that need legal action, and accounts where tracing is required before anything else. That changes recovery rates and costs at the same time.
## Guardrails matter
Power without discipline creates risk. Responsible recovery means lawful data sources, compliance with data protection law, human review of every decision that affects a person, and professional, respectful engagement with debtors. Tenaza is registered with Nigeria's data protection regulator for that reason.
## How a modern recovery workflow runs
- Portfolio intake. The lender shares account data. The first step is cleaning it: matching identities, correcting addresses and removing duplicates.
- Enrichment. Models compare the data against permitted public and commercial sources to find current contact details, employment and business interests.
- Scoring. Each account receives a recoverability score based on contactability, assets, ability to pay and legal position.
- Strategy by segment. High-score accounts receive negotiation and settlement offers. Accounts with hidden assets go to investigation. Disputed or complex accounts go to legal review.
- Field and legal action. Investigators verify assets on the ground, and lawyers act where enforcement is justified.
- Feedback. Outcomes are fed back into the models, so the next portfolio is prioritised better.
## What lenders should ask a recovery partner
- Which data sources do you use, and are they lawful in each jurisdiction?
- How do you verify AI findings before acting on them?
- How do you treat vulnerable debtors and handle disputes?
- What reporting will we receive, and how often?
- Can you trace assets across borders, and through which network?
A credible partner answers these questions clearly and in writing.
## Why this matters for the wider economy
Non-performing loans tie up capital that banks could lend to businesses and households. Faster, fairer recovery frees that capital, lowers the cost of credit and encourages lenders to serve more customers. Technology does not replace the human judgment involved in recovery, but it makes the process faster, more accurate and more consistent.
## The result
AI does not replace investigators, lawyers or negotiators. It gives them better maps. For lenders carrying bad debt, that means faster recoveries, clearer evidence and fewer dead ends. In Tenaza's own words: we grip, we hold, we recover.
## Common questions
What is skip tracing?
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who cannot be reached at their last known address, using public records, commercial data and investigation.
Can AI recover debts on its own?
No. AI helps find people and assets and prioritise accounts, but negotiation, verification and legal action still require experienced professionals.
Is asset tracing legal?
Yes, when it uses lawful data sources and follows data protection, privacy and debt collection rules in each jurisdiction.

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# Why Sending Money Home Still Costs Too Much, and What Will Change It
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/why-sending-money-home-still-costs-too-much/
Published: 2026-11-06

Sending money home should be simple. For millions of families it is the most important payment of the month: school fees, medical bills, rent and food. Yet it remains surprisingly expensive. World Bank data has shown for years that Sub-Saharan Africa is the costliest region in the world to send money to, with the average cost of sending $200 close to 8 percent, well above the global average and far from the 3 percent target in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Nigeria alone receives around $20 billion a year in remittances.
Having spent years in international payments, I have seen this problem from the inside. Here is where the cost really comes from, and what is finally changing it.
## The cost is in the plumbing
Most of the price of a remittance is not the fee on the screen. It is the foreign exchange spread, correspondent banking charges, money pre-positioned in payout accounts and the cost of moving liquidity between markets. A cheaper transfer needs fewer intermediaries, faster settlement and careful treasury management.
## Why Africa pays more
- Fewer direct corridors: many payments still route through other currencies and banks before reaching an African account.
- Currency volatility: providers price in the risk of exchange rate swings.
- Last-mile cost: paying out to banks, wallets and agents across large countries is expensive.
- Limited competition: in some corridors, a few providers set prices.
## What is bringing costs down
- Digital transfers: app-based transfers are consistently cheaper than cash-based services.
- Instant payment systems: fast domestic rails make the payout leg quicker and cheaper.
- Regulated stablecoins: new settlement rails could cut correspondent costs and idle balances.
- Mobile money: wallets reach families without bank accounts.
- Transparency: comparison tools let senders see the total cost, not just the fee.
## Tips for families sending money
- Compare the total amount received, not just the transfer fee; the exchange rate often matters more.
- Send larger amounts less often when possible, since fixed fees fall as a share of the transfer.
- Use regulated, reputable providers and keep receipts.
## A worked example: where the money goes
Take a transfer of 200 dollars from Dallas to Lagos. A typical traditional route might charge a fixed fee of 5 to 10 dollars, then convert at an exchange rate 2 to 4 percent worse than the mid-market rate. On 200 dollars, a 3 percent margin is another 6 dollars. The recipient may then pay a cash pickup fee or travel to an agent. Together, the family can lose 15 dollars or more, close to 8 percent of the amount sent.
A digital provider that sends directly to a bank account or mobile wallet, with a small fee and a narrow margin, can bring that total below 3 percent. Over a year of monthly transfers, the difference can be worth more than a month of school fees.
## Why compliance adds cost, and why it matters
Every licensed money transmitter must verify customers, screen transactions against sanctions lists and monitor for money laundering. These checks protect families and the financial system, but they require people, data and technology. When banks see a corridor as high risk, some withdraw entirely, which reduces competition and keeps prices high. The answer is not weaker compliance. It is better, cheaper compliance through shared identity infrastructure, digital verification and real-time monitoring, so trusted providers can serve more customers at lower cost.
## What policymakers can do
- Connect payment systems so money can move between instant payment networks without multiple intermediaries.
- Require clear disclosure of the total cost, including exchange rate margins, before a customer pays.
- Support digital identity so customers can be verified quickly and safely.
- Encourage competition by licensing qualified providers on predictable timelines.
## The prize
Every percentage point saved on remittances to Africa puts billions of dollars more into household budgets, school fees and small businesses. Bringing the cost of sending money home down to the global target is one of the most direct ways technology can improve lives across the continent.
## Common questions
Why is it expensive to send money to Africa?
Transfers often pass through several correspondent banks, carry exchange rate margins, require costly compliance checks and end in cash payout networks. Fewer competitors in some corridors also keep prices high.
What is the cheapest way to send money to Nigeria?
Compare licensed digital providers by the total amount the recipient receives, including the exchange rate. Transfers to a bank account or mobile wallet are usually cheaper than cash pickup.
What is the global target for remittance costs?
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals target an average cost below 3 percent by 2030.

---

# The Future: Education and New Technologies
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/the-future-education-and-new-technologies/
Published: 2025-04-07

Education is moving away from the one-size-fits-all classroom. The model taking its place is more personal, more robust and more inclusive: it treats learning differences as part of how a student learns rather than as obstacles to be managed. That shift includes highly gifted and talented learners, who are just as poorly served by a single pace and a single format.
Technology is accelerating the change. Educators and institutions now have tools that adapt to students instead of asking every student to adapt to the tool. With the arrival of practical AI, the pace of that change has stepped up again. A child who used to sit bored at the back of a class, either lost or far ahead, can now be met where they are.
## Technology that adapts to the learner
Artificial intelligence, adaptive learning software and virtual reality are changing what a lesson can be. These tools adjust to a student's pace and preferences, give real-time feedback and keep learners engaged. Resistance from some administrators is real, but the case for change is strong.
For students with dyslexia, ADHD or autism, the gains can be dramatic. Text-to-speech, speech-to-text, visual scheduling and interactive modules open alternative paths to the same material, so that the student is judged on understanding and not on one narrow way of showing it. Gifted students benefit in the same way: adaptive platforms let them move ahead without waiting for the rest of the class.
## From remediation to strengths
The older model focused on fixing what a student could not do. The better model starts from what a student does well and builds outward. That requires collaboration between teachers, specialists and families, with each child's plan shaped by the people who know them best.
## The skills that matter next
Technology will keep changing, so the most durable skills are human ones: emotional intelligence, creativity, communication and problem-solving. Schools that teach these alongside content will prepare students for work that does not exist yet.
## What schools and parents can do now
- Teach how to learn. Children who can find information, check sources and practise effectively will keep learning long after school.
- Use technology for practice and feedback. Adaptive apps are excellent for maths drills, reading practice and languages, freeing teachers to focus on discussion and support.
- Build digital responsibility. Screen time limits, privacy awareness and respectful online behaviour are part of modern education.
- Keep projects real. Group projects that solve local problems teach collaboration, planning and presentation skills.
## Artificial intelligence in the classroom
AI tutors can explain a concept in several ways, generate practice questions and give instant feedback. Used well, they extend what a teacher can do. Used badly, they let students skip the thinking that builds understanding. Schools should set clear rules: AI can help students practise and check work, but assessments must show what the student understands. Teaching students to question AI answers is itself an important skill.
## Closing the access gap
Technology can widen inequality if only some children have devices and internet access. Shared devices, offline-capable apps, solar charging and partnerships with businesses and foundations help close the gap. The investment is worthwhile: a child who learns to use technology confidently today can participate in the global digital economy tomorrow.
## High-tech and high-touch
The future of education will not be decided by software alone. It depends just as much on attentive teachers, engaged parents and a commitment to equity, so that every child, wherever they start, has access to tools that fit how they learn. That belief also drives my support for early education through the work I have written about on early learning and the learning materials the Anslem Esi Foundation provides to school children in Nigeria.
## Common questions
How will technology change education?
Adaptive tools will personalise practice, AI tutors will give instant feedback and teachers will spend more time on discussion, coaching and projects.
Should children use AI for schoolwork?
Yes for practice, explanations and checking work, with clear rules that assessments must show the child's own understanding.

---

# Navigating the Realities of Entrepreneurship: Myths and Realities
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/navigating-the-realities-of-entrepreneurship-myths-and-realities/
Published: 2024-01-18

People are constant consumers. We look for products and services that entertain us, nourish us and make life easier, and that steady demand is what pulls entrepreneurs into business. Over years of working with founders across different cultures and markets, one question keeps coming up: why do people choose to start a business at all, and do they understand what they are signing up for?
## What an entrepreneur actually is
Definitions vary. Some describe the entrepreneur as the person who carries the risk of a venture. Others focus on the pursuit of profit. Both are true, and both understate the work. An entrepreneur is someone who takes responsibility for an outcome no one has guaranteed, and keeps making decisions with incomplete information.
## Myth: owning a business means more freedom
Many people start a business to escape a boss. In practice, the owner answers to more people, not fewer: customers, lenders, investors, regulators, suppliers and staff. Schedules are often longer than in employment, and weekends disappear during the early years.
## Myth: a good idea is enough
A business survives on cash, not on ideas. Managing cash flow, timing payables and receivables, and keeping enough runway for the slow months decide whether a good idea lives long enough to succeed. My background in accounting and financial forensics taught me early that most failures are visible in the numbers long before they are visible anywhere else.
## Myth: build what you love and customers will come
Personal passion and customer need are not the same thing. The ventures that last solve a problem customers already know they have, at a price they are willing to pay. Founders must be willing to listen, test and change course.
## Reality: rewards are real but unpredictable
Entrepreneurship can create wealth, jobs and lasting value. It can also take years before it pays its founder anything. Anyone considering it should plan for that uncertainty personally as well as professionally.
## Cash flow is the first reality
Most new businesses do not fail because the idea was bad. They fail because they run out of cash. Customers pay later than expected, costs arrive earlier, and growth itself consumes money through inventory, staff and marketing. Before launching, build a simple twelve-month cash flow forecast and test it against a slower case: half the expected sales and twice the expected delay in payments. If the business survives that case, you have a margin of safety.
## Test before you build
A common mistake is spending months building a product before speaking to customers. Reverse the order. Describe the offer, set a price and ask potential customers to commit, through a pre-order, a letter of intent or a pilot. Their behaviour tells you more than their opinions. If no one will commit, refine the offer before investing heavily.
## Build your support system
Entrepreneurship is demanding. Three kinds of support make it sustainable:
- Advisers: an accountant, a lawyer and an experienced founder who will tell you the truth.
- Peers: other founders at a similar stage who understand the pressure.
- Family: clear conversations about time, money and risk before you start.
## Know your numbers
Every founder should know, without looking it up: monthly revenue, gross margin, monthly cash burn, cash in the bank and how many months that cash lasts. These five numbers drive almost every important decision, from hiring to fundraising.
## Preparing for the journey
None of this is a reason not to start. It is a reason to start prepared: understand the market, respect cash flow, stay open-minded and adapt as conditions change. The founders who do well are rarely the ones with the best first idea. They are the ones who keep learning.
## Common questions
What is the biggest myth about entrepreneurship?
That owning a business means more freedom. In practice founders answer to customers, investors, lenders, regulators and staff, and usually work longer hours than employees.
What should I do before starting a business?
Validate demand with real customers, build a cash flow forecast with a downside case, save a financial cushion and line up trusted advisers.

---

# Africa's Role in Fintech
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/africas-role-in-fintech/
Published: 2021-09-13

In recent years, countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa have become financial technology hubs. Africa's fintech wave is built on the mobile phone. Where traditional banking infrastructure was thin, entrepreneurs built low-cost platforms that most residents can reach from a basic handset.
## Nigeria
Nigeria has one of the most active fintech markets on the continent. Branch, a mobile lending application, became one of the best-known examples: credit decisions made from phone data, with loans disbursed in minutes to people who had never held a bank loan. Payments, remittances and digital banking companies have followed in large numbers.
## Kenya
Kenya's story is inseparable from M-PESA, Safaricom's mobile money service. By letting people send and store money by text message, it changed how millions of households save, pay and receive income, and it created a foundation on which other Kenyan fintech companies now build.
## South Africa
South Africa combines relatively high internet access with high mobile phone ownership. Companies such as Jumo used mobile channels to offer savings and credit products to customers that conventional banks found too costly to serve.
## Egypt
In Egypt, fintech has become a lever for financial inclusion, supported by banking regulations designed to bring more people into the formal financial system.
## Why Africa is a fintech leader, not a follower
In many markets, fintech competes with established banks. In much of Africa, it often serves customers that traditional banks never reached. That is why mobile money spread so quickly: it solved a real problem for people without bank accounts. Africa's young population, high mobile phone adoption and large informal economy create demand for simple, affordable financial tools.
Investors noticed. African fintech companies attracted a large share of the continent's startup funding over the past decade, and several reached valuations above one billion dollars.
## What the next phase requires
- Interoperability. Customers need to move money easily between banks, wallets and countries. Instant payment systems and cross-border initiatives such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System are steps in that direction.
- Clear and consistent regulation. Licensing that is predictable encourages investment and protects customers.
- Trust and fraud prevention. Growth brings fraudsters. Strong identity verification and monitoring are essential.
- Local currency finance. Many businesses earn in local currency but raise capital in dollars, which creates currency risk.
## Opportunities for builders and investors
The most promising areas include business payments, credit for small and medium enterprises, insurance, savings and investment products, and the infrastructure that other fintechs build on: identity, compliance and payment processing. Teams that combine local market knowledge with strong compliance and technology will be best placed to build lasting companies.
## A leader's view: build for the continent, not just one market
Many African fintechs start in one country and later discover that expanding across borders is harder than expected. Each market has its own regulators, licences, payment systems, currencies, consumer habits and competitors. Leaders who plan for regional growth from the start make better early decisions.
Practical steps include designing technology that can support multiple currencies and languages, building compliance programmes that meet the strictest standards likely to apply, choosing banking and payment partners with regional reach, and hiring people who understand target markets. Leaders should also be realistic about timing: obtaining licences and building local partnerships can take a year or more per market.
The African Continental Free Trade Area creates a long-term opportunity for businesses that can operate across borders. Payments, trade finance, logistics finance and foreign exchange services are essential to making intra-African trade work. Fintechs that solve these problems will support the continent's integration while building large businesses. Having worked on international payments and compliance technology across many countries, I believe Africa's next generation of fintech leaders will be defined by their ability to combine innovation with the regulatory discipline required to operate across multiple markets.
## What it means for the continent
Fintech can do more than modernize payments. It can connect African markets to each other, lower the cost of moving money across borders and lift millions of people into the formal economy. The remittance corridor is one of the clearest places where that promise is already being delivered.
## Common questions
Which African countries lead in fintech?
Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt are generally seen as the leading fintech markets, each with large customer bases, active investors and growing regulatory frameworks.
Why did mobile money succeed in Africa?
It met a real need: people without bank accounts could send, receive and store money from a basic mobile phone, through agents close to home.

---

# How Fintech Generates Profit
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/how-fintech-generates-profit/
Published: 2021-08-12

Fintech attracts enormous attention, yet many fintech companies are still not profitable, even after building large user bases and mature technology. Some need to raise capital again as soon as they reach scale. So how do fintech companies actually generate profit?
## Crowdfunding platforms
Crowdfunding platforms earn primarily through fees. They draw on large pools of money from users rather than relying on third-party loans, and they convert contributions into funding for startups and projects. Some also match startups with investors. Because their funding base is broad, they can keep fees low and still earn on volume. Since crowdfunding is an investment mechanism, platforms also have to manage investor losses carefully, and many choose to absorb some customer losses rather than face penalties.
## Logistics platforms
Logistics and freight platforms charge fees on the transactions that run through them, and some add on-demand delivery services at a premium. Demand-based pricing lets them balance delivery speed against cost, which improves margins at busy times.
## Personal finance platforms
Personal finance applications bring a user's accounts into one view and build on that position with wealth management, budgeting and lending-related products. Revenue comes from premium subscriptions, from partner products such as credit cards and insurance, and from the insight that aggregated financial data provides when used responsibly and lawfully.
## The main revenue models
- Transaction fees and foreign exchange margins. Payment and remittance companies charge a fee per transfer and often earn a margin on currency conversion.
- Interest spread. Lenders earn the difference between the cost of funds and the rate charged to borrowers, minus credit losses.
- Interchange. Card issuers receive a small share of each card payment from merchants.
- Subscriptions and software fees. Business tools for accounting, payroll or compliance charge monthly fees.
- Platform and marketplace fees. Crowdfunding, investment and insurance platforms earn commissions for matching customers with providers.
## The economics that decide success
Revenue is only half of the story. Three numbers decide whether a fintech business is sustainable. The first is customer acquisition cost: how much it costs to win a customer through marketing and incentives. The second is lifetime value: how much gross profit the customer generates over the relationship. The third is the cost of risk: fraud losses, credit losses and compliance spending. A healthy business earns several times more from a customer over their lifetime than it costs to acquire and serve them.
Many fintechs grew quickly by subsidising customers, then struggled when funding became expensive. The companies that last are disciplined about unit economics from early on.
## Hidden costs to plan for
Licensing, audits, anti-money laundering programmes, data protection, cyber security and customer complaints handling all cost money. So do chargebacks and fraud. Building these costs into the model from day one avoids unpleasant surprises when regulators or partner banks ask questions.
## A leader's view: profitability is a design decision
Fintech companies that reach profitability usually make deliberate choices early. They choose customer segments where they can earn enough per customer to cover acquisition and service costs. They price transparently but not below cost. They build automation into operations so that costs grow more slowly than revenue. They invest in risk management because fraud and credit losses can erase margins quickly.
Leaders should review unit economics regularly, by product and by customer segment. Some customers will be profitable from the first month; others may never be. Understanding the difference allows better decisions about marketing, pricing and product design. Diversifying revenue, for example by adding business services, lending or subscriptions to a payments product, can improve resilience.
For investors and boards, the key questions are straightforward. Does each customer generate more value than they cost? Are fraud, credit and compliance costs fully reflected in the numbers? Is growth funded sustainably? From my experience in finance and as a technology founder, the fintechs that last are those whose leaders understand these numbers as well as they understand their technology.
## The outlook
Fintech is still an emerging industry and profitability varies widely. What is clear is that investment in fintech startups has grown strongly, and the business models that combine low acquisition costs, recurring revenue and disciplined compliance are the ones that last.
## Common questions
How do payment apps make money?
Most payment apps earn transaction fees, foreign exchange margins on cross-border transfers, interchange on card spending, and interest on balances or lending products.
Why do some fintechs lose money?
Usually because acquiring customers costs more than those customers generate, or because fraud, credit and compliance costs were underestimated.

---

# Ep. 5 of Challenges of an Immigrant
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/ep-5-of-challenges-of-an-immigrant/
Published: 2021-08-03

When you arrive in a new environment, it is natural to expect acceptance. We are all human, and in principle we are all equal. In practice, it rarely works that way. George Orwell put it memorably in Animal Farm: some animals are more equal than others. So why do newcomers expect established groups, with long-held ideas and cultures, to accept them quickly?
Acceptance has to be built. That means taking the time to understand the culture you are joining, and sharing enough about your own culture that others can understand you. You cannot force acceptance, and kindness goes further than insistence.
Think of a bakery. You smell fresh bread from down the street long before you walk in and buy it. Sometimes you smell it from afar with no money in your pocket. Acceptance works the same way: people are drawn in gradually, by what they notice about you over time.
## Two ways of seeing work
Many African cultures are deeply religious and respectful. There is trust that God has a plan, and an expectation that good work will speak for itself. Promoting yourself can look boastful or proud.
In many Western workplaces, the assumption is different. You were hired for the skills and experience you already have. Advancement depends heavily on relationships, networking and visibility, and talking about your work is read as confidence in it.
Neither view is wrong. They are different perspectives. What matters is knowing which one your environment runs on. When you share your background openly and take the time to understand how others see things, you put yourself on the path to greater success.
## How to talk about your work without feeling boastful
If you were raised to let your work speak for itself, self-promotion can feel uncomfortable. Reframe it as reporting, not boasting. Your manager needs to know what you achieved to make good decisions about the team. A simple habit helps: at the end of each week, write three lines on what you delivered, what you learned and what you need. Share it with your manager. It is factual, useful and builds a clear record of your contribution.
In meetings, focus on outcomes for the team or client: "We closed the reconciliation two days early, which gave the controller time to review the variances." That is not bragging. It is information people value.
## Learn the unwritten rules
Every organisation has unwritten rules about how decisions are made, who influences them and how disagreement is expressed. Find a mentor who has been there for a few years and ask directly: how do people get noticed here, and what mistakes do newcomers make? Most people are glad to help when asked respectfully.
## Keep the best of both perspectives
Humility, respect and faith are strengths. So are confidence, visibility and networking. The goal is not to abandon one view for the other but to combine them: do excellent work, describe it clearly and treat everyone with respect. People who manage that balance often become the leaders others trust most, because they are both capable and grounded.
## Questions for reflection
- Do I expect acceptance immediately, or am I investing in building it?
- How often do I share what I am working on with my manager and team?
- Who could explain the unwritten rules of my workplace to me?
## A note for leaders
Leaders can help newcomers by making expectations explicit. If visibility and self-advocacy matter for promotion, say so. Create regular one-to-one conversations where employees can share progress without feeling boastful. Recognise achievements publicly, so quieter team members are not overlooked simply because they do not promote themselves. Assess performance on outcomes, not on how loudly someone speaks in meetings.
Many talented professionals from cultures that value humility are underestimated because they wait for their work to be noticed. Organisations that see past style to substance gain capable, loyal people. Those that do not lose them to competitors who do. Acceptance is built from both sides: newcomers learning the culture, and the culture making room for newcomers.
#ChallengesOfAnImmigrant #StayStrong #BeBold

---

# Ep. 4 of Challenges of an Immigrant
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/ep-4-of-challenges-of-an-immigrant/
Published: 2021-06-29

I regularly meet immigrants from many backgrounds who feel they have not been accepted in their new society. As a result, they gravitate toward people from their own culture or people who look like them, and stay in that circle of comfort. It is understandable, but it can make us forget why we migrated in the first place. That purpose should be what pushes us to seek acceptance more widely.
You cannot control how other people behave. You can control how you respond. The differences are real: culture, accent, food, sports, fraternities, and the psychological weight of racism. Making friends is hard when there is a language barrier and limited understanding of the local culture. It takes an open mind and patience, often more patience than others are showing you. People who have not lived the immigrant experience will not fully understand the struggle, so stay positive and keep your goals in view.
## Where opinions are formed
Going back to the beginning of your journey helps. You made a deliberate decision to migrate, so make your reactions and the energy you bring just as deliberate. People who do not know your background cannot understand you better than those who do, and it is up to you to close that gap.
In corporate life, opinions form quickly, and often in informal settings: happy hours, team lunches, conversations in the corridor. Work cultures differ between Africa, Asia and Europe, and it took me time to see this. A former boss told me plainly that opinions about your performance are formed in the hallway, and that I should be present in those spaces.
So I started organizing them myself: happy hours, lunches and social events. They gave colleagues a chance to know me and my background, instead of judging me only on the part of my work they happened to see.
## Why the hallway matters
In many workplaces, formal performance reviews only confirm impressions that were formed months earlier: in a project meeting, at lunch, in a quick conversation after a presentation. People who are absent from those moments are judged on less information. Immigrants, who may already feel like outsiders, are more likely to skip them, and that absence can be mistaken for lack of interest or lack of confidence.
The fix is not to become someone you are not. It is to be present, consistently, in a way that fits your personality. If large gatherings are uncomfortable, invite two colleagues for coffee. If small talk feels forced, ask about their work and listen carefully. Presence builds familiarity, and familiarity builds trust.
## Be the host, not only the guest
Waiting for invitations puts your integration in someone else's hands. Hosting reverses that. When I began organising lunches and team events, colleagues saw a different side of me: someone who cared about the team, had interesting stories and brought people together. It also gave me a natural way to share my culture, through food, music and stories, on my own terms.
## Return to your purpose
When rejection or isolation feels heavy, go back to the reason you migrated: a better education, a better career, a safer future for your family. That purpose is bigger than any single uncomfortable moment. Let it guide your response. Stay positive, stay present and keep building relationships one conversation at a time.
## Questions for reflection
- Where are opinions about my work being formed, and am I present there?
- What informal gathering could I organise this month?
- When I feel rejected, how does remembering my purpose change my response?
## Presence is a strategy
Being present does not require being the loudest person in the room. It means showing up consistently, contributing thoughtfully and making it easy for others to know you. Over months, presence builds a reputation that formal reviews then reflect. Many immigrants who rose to leadership roles describe the same turning point: the moment they stopped waiting to be invited and started creating the spaces where relationships form.
It also helps to find allies. Colleagues who appreciate your work can speak for you in rooms you are not in. Build those relationships by helping others, sharing credit and being reliable. Over time, your network becomes one of your strongest professional assets.
See you next week. #ChallengesOfAnImmigrant

---

# How Is Fintech Changing the Financial World?
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/how-is-fintech-changing-the-financial-world/
Published: 2021-06-29

Fintech is the combination of finance and technology. It has been growing for years, but COVID-19 turned it into a necessity. Lockdowns limited in-person contact, yet payroll, payments, lending and insurance all had to keep running. Cashless payments, robo-advisors, crowdfunding platforms and digital currencies filled the gap.
## Improving accessibility
Traditional banking has never offered equal access. Estimates at the time put the number of adults worldwide without a bank account at more than two billion. Fintech changes that: a person can buy insurance or take out a loan from a laptop, and transfer money, borrow and pay bills from a mobile phone, wherever they are. That access makes a real difference to families who depend on remittances.
## Transparent pricing
For a long time, providers set prices and customers accepted whatever charges appeared. Fintech has pushed the industry toward precise, upfront pricing, where customers see the full cost before they commit and hidden fees become harder to justify. Pay-as-you-go models and tools that help users save money give consumers more control.
## How fintech actually lowers costs
Traditional financial services carry heavy fixed costs: branches, paper processes, manual checks and legacy systems. Fintech companies rebuild those processes digitally. Customers open accounts on a phone, identity checks run automatically, payments settle through software rather than teams of clerks, and customer service is partly self-service. When the cost of serving one more customer falls close to zero, products that were uneconomic for small accounts suddenly make sense.
This is why mobile money transformed financial inclusion in parts of Africa. People who would never have walked into a bank branch could send, receive and save money from a basic phone.
## The trade-offs leaders must manage
Speed and convenience bring new risks:
- Fraud moves faster. Instant payments mean stolen funds can leave the system in minutes, so monitoring has to be real-time too.
- Regulation is catching up. Licensing, consumer protection and data protection rules are tightening across markets. Companies that treat compliance as part of the product grow more safely.
- Operational resilience matters. When financial services run on software, outages and cyber attacks become financial events.
## What this means for businesses and individuals
For businesses, fintech offers cheaper payments, faster access to working capital and better data on customers. For individuals, it offers lower fees and more control. For both, the key questions are the same: is the provider licensed, are the costs clear, and how is my data protected? The best fintech companies are happy to answer all three.
## A leader's view: what traditional institutions should do
Banks and insurers sometimes see fintech as a threat to be resisted. The more successful ones treat it as a source of ideas and partners. They modernise their own customer journeys, open their systems through secure APIs, partner with fintechs for specialised capabilities and invest in startups that complement their strategy. They also use their strengths: trust, balance sheets, regulatory experience and existing customer relationships.
For fintech leaders, the lesson runs the other way. Speed and design win early customers, but trust, risk management and regulatory relationships determine who lasts. Many fintechs now hold banking licences or partner closely with banks, and the line between the two continues to blur.
For business leaders in every industry, fintech is a toolkit. Faster payments improve cash flow. Digital lending can bridge working capital gaps. Automated accounting and compliance software reduce costs. Embedded payments can create new revenue streams. The question is not whether fintech will change your business, but how you will use it to serve customers better. Over two decades working across finance, compliance and technology, I have seen that the organisations that benefit most are those that combine new tools with strong controls and a clear understanding of their customers.
## From startups to the largest companies
Fintech began as a startup space, but large companies are now deeply involved. Alibaba's Alipay and Apple Pay are obvious examples. Billions of dollars have been invested in fintech globally in recent years, and that investment continues to grow as financial services become software.
## Common questions
What is fintech?
Fintech, short for financial technology, means using software and data to deliver financial services such as payments, lending, savings, insurance and investing more efficiently than traditional methods.
Is fintech safe?
Licensed fintech companies are supervised by regulators and must follow consumer protection, anti-money laundering and data protection rules. Check that a provider is licensed in your market before using it.

---

# Challenges of an Immigrant: Ep. 3
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/challenges-of-an-immigrant-ep-3/
Published: 2021-05-27

Every step we take shows why we left our comfort zone and why we are on the path to success. Draw on your inner strength. Remember the composure it took to get through the airport on your first day without panicking.
Remember where you came from: the mosquito bites, the long walks to school, the search for the next meal. Remember shouting "Up NEPA!" when the electricity finally came back on. Those moments, the hard ones and the happy ones, add up to resilience. None of them stopped you from pursuing your education or your dreams, and that memory should help you stay focused now. Your experience makes you an agent of change, and what you know is valuable to your new home.
## Bring your best skills forward
Leaving your comfort zone brings obstacles. Many immigrants come in search of opportunity, so present your best skills to employers and to everyone you meet. Learning a new language and adjusting to new cultures is hard, and those challenges are why immigrant communities form: they make people feel welcome.
## Community, and beyond it
A community that reminds you of home gives comfort and familiarity, and that matters a great deal. Do not confine yourself to it. Cultural enclaves are a short-term support, and you will eventually have to adapt to your wider surroundings. There is nothing wrong with keeping a familiar lifestyle, but immerse yourself in your new environment too. Staying only inside a subculture limits your mobility and your possibilities.
My aim with this series is to help you see your presence and your skills clearly, so that you gain confidence. Recognize your strength. Celebrate the small victories. They are steps toward larger success.
## Translate your story into strengths employers understand
Many immigrants undersell their experience because it happened somewhere unfamiliar to their new employers. Translate it. Walking miles to school becomes persistence. Studying through power cuts becomes the ability to deliver under constraints. Supporting relatives while studying becomes financial discipline and responsibility. These are the qualities every hiring manager wants, described in language they recognise.
On a CV or in an interview, pair each strength with a result: a project delivered, a cost saved, a team built. Results travel across cultures better than titles do.
## Use community as a launch pad
Your cultural community gives you comfort, advice and early support. Use it to launch, not to limit. A useful test is to look at your calendar for the month. If every social and professional interaction is within one community, add one event outside it. Over a year, that small habit produces a network that opens doors your community alone cannot.
## Keep a record of progress
Immigrant journeys are long, and it is easy to focus only on what has not happened yet. Keep a simple record of milestones: the first job, the first promotion, the first certification, the first friend from a different background, the first time you helped someone newer than you. Reviewing it on hard days is a powerful reminder of how far you have come.
Resilience is not the absence of difficulty. It is the habit of continuing anyway, and every small victory strengthens that habit.
## Questions for reflection
- Which experiences from home have made me stronger, and how do I describe them to others?
- Is my network growing beyond my own community?
- What small victory can I celebrate this week?
## Strength you can share
Resilience grows when it is shared. Many people who arrived years ago remember how lonely the first months felt and how much one helpful person mattered. Become that person for someone else. Answer questions about housing, schools, banking or job applications. Share what you wish someone had told you. Invite a newcomer to an event or introduce them to a contact. These small acts strengthen communities and remind you of your own progress.
Your journey also matters to the society you have joined. Immigrants bring skills, ideas, businesses and connections that enrich their new homes. When you bring your best skills forward, you change perceptions not only of yourself but of everyone who shares your background. That is a responsibility, but also an opportunity. Every success story makes the path easier for those who follow.

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# Anslem Oshionebo, Fintech Professional and Entrepreneur, Based in Dallas, Texas
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/anslem-oshionebo-fintech-professional-entrepreneur-based-in-dallas-texas/
Published: 2021-05-03

Anslem Oshionebo is a Dallas-based fintech professional, engineer and entrepreneur. He is driven by a simple idea: technology should make financial services faster, cheaper and fairer for everyone, including families who send money across borders. His background in engineering, accounting, finance, strategy and financial forensics shapes how he builds and leads businesses.
## Education and early career
Anslem earned a bachelor's degree in engineering and began his career as a field engineer, gaining experience in oil and gas and construction management. He later returned to school for a master's degree at Seton Hall University and earned his CPA license. He is also a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA). He worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he developed training materials, taught technical subjects, consulted for clients, wrote thought leadership and helped uphold regulatory standards.
## Community values
Outside work, Anslem is committed to his Dallas, Texas community. He believes life is about people coming together, helping one another and supporting each other's wellbeing, and he takes part in several philanthropic efforts.
## Teaching preschoolers
He volunteers teaching four-year-old children at a local church. He values access to learning and believes early education prepares children for everything that follows.
## Coaching soccer
As a licensed coach, he volunteers with a local soccer team. He sees sport as an accessible and enjoyable route to health, and he works to teach his players good sportsmanship alongside fitness.
## Supporting the Anslem Esi Foundation
Anslem supports the Anslem Esi Foundation, which provides learning materials to school children in Nigeria. Many children still lack access to quality education, and he hopes this support will widen educational opportunity in Nigeria and beyond.
## A career built across disciplines
Anslem began as a field engineer after earning a degree in mining engineering, gaining hands-on experience in oil and gas and construction management. He then moved into finance, building his career at PwC in Nigeria and the United States, including a rotation in the firm's National and Technical Accounting Research Office. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a Certified Public Accountant in the United States and a Certified Fraud Examiner.
That combination is unusual. Engineers learn to respect physical constraints and measure before acting. Accountants learn to follow evidence and test controls. Technologists learn to build, release and improve quickly. Anslem brings all three to the businesses he leads today: Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence, where he is CEO and President, and Haricot Energies, where he is Managing Director and CEO.
## Why fintech
Financial technology sits where his experience meets: regulation, controls, software and the real needs of customers. Cross-border payments, compliance monitoring and fraud prevention all require someone who understands both the technology and the rules it operates under. He co-founded a software company that grew more than 500 percent year on year and expanded into over 32 countries, and he continues to build compliance and monitoring technology through his consulting and software development firm.
## Leadership as service
Outside work, Anslem teaches young children at his church, coaches youth soccer and supports education projects in Nigeria. He sees a direct link between those roles and executive leadership: patience, clear instructions, encouragement and holding standards consistently. Teams, like young players, respond to leaders who show up, explain the why and celebrate progress.
Read more about his background on the About page.
## What he focuses on today
Today, Anslem's work concentrates on four areas where his combined experience adds the most value. In fintech, he focuses on payments, compliance technology and fraud prevention. In corporate strategy, he helps leadership teams align strategy with execution, strengthen controls and improve performance. In business development, he structures partnerships between investors, operators and local companies. In upstream oil and gas, through Haricot Energies, he leads opportunities from evaluation through financing and development.
His writing on this site reflects those priorities: practical guidance on fintech regulation, AI in finance, fraud prevention, debt recovery, upstream licensing and financing, and leadership. Each article draws on experience gained across engineering, audit, forensic work, technology and executive leadership in the United States and Nigeria.
## Recognition
In 2020, Anslem received the Immigrant Professional Excellence Award at the Immigrant Journey Awards in Dallas, which honour outstanding immigrant entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders and advocates. In 2026 he led the refurbishment of the Jattu Primary Health Centre in Edo State, Nigeria, a project covered by more than 25 media outlets.

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# #ChallengesOfAnImmigrant Ep. 2 Pt. 2
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/challengesofanimmigrant-ep-2-pt-2/
Published: 2021-05-03

I want to finish last week's thought on accepting the inevitable. Distancing yourself from colleagues or neighbors because of how they behave, or because of discrimination, does not change the situation. I knew I was the only Black immigrant in the room, and I could not change that. I chose to go to the dinners and the happy hours anyway. Missing out because of discrimination would have let it win.
It is hard, and some days you will not want to engage at all. Success takes patience and a willingness to look past your first feelings. Three things helped me.
## People may not know your accent
Many people, especially in the United States, have limited exposure to other languages, accents and dialects. Keeping that in mind takes some of the frustration out of being asked to repeat yourself.
## You are not the problem
Some people are closed off to foreigners because they do not know what to expect or how to communicate. Their reluctance is not your fault. You are not a burden, an alien or invisible. Someone unwilling to make the effort is not someone you need. Friendly people exist in every country, and they are worth continuing to look for.
## Join a community
The best route to integration is to join something: group sports, a book club, a volunteer organization. Each one creates natural opportunities to make friends.
Choose the positive side of every relationship. See you next week. #ChallengesOfAnImmigrant
Migrants are strong, and they make up a large share of the people building their new society's growth. Be a source and an instrument of change.
## Turn unfamiliarity into curiosity
When someone asks you to repeat yourself for the third time, it is easy to feel judged. Often the other person is simply working hard to understand a sound they have not heard before. Treat the moment as a bridge rather than a wall. A light response such as "I grew up speaking three languages, so let me say that another way" invites curiosity instead of embarrassment. Many lasting friendships start with exactly that kind of exchange.
Curiosity works both ways. Ask colleagues about their hometowns, traditions and sports. People feel respected when you show interest in their world, and they become more interested in yours.
## Confidence comes from preparation
In professional settings, preparation offsets any language anxiety. Prepare the two or three points you want to make before a meeting. Bring numbers and examples. Send a brief summary afterwards. Over time, colleagues associate you with clarity and reliability, and your accent becomes part of your personal brand rather than a barrier.
## Where to start building community
- Professional associations: accounting, engineering and finance bodies run events where expertise matters more than background.
- Faith and volunteer groups: serving alongside others builds trust faster than almost anything else.
- Sport and children's activities: coaching, cheering at matches and helping at school events connect families across cultures.
- Alumni networks: universities and former employers have members in most major cities.
Pick one and commit for six months. Belonging is rarely offered; it is built through repeated presence.
## Questions for reflection
- Where do I feel most misunderstood, and what one step could make me easier to understand there?
- Which community outside my own culture could I join this month?
- Who helped me when I arrived, and who can I help now?
## A note for colleagues and managers
If you work with someone new to the country, small actions make a big difference. Ask them to repeat something without sighing. Pronounce their name correctly, and ask if you are not sure. Invite them to lunch, to the team event, to the conversation in the corridor. Ask about their background with genuine interest. Explain unwritten rules that you take for granted, such as how meetings run or how decisions get made. These gestures cost nothing, and they often decide whether a talented newcomer stays and thrives or quietly leaves.
Diversity in a workplace is valuable only when people feel included enough to contribute fully. Immigrants bring different perspectives, languages, networks and resilience. Teams that welcome those strengths solve problems better and serve a wider range of customers. Inclusion is not only kind; it is good business.

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# How Covid-19 Has Affected Immigrants
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/how-covid-19-has-affected-immigrants/
Published: 2021-04-22

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted everyone, but its effect on immigrants received far less attention. For people born outside the United States, the virus threatened both their health and their immigration status. This piece draws on reporting by the American Immigration Council at the time of writing.
## Travel restrictions and visa suspensions
Borders around the world began to close in early 2020, and the United States introduced a series of travel restrictions on people who had recently been in countries with active outbreaks. The State Department then suspended routine visa services at embassies and consulates worldwide, halting family-based immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas for skilled workers, students and visitors.
## Undocumented immigrants
For people living in the United States without legal status, the fear was sharper. Many avoided hospitals because they worried about exposing their identity, and many had no health insurance. When the job market collapsed, immigrants made up a large share of those who lost work.
## Immigration detention
Detainees faced a much higher risk of infection. Social distancing was impossible, soap was limited, hand sanitizer often had to be purchased and masks were rarely provided. Thousands of positive cases and several deaths were reported in ICE detention centers.
The pandemic showed how quickly a crisis can turn an immigrant's health, livelihood and legal standing into a single, connected risk. Policy and community support need to account for that.
## Why immigrants carried a heavier load
Immigrants are over-represented in the jobs that kept economies running during lockdowns: healthcare, food production, delivery, cleaning and care work. Those jobs could not be done from home, so exposure to the virus was higher. At the same time, many immigrant workers had less access to paid sick leave, savings or family support nearby. A health shock could quickly become a financial shock.
Remittances also came under pressure. Families abroad depended on money sent home, and when work hours were cut, senders had to choose between their own rent and support for parents or siblings. Many kept sending anyway, often by cutting their own spending further. That quiet sacrifice is one of the least told stories of the pandemic.
## Lessons that still apply
Crises reveal which preparations matter. Three stand out for any immigrant household:
- An emergency fund. Even one to three months of expenses changes how a family experiences a job loss or illness.
- Digital skills. People who could work, learn and access services online adapted faster. Basic digital literacy is now essential, not optional.
- Documented status and records. Keep immigration documents, tax records and important papers organised and backed up, so you can access support quickly when it is available.
## Community made the difference
Churches, mosques, associations and informal networks delivered food, translated government guidance, shared job leads and checked on the elderly. Those networks are an asset to the wider society, not just to immigrants. The best way to honour what they did is to keep them strong in normal times: join, contribute and connect them with local institutions, so the next crisis finds communities ready.
## A reflection for leaders and employers
The pandemic showed how much economies depend on immigrant workers, often in roles that receive little recognition. Employers can respond with practical steps that build loyalty and resilience. Offer clear information on benefits and sick leave in plain language. Provide flexible arrangements where the work allows it. Support employees whose families live abroad, especially during emergencies when travel is restricted. Recognise publicly the contribution of front-line staff, many of whom are immigrants.
Leaders can also look at their own organisations. Are immigrant employees represented in training and promotion opportunities? Are qualifications from other countries properly recognised? Do managers understand the pressures of supporting family members in another country? Small changes in policy and attitude can make a large difference to how people experience work.
For immigrants themselves, the pandemic was a reminder of both vulnerability and strength. Many lost income, faced separation from loved ones and carried heavy responsibilities. Yet communities organised quickly, shared resources and supported each other across borders. That resilience is worth remembering and building on. The next challenge will look different, but the habits that helped then, preparation, community and adaptability, will help again.

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# #ChallengesOfAnImmigrant: Ep. 2
URL: https://anslemoshionebo.com/challengesofanimmigrant-ep-2/
Published: 2021-04-22

Your new environment may discriminate against you. Do not withdraw from it, because withdrawal only appears to validate the discrimination. Being new to a city, a country, a workplace or a group of people can be awkward. Expect it, and stay present.
## Language
Language is one of the biggest challenges immigrants face. A language barrier limits job prospects and social integration, and it makes it harder to help children succeed at school. Adjusting to a new culture fully takes time.
## Work, housing and status
Securing work to support a family is usually the first priority. Affordable housing is hard to find, especially in Western countries, and harder still for families in low-paying or exploitative jobs. Without secure immigration status, even basic services become difficult to access, and fear of deportation keeps some people from seeking medical care for physical or mental health needs.
## Everyday adjustments
Even transportation takes adjustment, particularly when driving rules and habits differ from home.
## Language is a skill, not a verdict
An accent is often treated as a measure of intelligence. It is not. It is evidence that you think in more than one language, which is an advantage in any global business. The practical response is to keep improving clarity, not to erase who you are. Speak a little slower in meetings, summarise your key point at the end, and follow important conversations with a short written note. Clear writing removes most of the misunderstandings an accent can create.
Children often adapt faster than their parents. Let them help you with local expressions, and in return keep your home language alive with them. Bilingual children grow into adults who can work across markets.
## Build a plan for the first two years
Most of the stress of arrival comes from trying to solve everything at once. A simple plan helps:
- First 90 days: secure income, a stable address, a bank account, a phone number and transport. Learn how credit scores work, because they affect housing, insurance and loans.
- First year: get qualifications recognised, take one local course or certification, and build three professional relationships outside your own community.
- Second year: move from survival work toward career work, start saving consistently and give back to someone who arrived after you.
Write the plan down and review it every quarter. It turns an overwhelming experience into a series of achievable steps.
## Discrimination: respond with evidence, not withdrawal
When you are treated unfairly, the instinct is to retreat into a safe circle. That is understandable, but over time it limits your opportunities and lets the unfair story stand unchallenged. A better response is to stay visible and let your work, reliability and character become the evidence. Keep records when something serious happens, use the formal channels available to you, and find allies inside the organisation. Most people judge by what they see repeatedly, so give them something consistent and positive to see.
## Questions for reflection
- Which of the four pressure points (language, work, housing, status) is hardest for me right now?
- What is one practical step I can take on it this month?
- Where am I withdrawing when I should be staying present?
## Help is part of the plan
Asking for help is not weakness. Community organisations, faith groups, libraries, professional associations and alumni networks exist to support newcomers. Many offer language classes, job readiness programmes, legal information and mentoring at little or no cost. Use them early, before small problems become large ones.
Keep perspective too. The first year in a new country is often the hardest. Routines, relationships and confidence build over time. People who stay engaged, keep learning and treat setbacks as temporary usually find that their situation improves steadily. Remember why you came, keep your plan in front of you, and face each challenge directly. The challenge will still be there if you avoid it; facing it is how you move past it.
## Face it, do not avoid it
Some environments take time to become comfortable, and some people may be openly hostile. Challenges do not disappear because we avoid them. They are still there when we come back. Confront them, and focus on the positive side of each relationship. Part II follows next.

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