Stephen Annozie Ogbaje is a Senior Technical Product Manager, product strategist, blockchain advocate, and technology leader known for his expertise in product management, fintech innovation, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. He has led the development of enterprise solutions across government institutions, financial organizations, and Web3 companies, with extensive experience spanning product strategy, user experience design, cross-functional team leadership, and emerging technologies.

Stephen currently serves as a Senior Technical Product Manager at IQ.wiki, where he leads the development of innovative products focused on blockchain knowledge systems, artificial intelligence, and decentralized technologies. He previously served as a Lead Product Manager at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), where he spearheaded the development of automation and analytics solutions designed to improve operational efficiency and financial transparency.

Throughout his career, Stephen has contributed to the successful delivery of products such as SpendTrak, AccessTrak, AssetTrak, IQ AI, AIden, and BorderPay. Beyond product leadership, he is a recognized speaker and community builder who actively advocates for blockchain adoption, financial inclusion, and digital transformation across Africa.

Education

Stephen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria. During his undergraduate years, he demonstrated exceptional leadership by serving as the President of the National Association of Computer Students (NACOS).

As President, he organized the university's first large-scale hackathon, bringing together students from various disciplines to foster innovation and collaborative problem-solving through technology. He also strengthened relationships between students and faculty members through initiatives that promoted engagement and academic excellence.

Early Leadership and Professional Experience

Before transitioning fully into product management and technology leadership, Stephen gained diverse professional experience across software engineering, design, consulting, and operations management.

Career

Stephen has built a multidisciplinary career at the intersection of product management, fintech, enterprise software, blockchain, government technology, and artificial intelligence.

OAU Cyberlab

Stephen began his technology leadership journey at OAU Cyberlab, where he served as a Product Manager and Lead Intern. In this role, he coordinated product initiatives, collaborated with technical teams, and gained practical experience in building technology-driven solutions.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

From December 2021 to December 2022, Stephen served as a Lead Product Manager at NITDA, Nigeria's foremost government agency responsible for information technology development.

At NITDA, he led the design and implementation of several automation and analytics platforms aimed at improving organizational efficiency, accountability, and operational transparency. His responsibilities included product strategy development, stakeholder engagement, roadmap planning, cross-functional team coordination, and product delivery oversight.

Notable products developed under his leadership include:

SpendTrak

A financial management and expenditure monitoring platform designed to improve spending transparency, streamline approval workflows, and enhance accountability across organizations.

AssetTrak

An enterprise asset management solution developed to monitor, track, and optimize organizational asset utilization.

AccessTrak

An access control and analytics platform created to enhance operational oversight, reporting capabilities, and data-driven decision-making.

These solutions enabled organizations to optimize internal processes and improve efficiency through actionable insights and automation.

UBA Bank America

Between August 2024 and December 2024, Stephen worked as a Contract Product Manager and UX Designer at UBA Bank America.

He contributed to the development of various features for a talent acquisition and hiring platform, collaborating closely with engineering and design teams to improve user experiences, define product requirements, and ensure alignment between business goals and customer needs.

IQ.wiki

Stephen currently serves as a Senior Technical Product Manager at IQ.wiki, where he leads product initiatives focused on blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and decentralized knowledge systems.

At IQ.wiki, he also functions as a team lead, working with engineers, designers, and stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions that enhance knowledge accessibility within the blockchain ecosystem.

His contributions include:

AIden

An AI-powered cryptocurrency knowledge platform designed to simplify access to blockchain-related information and educational resources.

IQ AI

An artificial intelligence initiative focused on improving user experiences and information discovery within decentralized ecosystems.

His responsibilities include defining product vision, managing roadmaps, prioritizing initiatives, facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring products deliver measurable value to users and stakeholders.

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Community Involvement and Public Speaking

Stephen is an active contributor to the African technology and blockchain ecosystem, frequently participating as a speaker, conference organizer, hackathon judge, and community advocate.

03 Finance Conference, Lagos — Speaker (September 2025)

Stephen delivered a comprehensive session on smart contract development, decentralized application architecture, and end-to-end strategies for building scalable Web3 solutions.

His presentation covered:

• Smart contract security practices
• DApp architecture design
• Developer onboarding strategies
• User experience considerations in Web3 products
• Building scalable blockchain applications

Computer Science & Engineering Student Conference, Nigeria — Speaker (July 2025)

At the Computer Science & Engineering Student Conference, Stephen spoke on "Building the Web3 Space as a Product Engineer."

His session explored:

• Product engineering principles within Web3
• Software engineering best practices
• Product design methodologies
• Product management strategies for blockchain startups
• Career opportunities in emerging technologies

Bconnected International Conference, Ghana — Speaker and Hackathon Judge (March 2025)

Stephen served as both a speaker and hackathon judge at the Bconnected International Conference in Ghana.

His presentation focused on cryptocurrency adoption across Africa, highlighting opportunities for:

• Financial inclusion
• Cross-border payments
• Economic empowerment
• Decentralized financial services adoption

As a hackathon judge, he evaluated innovative blockchain solutions developed by emerging African technology talents.

Lagos Finance Conference, Lagos — Speaker (June 2023)

Stephen addressed industry leaders and technology enthusiasts on the transformative potential of cryptocurrency within the African economy.

His presentation examined:

• The significance of digital assets in modern finance
• Opportunities presented by blockchain innovation
• Cryptocurrency's role in promoting financial inclusion
• Practical approaches to leveraging decentralized technologies for economic growth

NFT NYC London — Speaker and Panelist (November 2022)

Stephen participated as a panel speaker alongside international experts to discuss the digitalization of African art through blockchain technology.

Topics explored included:

• Preserving originality through NFTs
• Authenticating ownership using blockchain
• Expanding global opportunities for African creators
• The intersection of art, culture, and decentralized technologies

Blockchain Student Conference, Obafemi Awolowo University — Organizer (June 2021)

Stephen organized the first Blockchain Student Conference at Obafemi Awolowo University, attracting over 1,500 participants.

The conference focused on:

• Blockchain education and awareness
• Practical Web3 skill development
• Career opportunities within decentralized technologies
• Fostering innovation among students and young professionals

The event represented one of the earliest large-scale blockchain educational initiatives within the university community.

Google DevFest Lagos — Volunteer (November 2019)

Stephen volunteered at Google DevFest Lagos, contributing to attendee registration coordination and event logistics, helping ensure a seamless experience for participants at one of Africa's largest developer conferences.

Areas of Expertise

Product Management

• Product Strategy and Vision
• Product Lifecycle Management
• Roadmap Development
• Agile and Scrum Methodologies
• Stakeholder Management
• Cross-functional Team Leadership
• User Research and Customer Discovery

Technical and Design Expertise

• Technical Product Management
• Process Automation
• Data Analytics Solutions
• Financial Technology Products

Blockchain and Emerging Technologies

• Blockchain Product Development
• Web3 Product Strategy
• Decentralized Applications (dApps)
• Cryptocurrency Ecosystems
• Artificial Intelligence Products
• Cross-border Payment Systems

Industry Impact

Through his work across government agencies, financial institutions, startups, and blockchain organizations, Stephen has consistently focused on building products that bridge business objectives with user needs.

He has championed initiatives centered on:

• Blockchain education and adoption across Africa
• Financial inclusion through decentralized technologies
• Product excellence within emerging technology ecosystems
• Youth empowerment through technical skill development
• Collaboration between academia, industry, and technology communities

His contributions continue to influence conversations surrounding product leadership, Web3 innovation, digital transformation, and the future of technology across the African continent.