Our team - BSBI

Our team

Overview

Dr. James A. Okpokiri (Jr.) is an accomplished academic, strategic growth advisor, and organizational development (OD) expert with over 16 years of experience across the banking sector, academia, and human resource management. He currently lectures in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation, Germany, where he combines his industry experience with a passion for developing future leaders and innovative thinkers.

A Doctoral graduate of the Berlin School of Business and Innovation, Dr. Okpokiri also holds dual undergraduate degrees in Secretarial Administration and Government & Public Administration, a Postgraduate Certificate in Local Government and Public Administration, and a Masters´ degree in Human Resource Management.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Okpokiri has served in various HR and administrative roles, including as Regional HR Business Partner at United Bank for Africa (UBA) PLC, where he worked for nearly a decade. His roles there spanned compensation & benefits, HR business partnering, and executive office support, while also serving as Secretary to the Regional Disciplinary Committee. Prior to UBA, he held administrative support roles at Zenith Bank PLC, another top-tier Pan-African financial institution.

Dr. Okpokiri is recognized for his human-centred innovation, business diplomacy, and commitment to aligning HR and business strategies for transformative outcomes. He is a sought-after facilitator for new employee induction, youth mentorship, and leadership training, having led several initiatives on ethics, professional conduct, and corporate outlook within financial institutions.

Beyond the corporate and academic realms, he is deeply committed to community development and youth empowerment. His volunteer work in Nigeria includes providing financial support to underprivileged students, organizing career guidance programs, and delivering nutritional aid and essential amenities to rural communities, the elderly, and orphanages.

Areas of expertise

  • Organisational Development (OD)
  • Creative Business Project Management
  • Human-Centred Organizational Innovation
  • Strategic Business Support & Employee Engagement
  • Transformational/Strategic Leadership and Character Development
  • Recruitment, Training, and Employee Development
  • End-to-End Customer Experience
  • Business Sustainability/SDGs
  • Marketing, Communication and Branding

Research interests

  • Strategy, Creative Innovation & Organizational Development
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Business Diplomacy

Awards and honours

  • NYSC Award for Diligence and Industry, 2004
  • Humanitarian Service Award

Public Engagements & Facilitation

  • New Hire Induction Training (Banking Schools)
  • University Foundation Year Lectures
  • Youth Mentorship & Career Coaching