Nigerian Architect Overcomes Adversity to Become Professor in Cyprus, Launches London-Based Company
In addition to his academic achievements, Obi founded BuildTech, a software company in London, which was endorsed by UK authorities, allowing him to establish a software laboratory under the Innovator Migrant Visa scheme.
Binye-lum 
Professor Ifeanyi Obi, a resilient Nigerian architect, has defied odds to establish himself as a leading figure in construction academia in Cyprus, following a challenging academic journey in Nigeria.
Obi, who shared his inspirational story on LinkedIn, revealed that he faced significant hardships during his undergraduate years in Nigeria, including personal issues and discouraging prophecies about his academic future. Despite graduating with a second-class lower degree in Architecture and Building Technology from the University of Nigeria, South-East, Obi encountered multiple rejections from universities in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada for his Master's studies, primarily due to his previous academic performance.
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Undeterred, Obi persisted in his pursuit of higher education and eventually secured admission to Girne American University in Cyprus for his Master’s degree. There, he excelled academically, graduating with High Honors (3.8 GPA) and being recognized as the university’s top student. Subsequently, he continued to excel, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Construction Management and advancing to become an Associate Professor of Construction Technology at the university within four years of joining as a lecturer.
In addition to his academic achievements, Obi founded BuildTech, a software company in London, which was endorsed by UK authorities, allowing him to establish a software laboratory under the Innovator Migrant Visa scheme.
Reflecting on his journey, Obi expressed pride in overcoming his early setbacks and emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-belief in achieving success. He hopes his story will inspire others, especially those facing similar challenges, to pursue their dreams relentlessly.
