Dr. Obinna Ejiogu

We caught up with PhD graduate and lecturer, Obinna Ejiogu, recently to discuss his journey with University of Suffolk. 

Obinna graduated with a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in October 2024, before receiving a Brighton University PhD the following day.  

It caps off a remarkable body of academic qualifications for Obinna, who already holds a BSc in Engineering, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and an MSc in Finance.  

Starting his journey in Suffolk in 2021, Obinna pursued research exploring small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), completing his PhD in three-and-a-half years.  Obinna chose Suffolk as he wanted somewhere outside London and the ‘big cities’.  He said: “I love staying around coastal areas and Suffolk came up.  I also did a little research on some indices such as crime rate, cost of living and Suffolk came top of my list.  Also, the newness of the University was a big factor and I got a recommendation from my brother.”  

During that time, he has also been teaching in areas around management and human resources and scooped two awards at two different academic conferences. One from the University Forum for Human Resource Development in 2023 in Dublin for his paper on factors that help or hinder the success of SMEs in Nigeria where he won the best international paper award, while the second was at the University Forum for Human Resource Development 2024 International Conference in Lisbon, where he was awarded the Best Poster Presentation prize. 

He said: “I am very happy; it’s been a rigorous three years so getting that completed and focusing on the future is a good feeling.  My journey here at Suffolk has been amazing.  I’m a person of Faith and as such I pray for everything and before embarking on anything.  My supervisors were very encouraging and helpful.  The Suffolk Doctoral College really took their time to take care of us.  The Suffolk Doctoral College gave me the opportunity to do the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice and the opportunity to first be an occasional lecturer, and the following year employed me as a part time lecturer. The University of Suffolk is a small community with very friendly staff.”  

Prior to his research studies, Obinna had spent more than 16 years in the banking sector in Nigeria where he originated from. It was his experience there which helped inspire him for his future studies.  

“I was a group head at one of the leading banks in Nigeria, and I had a lot of customers where I managed their portfolios,” he said.  

“There were some customers’ businesses which did well and some not so well. That got me thinking about what are the problems or challenges that meant in the same business climate and conditions some did well, and others didn’t do well. I thought, why not do that as PhD research?”  

His years in the banking world also helps illustrate to his students how the theory they are taught applies to the real world.  

He added: “Teaching theory is not enough – I love when you are teaching students and you are helping them develop social skills, management skills, so that when they go into industry, they are able to do well.”  

Obinna now intends to carry on teaching and research in HR management, but also has advice for other international students considering PhDs too.  

He said: “I have been studying the PhD for three years, teaching for two years, I have attended academic conferences, I won two awards at two different conferences – it’s not just coming to do research – you have so many opportunities along the way.”  

 “Graduation was great.  I think this was one of the greatest moments in my life”.