Ismail Umar

Ismail Umar has a diverse range of work experience spanning over two decades. Ismail is currently serving as the Chief Business and Strategy Officer at Optasia since January 2021. Before that, they co-founded IBEDx in August 2020. In 2018, Ismail founded Qubycle. Prior to their entrepreneurial ventures, they worked at MTN as the Group Head of Technology Procurement from March 2015 to March 2018. Ismail also served as the Group Deputy CTO at IHS Towers from December 2013 to December 2014. Ismail had an extensive tenure at MTN, where they held various roles such as Group Head of Managed Services Procurement (2012-2013), Senior Manager of Network Regional Operations (2008-2012), Regional Technical Officer for Lagos (2006-2008), Regional Technical Officer for Abuja (2005-2006), RF/BTS Regional Head (2003-2005), and RF/BTS Engineer (2002-2003). Prior to joining MTN, Ismail worked at Inet Global Services Limited as the Head of Network and Engineering Services from August 2000 to December 2001.

Ismail Umar's education history begins with their Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Maiduguri in 1999. Later, they pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of the People, although the specific start year is unknown. Following this, Ismail attended the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to complete an Executive Programme in Corporate Finance and Strategy, although the exact start and end years are unspecified. Additionally, they earned a Master of Science (MS) degree in Finance from The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School from 2023 to 2025.