Dr. Chioma Onoshakpor | Entrepreneurship | Best Researcher Award

Robert Gordon University | United Kingdom

Author Profile

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Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Chioma Onoshakpor’s academic journey reflects a seamless fusion of technical expertise, managerial knowledge, and deep-rooted scholarly inquiry. Her foundation in higher education began with a Bachelor of Technology in Petroleum Engineering from Rivers State University of Science and Technology in Nigeria. This program cultivated a strong technical acumen and a methodical approach to problem-solving, laying the groundwork for her transition into more interdisciplinary domains. Recognizing the global significance of energy systems and their intersection with business and management, she pursued a Master of Science in Oil and Gas Management at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom. Through this program, she gained advanced knowledge of project management, energy economics, marketing, energy law, and human resources—equipping her with the tools to understand not just the engineering aspects of the energy industry but also its economic and strategic implications. This phase of her academic life was transformative, positioning her to engage with complex managerial challenges in both local and global contexts, and setting the stage for deeper exploration into entrepreneurship and development.

Professional Endeavors

Dr. Onoshakpor has cultivated a professional identity grounded in teaching, research, and continuous professional development. Her role as an academic is enriched by her commitment to developing competencies that bridge the gap between theory and practice. Alongside her formal teaching, she has undertaken various professional certifications and training that enhance her engagement with students and colleagues. Notably, her experience with digital learning platforms such as Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, and her training in data analytics and business decision-making through institutions like Robert Gordon University and PWC, demonstrate a proactive approach to evolving pedagogical and analytical methods. Additionally, her exposure to global perspectives through executive learning with Harvard Business School and her immersion in data visualization techniques via the University of California, Davis, reflect her commitment to remaining current and globally connected. These experiences shape not only her academic delivery but also her capacity to advise, mentor, and inspire a new generation of globally minded entrepreneurs and business professionals.

Contributions and Research Focus

At the core of Dr. Onoshakpor’s academic contributions lies her doctoral research on Female Entrepreneurship and Access to Finance in Nigeria, approached through a social feminist lens. This research interrogates how entrenched social structures, gender norms, and institutional biases impact the entrepreneurial experiences of women in developing economies. Her work is groundbreaking in its nuanced examination of how gendered barriers to financial access intersect with cultural expectations and policy frameworks. By applying a social feminist perspective, she offers a critical, theory-driven analysis that centers the lived experiences of women and foregrounds systemic change as essential to inclusive economic development. Beyond its academic significance, her research holds practical implications for financial institutions, development agencies, and government policymakers seeking to create enabling environments for female entrepreneurs. Through her inquiry, Dr. Onoshakpor contributes to the expansion of African-focused entrepreneurship scholarship, particularly from a gender equity standpoint, adding a much-needed voice to global discourses on inclusive development and economic justice.

Accolades and Recognition

Dr. Onoshakpor’s academic and professional pursuits have been marked by distinction and a consistent commitment to excellence. Her successful completion of rigorous academic programs at top-tier institutions, alongside additional certifications from globally recognized platforms, illustrates both the breadth and depth of her expertise. Her postgraduate achievements were further recognized through invitations to engage in elite executive training and data literacy programs, which validate her standing as a scholar who is both research-driven and practically oriented. She is also recognized within the higher education community for her pedagogical innovation, particularly in integrating digital technologies and data-driven tools into the classroom. Her status as a trained facilitator and user of collaborative online platforms further positions her as a forward-looking educator, prepared to meet the demands of contemporary learners in increasingly digital and hybrid educational environments.

Impact and Influence

Dr. Onoshakpor’s influence resonates across academic, professional, and social spheres. Her teaching fosters a reflective and inclusive learning culture, while her research challenges systemic inequalities and offers practical solutions for empowering underrepresented groups in the entrepreneurial space. She serves as a role model for aspiring scholars, especially women from the Global South, who seek to navigate and transform traditionally male-dominated disciplines. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to approach problems with a unique blend of technical precision and socio-political sensitivity, making her a valuable contributor to both academic scholarship and policy dialogues. Furthermore, her engagement with data analytics and visualization empowers her to present research insights in compelling and accessible ways, enhancing their relevance for decision-makers and non-academic stakeholders. As a result, her work not only advances theory but also holds tangible value for those shaping financial inclusion strategies, education policy, and entrepreneurial support systems.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking to the future, Dr. Onoshakpor is poised to make sustained contributions to research, teaching, and societal impact. Her scholarship on female entrepreneurship will continue to challenge conventional narratives and influence policy thinking across Africa and beyond. As she expands her academic reach, she is likely to engage in more interdisciplinary collaborations, develop practitioner-oriented frameworks, and lead initiatives that bring academic research into closer dialogue with community needs and global development agendas. Her growing interest in digital tools, data storytelling, and inclusive business practices positions her to contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship research and pedagogy. Ultimately, her legacy will be defined by her ability to bridge worlds—engineering and management, theory and practice, gender equity and economic growth—and by her unwavering commitment to empowering others through knowledge, innovation, and purposeful leadership.

Notable Publications

Strategic Flexibility and Organizational Resilience of Women Entrepreneurs in Africa During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Author(s): C. Onoshakpor, A. Etuknwa, N. Karamalla-Gaiballa
Journal: Research Journal of Business and Management
Year: 2020

Resistance Training Beyond Momentary Failure: The Effects of Past-Failure Partials on Muscle Hypertrophy in the Gastrocnemius

Author(s): S. Larsen, P.A. Swinton, N.Ø. Sandberg, B.S. Kristiansen, A.B. Fredriksen, et al.
Journal: Frontiers in Psychology
Year: 2025

Contextualising Female Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

Author(s): C. Onoshakpor, J. Cunningham, E. Gammie
Journal: Contextualising African Studies: Challenges and the Way Forward
Year: 2023

Entrepreneurship under Patriarchy: The Intersecting Forces Characterising Everyday Life for Nigeria’s Women Entrepreneurs

Author(s): C. Onoshakpor, J. Cunningham, E. Gammie
Journal: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research
Year: 2025

Female Entrepreneurship in Nigeria and Access to Finance: A Comparative Study

Author(s): C. Onoshakpor, J. Cunningham, E. Gammie
Journal: British Academy of Management (BAM)
Year: 2022