Dr. Benjamin Okwumabua
Seasoned Industrialist, Inventor, Manufacturer..

A seasoned Industrialist, Inventor, Manufacturer, Educator, and Consultant.  Dr. Benjamin Okwumabua was born in Issele-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria, West Africa, 1939.

Dr. Benjamin Nkem Okwumabua arrived in the United States 45 years ago in pursuit of higher education. Several academic degrees in the area of business administration were conferred upon him with honors.  He graduated from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  Dr. Okwumabua continued his graduate studies in Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan graduating with a Master of Business Administration - MBA degree, Master in Labor and Industrial Relations – MLIR degree, and Doctor of Philosophy, PhD degree in Business Administration with majors in Management and Marketing.  He attended General Motors Institute, Flint, Michigan, graduating with a diploma in Field Management Development.

Happily married for 40 years to Constance Lee-Okwumabua, he is the proud father of three adult children, Benjamin Nkem Jr., Obiamaka Madubuko (husband, Victor Tochukwu), and Daniel Ikeduba.  Dr. Okwumabua was instrumental in bringing many of his brothers and sisters to the USA from Nigeria for further education.

Dr. Okwumabua taught in Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan and Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, Michigan, served as Department Chairman and Asst. Professor, Department of Management and Marketing.

The opportunity to put the well mastered theory into practice in the mainstream of the U.S. economy came for Dr. Okwumabua when he left the academic field and entered the industrial world, joining General Motors Corporation as Corporate Sales Manager for 10 years.  Dr. Okwumabua left General Motors to purchase a manufacturing company located in Jamestown, NY in 1979.  He became the only minority metal office furniture manufacturer in the United States.  He was featured in Ebony Magazine, received many awards for his outstanding business venture, and received national coverage by the Associated Press (AP).  Dr. Okwumabua has had over 30 years of manufacturing experience.  He invented and patented in the United States and Nigeria, the Double Function Triangular Warning Light for road and highway safety, and the Mini Power Station, a technologically superior charger device for cell phones, lap top computer, digital cameras, MP3s, etc.

Dr. Okwumabua is currently the owner, President and CEO of BNO International Trading Co., Inc., an export/import business serving the continent of Africa.  BNO Intl Trading Co. represents various major American manufacturers in Africa and is the exclusive exporter of Frito-Lay products to Africa.

A member of several professional associations, Dr. Okwumabua is a member of the Academy of Management, American Management Association, American Marketing Association, and Society for the Advancement of Management, Society for Human Resources Management, and the Industrial Relations Research Association. Dr. Okwumabua was appointed and served three New York State Governors’ Economic Development Council for Western New York.  He was appointed and served on the New York State Governor’s Advisory Board on Minority Business.

Dr. Okwumabua was past president of Greater Jamestown Area Minority Leadership Association;  President of NAACP, Jamestown, New York; Ward Chairman, Jamestown, New York, Democratic Committee; Member, Democratic National Committee; and the New York State Delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.  Dr. Okwumabua is listed in Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, Who’s Who among African Americans, Who’s Who in the American Society for Personnel Administration and Who’s Who in the Eastern Region, USA.