From Port Congestion to Tech Solutions: Temilade Ogunniyi Charts a New Course for African Trade
Kathy Kyari
Temilade Ogunniyi, former Commercial Manager at APM Terminals Apapa and now Managing Partner of Temerity International Experts Ltd., has built a reputation for tackling some of Nigeria’s toughest logistics and trade challenges.
With more than 20 years in the maritime sector, including eight spent at the frontline of port operations, Ogunniyi witnessed firsthand how inefficiencies cost Nigeria billions. “I saw how much Nigeria was losing,” she said. “Congestion was crippling trade, and every day felt like a battle to keep the system running.”
During her time at APM Terminals, she rose through the commercial ranks, working with operations, asset management, and agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, Customs, and shipping lines. Her tenure coincided with the severe congestion crisis of 2017, but instead of buckling under pressure, she drove collaborations with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and introduced experiments with inland depots and water transport to ease bottlenecks.
“We were practically working with our blood,” she recalled. “Every morning I woke up to trouble, but I had to keep pushing for solutions.”
Ogunniyi believes the path forward lies in embracing multimodal transport. “Nigeria needs to redirect flow and protect our roads by developing our inland opportunities through existing solutions such as rail and barges,” she explained. “That will also help to deliver cost effectiveness and drive sustainability in our logistics and supply chain.”
By 2020, amid inflation and global supply chain disruptions, she reframed her priorities. “My target was not revenue, it was to clean up the congestion that was killing us,” she said.
Beyond firefighting, Ogunniyi became an advocate for digitization and automation. While pursuing her Master’s degree in the Netherlands, she co-developed digital models that later influenced tools now used across the maritime industry.
In 2023, she founded Temerity International Experts Ltd., a firm focused on automation, process optimization, and supply chain innovation for both public and private sectors. The company has already deployed solutions across Africa, including port automation tools, trade facilitation systems, and women-focused innovation platforms.
A strong advocate for women in logistics and technology, Ogunniyi has spoken openly about navigating a male-dominated industry. “We multitask, we anticipate problems, and we have the intuition to see issues before they happen. Nothing should stop women from reaching the top,” she said.
Looking ahead, she envisions a technology-driven African trade ecosystem. “We can still change the narrative,” she asserted. “If we synchronize our supply chains and embrace innovation, Africa won’t just catch up—we will lead.”
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