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Carol Stream, Illinois 60132

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© 2024 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.

Staff Spotlight: Tineyi Mawocha

By Opportunity International

You may have heard Chief Program Officer Tineyi Mawocha discuss his work at one of our virtual events, and now is your chance to get to know him! Discover his favorite part of his job and the reason why he is inspired to get out of bed every day in this Q&A.

Position title:

Chief Program Officer, Africa

Where do you live?

I live in Kampala, Uganda, though I am Zimbabwean.

How many years have you been with Opportunity?

Seven years.

Tell us a little about what you do day-to-day:

I monitor and support banking operations in our investee banks in Uganda, DRC, and Ghana. I also have oversight on Agriculture Finance, engage program teams across the continent and render my support where it is required. I am responsible for getting the best performance results out of our operations in Africa, and above all, growing outreach and impact in this region.

Tineyi (far left) and Opportunity International leadership meet with clients in Uganda.
Tineyi (far left) and Opportunity International leadership meet with clients in Uganda.

What is your Favorite part about your job?

The best part of my job is fieldwork, where I visit our clients in the field as well as interact with our staff serving those clients. Together, we then try to find better ways of serving our clients.

What is your secret for assembling a great team?

Be the change you want to see. So, I try and be a better person myself so I can attract better people too. I hire first for attitude, then aptitude.

What is your Favorite Opportunity memory or experience?

My favorite Opportunity experience was Opportunity Bank Uganda setting up a surprise farewell function for me at Opportunity House (Opportunity Bank Uganda's Head Office). On this occasion, they dedicated their brand-new training center in my honor for my service in Uganda. It was Christened "Tinaye Auditorium." Tinaye in my native tongue means "We Have Him - (God)" and is a direct translation of my middle name Emmanuel. This was such an honor and a humbling experience.

Tinyei and Opportunity's Head of Agriculture Finance, Tim Strong, meet with agriculture clients.
Tinyei and Opportunity's Head of Agriculture Finance, Tim Strong, meet with agriculture clients.

What is Something you've learned from a client?

Proverbs 18:24, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother". I learned this from Evans SSenabuliya, a long-standing client of Opportunity Bank Uganda who started with a small loan to finance one classroom, but now runs a group of schools and printing facility including an international school. He refused to shift to a commercial bank when Opportunity Bank Uganda was still a tier two institution, because he said no bank wanted to help him when he was starting out, but Opportunity Bank has been there as a faithful partner and friend.

What is your big dream for Opportunity?

My dream for Opportunity is for us to serve at least 100 million clients in Africa alone, through our partners, in the next 5 to 10 years.

What is your Favorite Quote, Bible Verse, or personal philosophy?

Lamentations 3:22-25, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him." My all-time favorite hymn is, therefore, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."

What inspires you to get out of bed every day?

Helping others to get out of poverty, as I was also assisted to get out of abject poverty. I have a burning quest to see Africa develop to self-sufficiency.

Special thanks to Tineyi for answering a few questions!