Louis Awode might not have known it when he was a young boy in a small rural village in Ogun State, Nigeria, but he was destined to become a student at Georgia State’s Robinson College of Business. Awode was raised in a large family with 10 children. His mom had no formal education, and his dad had very little. The area had two elementary schools and one underperforming high school. He couldn’t read or write in English, and his older brother bullied him for not being able to spell his own name. Many people in similar circumstances would concede that school is not for them and look elsewhere for livelihood. But not Awode.
“My inspiration came from my home village,” he said. “I was in a low place in life, and I needed to climb to a higher level.”
Part of Awode’s motivation also originates with his mother, who grew up illiterate and could not attend school because she had to care for her siblings. She instilled in him the belief that education is vital to transformation and told him that only he could determine his path forward.
“Even as a child, I wanted to change my family’s story,” he said.
Awode’s journey has been marked by challenges. After high school, he was denied admission to study law at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. He pursued political science instead and became secretary of the Students’ Union, representing more than 30,000 students. He graduated with distinction in 2015.
“That experience taught me leadership, empathy, and how to serve others, which are skills I rely on every day,” he said.
After earning a master’s in international law and diplomacy at the University of Lagos in 2020, Awode turned toward business. His fashion sense and global perspective led him to found ClovisCasuals, a clothing startup that combines contemporary style with African cultural expression.
“Unemployment was high in Nigeria, and I wanted to create opportunities rather than wait for them,” he explained.
Awode’s drive and hunger for knowledge eventually took him beyond Nigeria. He completed a master’s in international business and marketing at the University of Dundee in Scotland in 2023.
“Studying in Scotland broadened my worldview,” he said. “The country’s beauty and diversity inspired me, but it was the open-minded and collaborative people who helped me see how culture and creativity can drive business success.”
After his studies, Awode joined Transsion Holdings, the Shenzhen, China-based designer and distributor of mobile phones and other smart devices. His role as a content operations specialist exposed him to emerging markets and gave him insight into how localized strategies can drive global growth
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Awode relocated to the United States this past August to enroll in Robinson’s MBA program.
He recently participated in the ATL Innovation Cup, hosted by Avant South during Atlanta City Tech Week. Competing among 16 teams from across Georgia State, Awode’s group developed Walkable, an app that promotes sustainability and community engagement with local businesses. Awode’s squad finished fourth.
“It was an incredible experience,” he said. “I learned so much about product ideation, leadership, and how innovation can solve community problems.”
Awode is slated to graduate in 2027. He plans to continue his work at the intersection of business, innovation, and global marketing while investing in education and youth empowerment in Nigeria.
“I believe in the power of dreams,” he said. “My upbringing taught me that you must take charge of your own success. Robinson has given me the tools, network, and confidence to establish opportunities for myself and others.”