Ngozi Nwanji

AFROTECH STAFF

Ngozi Nwanji

Ngozi Nwanji is a Nigerian-American journalist, writer, and content creator from and based in Silver Spring, Maryland with a passion for storytelling, media representation, and music. Along with writing for AfroTech, she's the founder of her own entertainment website, Z's P.O.V — a platform for underrated music and Black creatives.

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Patrick Mahomes To Open A 'One-Of-A-Kind' Steakhouse In Kansas City, MO

Outside of the NFL, Patrick Mahomes has had his hand in the restaurant industry. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the Texas native is part of the franchise group KMO Burger, which aims to own 30 Whataburger restaurants by the end of the decade. However, now, Mahomes is establishing a restaurant of his own in his home away from home. Mahomes and fellow Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce are opening 1587 Prime, a steakhouse in Kansas City, MO, according to Today. Named after their jersey numbers, the Super Bowl champions’ upcoming restaurant is in partnership with Noble 33, a global hospitality group. “Travis and I have become frequent visitors of Noble 33 restaurants in other cities so it only made sense to bring something special to our own community in Kansas City,” Mahomes shared, according to Today. Kelce chimed in, “We’re excited to be a part of this journey with Noble 33 to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience, and what better place to start than our very own Kansas...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 18, 2024

Vic Mensa Awards A Black-Woman-Owned Bookstore In Chicago With A Check To Pay Its Rent For A Year

Vic Mensa has come to the rescue of a Black-woman-owned business in his hometown of Chicago, IL. On March 13, 2024, the rapper made a stop by Da Book Joint. Self-described as “Your African American book source,” the bookstore has been in operation since 2007,” according to its website. “We are particularly interested in books targeted at the youth,” the website wrote. “We are looking to play our part in the development of the youth of the country, and we do so by providing a healthy selection of books and titles for them to select from.” To help keep Da Book Joint’s doors open, Vic Mensa presented the bookstore with a check for $7,200. “We are thankful,” Da Book Joint shared in an Instagram post. “We are honored. We are grateful. We are truly living a dream right now. Thank you so much to @vicmensa and his entire @93boyz team for blessing us today by covering our rent for an entire year.” It continued, “Thank you for seeing our mission and helping us stand in our purpose. You are...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 15, 2024

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Says He's Working To Assemble An Investor Group To Buy TikTok

A former White House official has announced his interest in buying TikTok. On March 13, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. As previously shared by AFROTECH™, the bill is focused on TikTok and its China-based parent company ByteDance and was created to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications.” What’s more, if the bill is passed by the Senate and President Joe Biden as well as signed into law, ByteDance will be required to sell TikTok within 180 days. If not, it would be banned in the U.S. Amid the controversy around the potential status of TikTok’s future, CNBC reports that Steven Mnuchin, former treasury secretary for former President Donald Trump, is working to gather an investor group to purchase the app. “I think the legislation should pass — I think it should be sold,” Mnuchin said, according to CNBC . “I understand...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 15, 2024

Don Lemon Says Elon Musk Canceled His Partnership With X, Which Was Originally A Part Of Its Commitment To Amplify 'More Diverse Voices'

A partnership between Don Lemon and Elon Musk has seemingly soured. In January 2024, TV journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon announced on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that his show, “The Don Lemon Show,” would soon be available for everyone to see — starting with X. “You’ll find it first on X, the biggest space for free speech in the world,” Lemon wrote at the time. “I know now more than ever that we need a place for honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors.” pic.twitter.com/ZO9g546oYo — Don Lemon (@donlemon) January 9, 2024 However, in an Instagram post, Lemon stated that Tesla Motors CEO and X Corp. owner Elon Musk is now retracting from teaming up with him despite the platform’s goal to magnify “new and diverse voices.” “Elon Musk has canceled the partnership I had with X, which they announced as part of their public commitment to amplifying more diverse voices on their platform,” Lemon noted on Instagram. He added, “Elon publicly...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 15, 2024

How Wallo267’s Life Experienced A 180-Degree Transformation With Him Landing A C-Suite Role And Running A Multi-Million-Dollar Podcast

The life of Wallace Peeples, also known as Wallo267, is a testimony of defying the odds. After serving a 20-year prison sentence, the Philadelphia, PA, native has been actively transparent about his journey. Wallo267 has become known for his unshakeable honesty and for being an avid advocate for those affected by the criminal justice system. His passion for amplifying such issues brought him to his new C-suite role. In February 2024, Reform Alliance announced that Wallo267 would lead its marketing department as chief marketing officer (CMO). View this post on Instagram A post shared by REFORM Alliance (@reform) Wallo267 shares with AFROTECH™ that the appointment happened organically after Reform Alliance co-founder and billionaire Michael Rubin recognized his marketing acumen. “Rubin was interested in me, seeing I just always have been a natural, organic guerrilla marketer out here — no budget marketing. I’ve always done it,” Wallo267 told AFROTECH™ in an interview. “And, he went to...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 14, 2024

Edelman CEO Says It's 'Nonsense' For Companies To Want To 'Drop DE&I As A Phrase'

Recent reports have shown companies pulling back from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). A leader in global communications has spoken out against the matter. At the 2024 Women of Color Connecting Summit, hosted by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Edelman CEO Richard Edelman led the session titled “Data Matters.” During his presentation, he shared findings from “Edelman’s Trust Barometer Special Report: Business and Racial Justice,” according to the virtual summit’s website. While relaying the findings was to inform allies, investors, and policymakers, Edelman took a moment to address the misconceptions about DE&I. “This is one of the big problems in America. We lack reliable information,” Edelman said, per a news release. He continued, “I have heard so much about ‘let’s drop DE&I as a phrase; let’s just focus on sustainability.’ Nonsense. We have to defend DE&I as an important part of the equation of ESG [environmental, social, and governance]. ESG...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 12, 2024

Women's History Month: 5 Black Women Leaders Who Have Graced The AFROTECH™ Stage

What better time to give Black women their flowers than during Women’s History Month? Although the recognition should be 365 days of the year, the annual observance is a special time. As the celebration continues throughout March, AFROTECH™ is spotlighting Black women in technology and across various industries. On Nov. 13-16, AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 will return with its Women’s Summit. During last year’s conference, the Women’s Summit’s topics ranged from disrupting the beauty industry with technology to redefining leadership. In the meantime of finding out this year’s panel lineup and discussions, here are five women speakers who have previously graced AFROTECH™ Conference 2023’s stages, held memorable sessions, and spread gems of wisdom. AFROTECH™ 2024 speaker applications now open!

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 8, 2024

Spelman College Reportedly Becomes The First HBCU To Offer Cosmetic Chemistry As A Concentration For Chemistry Majors

Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, has announced a historic expansion of its curriculum. The liberal arts college’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program will now include a concentration in cosmetic chemistry for students majoring in chemistry and offer a minor in cosmetic science for students with outside majors, according to a news release. The announcement reportedly marks Spelman College as the first-ever Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to offer such a cosmetic science program. The expansion’s purpose is to provide students with technical knowledge for working in beauty and raise awareness about career opportunities in the ever-growing industry. Moreover, the school’s mission is to “ensure a gendered and racial perspective in product formulation and development” as only 2.5% of the beauty market is occupied by Black-owned brands, the news release notes. “This expansion of our curriculum speaks to Spelman’s innovation and commitment to giving...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 8, 2024

NASA Has Enlisted 20 Black Astronauts Since Inception — Graduates Andre Douglas And Christopher Williams Are The Latest To Join That Group

These new astronauts are “preparing for takeoff” in NASA’s Astronaut Office. On March 5, 2024, NASA held a graduation ceremony at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, as 10 new graduates, “The Flies,” crossed the stage after completing two years of training, per a news release. Among the graduates are Andre Douglas and Christopher Williams — representing for Black astronauts. The monumental milestone is a dream come true for both Douglas and Williams. However, the two each had to make crucial decisions along their career paths that ultimately led to turning their dreams into reality. Following NASA’s graduation ceremony, Douglas recalled in an interview with AFROTECH™ about his journey of leaving the U.S. Coast Guard to pursue becoming an astronaut. While it became a great part of the Virginia native, and his father, who was also in the service, he knew he wanted to be in aerospace. Douglas’ curiosity for the industry began at age 7 when he looked through a telescope for the...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 7, 2024

How Mellody Hobson Went From Being An Intern At Ariel Investments To Co-CEO Of The First Black-Owned $14.9B Global Asset Management Firm

Over the past four decades, Mellody Hobson has shattered glass ceilings. The businesswoman and investor joined Ariel Investments, the first Black-owned mutual fund company, as president for 20 years until she became co-CEO in 2019. Hobson has worked alongside John W. Rogers Jr. — who founded Ariel Investments at age 24 — for a long period. However, according to Fortune, the duo’s workplace camaraderie runs deeper than some may know. In February 2024, Ariel Investments announced the release of “Ariel at 40,” which was produced by Crystal McCrary McGuire Productions. The documentary tells the story of how the firm fought back against numerous challenges and persevered.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Ariel Investments (@arielinvestments) “I don’t come from the world of finance, but from a filmmaking perspective, it was just such an incredible story of perseverance, excellence, and trailblazing,” said McGuire, who described Ariel Investments to the outlet as an...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 7, 2024

This Young Malawian Inventor Reportedly Created An Air-Powered Generator To Supply Homes In His Village With Electricity

A young Malawian inventor has taken matters into his own hands to support his community. VOA Africa reports that Ernest Andrew sparked electricity in his village through an air-powered generator that he created. Andrew claims that what he’s innovated doesn’t require fuel, oil, or batteries. “After realizing that we were facing a lot of problems without using electricity, I thought of trying to make electricity,” Ernest told the outlet. “Now, here we are.” According to Andrew, his generator creates 1,000 volts of electricity and has helped to power nine homes. He aims to build out capacity to connect his entire village as well as a nearby primary school. “This system generates electricity using air. To make a lightbulb illuminate, I use power stored in bottle s,” he explained . “I experiment with magnetic power to determine how much electricity I can produce. After that, I generate power based on the number of houses I want to supply.” The outlet shares that Andrew’s generator has...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 5, 2024

Reesa Teesa Reveals How Much She's Earned From Her 50-Part 'Who TF Did I Marry' TikTok Series After Speculation That She's Made $100K

Being open about her mistakes in love turned Reesa Teesa into an Internet sensation. Born Teresa Johnson, the New Jersey native has had people on TikTok tuned into her 50-part series, “Who TF Did I Marry?” — millions of viewers to be exact. Released in February 2023, the first part from the series, which details the deception and turmoil she experienced with her ex-husband, “Legion,” has 39.4 million views, as of this writing. What’s more, Reesa Teesa’s followers on TikTok jumped from 8,000 before the full series to now, 3.6 million, as of this writing. @reesamteesa Who TF Did I Marry- Part One #pathologicalliar #reesateesa #fypシ #fyp ♬ original sound – ReesaTeesa Reesa Teesa’s popularity skyrocketing in a short period had people online sharing theories about how much she’s pocketed from her transparency. However, in an interview with The Cut, she cleared the air on the speculation. While social media may have believed that Reesa Teesa raked in $100,000 through TikTok’s creator...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 5, 2024

Venus Williams Becomes Co-Founder Of Palazzo, An AI-Based Startup Specializing In Interior Design

Venus Williams is offering a new way to plan decorating your home. Fast Company reports that the tennis champion has co-founded Palazzo, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup for interior home design. The company comes after Williams founded V Starr, her interior design firm, in 2002. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Venus Williams (@venuswilliams) Launched in beta, Palazzo aims “to be the first step in redesigning a room or starting a larger home renovation.” “We want to make design fun and easy,” Williams said, according to the outlet. “If you talk to anyone who says, ‘I’ve just gone through a renovation,’ they’ve about had a heart attack. We don’t want that. We want people to be able to see [the design], feel confident about it, and have fun with it.” She added, “Our vision is to create a space where everything home is in one place.” Alongside Williams are co-founders Raffi Holzer, CEO of Avvir, and Edward Lando, founder of Pareto Holdings. The way Palazzo works,...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 4, 2024

Who Is Mukesh Ambani? The Richest Man In India Who Just Reportedly Paid Rihanna Millions To Perform At His Son's Pre-Wedding Party

Today, it remains a mystery when, or rather if, Rihanna will release her ninth studio album. Although it’s been nearly a decade since she released a new music project, the Bajan superstar came back from being MIA in music to attend a star-studded event. On March 1, Rihanna performed at a pre-wedding party for Anant Ambani, the son of multi-billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, India — marking her first full show in a while, per Billboard. View this post on Instagram A post shared by COMPLEX (@complex) “The show was the best,” Rihanna shared following her performance, according to the outlet. “I haven’t done a real show in eight years.” What’s more, Rihanna’s gig reportedly earned her a check of about $6.3 million , according to Forbes. A private show that brings Rihanna to a stage outside of her Super Bowl 2023 halftime performance is a bill that may only be footed by a public figure with wealth — in this case, Mukesh Ambani, who also paid for Beyoncé to...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 4, 2024

Russell Westbrook Joins Target In Building 180 Affordable Housing Units For Residents In His Hometown Of South Central LA

Russell Westbrook is back again with an initiative to support his hometown. The Los Angeles Clippers star has joined Evermont, a project to build 180 affordable housing units in South Los Angeles, CA, reports FOX 11, an affiliate of FOX in Los Angeles. Anchored by Target, the housing development plans to build on a site where the Los Angeles riots happened following the police officers being acquitted after brutally beating Rodney King in 1992. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) In addition to the affordable housing for seniors and families, the Westbrook-backed project will include a SEED school and “community-centered businesses,” the outlet details. Moreover, new jobs will be available for residents. The overall mission is to play a role in shifting the narrative of South Central Los Angeles by leading with civil and community engagement. According to Russell Westbrook Enterprises’ website, Westbrook founded the Russell Westbrook Why Not?...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 4, 2024