Spotlight

Balancing Model Accuracy with Interpretability in Real-World Applications

Published

2 years ago

September 11, 2023

An exclusive interview with Harrison Enofe Obamwonyi, a Senior Data Scientist known for turning complex datasets into practical, high-impact solutions.

His work spans industries from finance to healthcare, and he is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between model accuracy and interpretability.

Harrison, thank you for joining us. Let’s start at the beginning. How did your data science journey begin?

Harrison: Interestingly, I didn’t set out to become a data scientist. I initially saw myself working in pure analytics, but overtime, I kept finding myself drawn to the problem-solving aspect of machine learning. My first real taste came when I worked on a fraud detection project for a financial services company. Watching the model flag suspicious activity in real time was both thrilling and eye-opening. I realized then that data science was where I wanted to be.

You’ve worked on a variety of projects. What would you say was a turning point in your career?

Harrison: One project that changed my perspective was a healthcare initiative to predict patient readmission risk. We had highly accurate deep learning models, but the hospital needed to understand the predictions to trust them. That was when I truly grasped the importance of interpretability. Accuracy on paper is meaningless if stakeholders can’t act on your model’s output. That experience taught me to consider explainability as a first-class citizen in model design.

That ties into our main theme today: balancing model accuracy with interpretability. How do you approach this trade-off?

Harrison: It starts with the problem context. In some areas, like recommendation engines for e-commerce, you can lean toward complex, high-accuracy models because the cost of a wrong prediction is relatively low. But in regulated sectors like finance, healthcare, and insurance, interpretability is non-negotiable. I often use a hybrid approach: complex models for raw predictive power, paired with interpretable “shadow models” or explainability tools like SHAP or LIME to translate the decisions into human terms. The goal isn’t always to sacrifice accuracy for interpretability, but to design a workflow where both coexist.

When you have to explain model results to non-technical stakeholders, what’s your process?

Harrison: Storytelling. I strip away the technical jargon and focus on the cause-and-effect narrative. For example, instead of saying, “The model assigned a probability of 0.82,” I might say, “The model found that customers who delayed payment twice in the past three months are much more likely to churn.” I also use visuals to bridge the gap.

You’ve managed and mentored junior data scientists. What’s your leadership style?

Harrison: I’m collaborative but principles-driven. I encourage experimentation, but I also push for clarity in thought. I want my team to understand why they’re building a model before writing a single line of code. I also create space for them to challenge me. Sometimes the best improvements come from the newest voices in the room.

Can you share a time when a high-accuracy model still failed in production?

Harrison: Yes, and it was a humbling lesson. We had built a credit risk model with outstanding validation accuracy. But in production, its performance dropped sharply. The reason? The training data didn’t account for a sudden shift in the economic climate. That experience reinforced my belief that a model’s real test is in production, not in a Jupyter notebook. It also taught me to build for adaptability, not just performance.

For aspiring data scientists, what advice would you give about balancing technical skills with business impact?

Harrison: Don’t get lost in the code. Remember that your model exists to solve a problem, not to be an academic exercise. Learn to speak the language of your stakeholders. Measure your success not by the complexity of your algorithm, but by the clarity and impact of your solution. And most importantly, stay curious, because technology changes, but curiosity is timeless.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about data science?

Harrison: That it’s all about machine learning. In reality, a huge chunk of the work is data cleaning, framing the problem correctly, and aligning with business goals. You can have the fanciest model in the world, but if the problem is poorly defined, it’s wasted effort.

Finally, what keeps you going in this fast-changing field?

Harrison: The fact that there’s always something new to learn. Data science sits at the edge of technology, mathematics, and human behaviour. Every project feels like solving a new puzzle, and I find that endlessly exciting.

Spotlight

Sahara Leaders Named in African Energy Chamber’s ‘20 Under 40’ Rising Stars List

Published

1 month ago

September 11, 2025

Ani Sandra

Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel Yetunde Sorinola

Sahara Leaders Named in African Energy Chamber’s ‘20 Under 40’ Rising Stars List

Sahara Group, a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate, is celebrating the recognition of two of its business leaders on the African Energy Chamber’s 2025 “20 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars” list, a landmark that reinforces the company’s role in shaping the next generation of global energy leadership.

Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, Head of Integrated Gas Ventures at Asharami Energy, and Yetunde Sorinola, Chief Financial Officer of Egbin Power Plc, were named among the continent’s rising stars for their outstanding contributions to Africa’s energy sector.

Their recognition reflects a wider global shift as the energy industry navigates the twin imperatives of expanding access to power and advancing a just energy transition.

The “20 Under 40” list shines an international spotlight on women who are redefining Africa’s oil, gas, and renewable industries, at a time when the continent’s leadership in innovation and resilience is increasingly shaping global conversations.

Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka, Executive Director at Sahara Group, described the recognition as evidence of Sahara’s long-standing commitment to empowering leaders who drive impact across Africa and beyond. “Mariah and Yetunde embody the Sahara spirit of resilience, innovation, and excellence. Their achievements demonstrate our commitment to Making A Difference by nurturing talent that can thrive on the global stage while bringing energy to life responsibly for communities across the continent and the globe,” she said.

Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, said the recognition also reflects Sahara’s people-focused strategy across the energy value chain. “At Sahara, our people strategy is centered on growing expertise and giving our employees platforms to express their abilities maximally, both within and outside the workplace. Our core values of being disruptively creative and ambidextrous empower every member of our team to harness their potential, drive innovation, and deliver impact that transcends borders,” Obioma noted.

As Head of Integrated Gas Ventures, Lucciano-Gabriel has been a driving force behind Sahara’s midstream gas business, accelerating revenue growth and expanding access to cleaner energy. “Being named among such a dynamic cohort of women is a powerful reminder that Africa has the talent and vision to lead global energy conversations,” she said. “This recognition inspires me to keep pushing boundaries, driving innovative gas solutions that can fuel inclusive growth” Lucciano-Gabriel added.

Sorinola, who leads the finance operations of Egbin Power Plc — Africa’s largest privately-owned thermal power plant — has built a reputation for strong governance, compliance, and financial stewardship of capital-intensive projects. “This honor belongs to the entire Egbin and Sahara team whose collective drive makes our work possible,” Sorinola noted. “We know that reliable power is the bedrock of economic progress and community empowerments and our focus at Sahara remains on championing financial governance, sustainability, and mentoring the next generation of leaders who will power Africa’s future.”

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, added “These women are not only recognized for their amazing careers, but for their work and commitment across their respective communities. This is what happens when women are given opportunities to lead in the industry; going beyond executing their jobs to championing communities and mentoring others to become part of the larger African energy family.”

With operations in over 42 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Sahara Group continues to drive equitable career growth across an inimitably diverse and growing workforce of more than 5,000 irrepressible people committed to Making A Difference, bringing energy to life responsibly.

Spotlight

MTN’s Dr. Goodluck Named Among Nigeria’s Top PR Changemakers

Nigerian PR Must Adopt Customer Service Principles Says MTN’s PR Manager | Reporter: SANDRA ANI

Published

3 months ago

August 4, 2025

grassroots

L-R: Segun McMedal, Lead Partner at Upticomm Marketing Company, and Former Chairman of the Lagos NIPR; Jimmie Akinsola, TV host and Actor, and Founder, Lagos Athletics; Dr. Olubukola George-Taylor, Managing Director, Robert Taylor Media; and Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck, Public Relations Manager, MTN Nigeria, during the Lagos World PR Day Soiree and Power List Presentation where Dr. Goodluck was recognised as one of Nigeria’s top PR Changemakers, held at the Alliance Française, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck, MTN Nigeria’s Public Relations Manager, has been recognised in the ‘Changemakers’ category as one of the leading voices advocating for a shift in how Nigerian PR professionals approach their craft.

Speaking at the recent 2025 PR Power List event at the Alliance Français, Ikoyi, Lagos, he drew compelling parallels between customer service excellence and effective public relations strategy.

“PR has progressed from that period when the speech was one company to everyone, now we do one company-to-one person engagement. It’s the same principle that is applied in customer relations,” Dr. Goodluck explained during a panel session. His approach centres on the principle that successful brands speak to one customer at a time, designing products and messages for individual satisfaction, knowing that others within similar demographics will naturally follow suit.

At the corporate level, managing communications for Africa’s largest telecommunications company requires a delicate balance between authenticity and appropriateness. Goodluck emphasised the critical importance of understanding media consumption behaviour as part of audience analysis, a component he believes many PR professionals overlook. “If you understand the media consumption behaviour, then you’ll be able to tailor your message to the audience properly,” he stated.

The communications expert referenced Marshall McLuhan’s famous theory that “the medium is the message,” explaining how platforms dictate communication formats and styles. This insight becomes particularly crucial for Nigerian brands navigating diverse media landscapes, from traditional outlets to rapidly evolving social media platforms like TikTok, where content format fundamentally shapes message delivery.

His customer service-inspired approach to PR represents a strategic evolution for Nigeria’s communications industry, moving away from broad, generic messaging toward precision-targeted, individually-focused communication that creates ripple effects across larger audience segments.

Others present on the panel session titled “The PR Hustle: Breaking In, Staying In, and Standing Out” were Segun McMedal, Lead Partner at Upticomm Marketing Company and Former Chairman of the Lagos NIPR; Jimmie Akinsola, TV host and Actor, and Founder of Lagos Athletics; and Dr. Olubukola George-Taylor, Managing Director of Robert Taylor Media.

Spotlight

At 59, Irona Celebrated as a Steadfast, Trusted Leader

Reporter: SANDRA ANI

Published

3 months ago

August 2, 2025

grassroots

Engr. Gerald Irona

It was a moment of heartfelt tributes and celebration on Friday, as family, friends, political allies, and well-wishers gathered at the Abuja residence of former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Engr. Gerald Irona, to mark his 59th birthday.

Speakers hailed Irona as a principled, dependable, and courageous leader whose legacy continues to inspire trust and admiration.

The atmosphere brimmed with admiration as speaker after speaker paid glowing tributes to Engr. Irona, describing him as a dependable, courageous, and principled leader whose legacy continues to inspire across political and social divides.

In their separate remarks, three former members of the House of Representatives – Hon. Ikenga Mayor Eze, Hon. Jeff Ojinika, and Hon. ThankGod Ezeani, praised Irona’s unwavering commitment to justice and fairness, describing him as a relentless crusader for equity and good governance.

“Irona is dependable. He does not tolerate injustice in any form,” they affirmed. “He is steadfast and upright, always willing to stand for what is right, even in the face of adversity.”

Echoing similar sentiments, former Secretary to the Government of Imo State and ex-federal lawmaker, Hon. Uche Onyeagucha, hailed Irona as “a man of truth who consistently chooses the path of justice, regardless of whose ox is gored.”

Also lending his voice, former Director of Public Affairs at the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, Barry Nwibani, reflected on over two decades of personal friendship and professional admiration. “Engr. Irona’s consistency, integrity, and lifestyle remain exemplary. He represents the kind of leadership Nigeria yearns for – credible, courageous, and selfless.”

In a heartfelt tribute posted on his verified Facebook page, former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, described Irona as “a trusted pillar of steadfast loyalty.” The former Governor used the opportunity to also celebrate the Director General of the Rebuild Imo Movement, Dr. Vin Udokwu, who marked his 68th birthday on the same day.

The message, titled “Honouring Two Steadfast Allies,” read in part:

“To the glory of God, I celebrate two exceptional men – Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona, my trusted Deputy in Imo, as he turns 59, and Dr. Vin Udokwu, our devoted Director General of the Rebuild Imo Movement, marking 68 remarkable years.

Over time, these two gentlemen have proven to be trusted pillars of steadfast loyalty, exemplary character, and resolute commitment. Their dedication to service and the shared vision for Imo has inspired confidence and hope across the state and beyond.”

In his remarks during a virtual chat, former lawmaker representing Oguta State Constituency at the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Ugboma stressed that

“His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Gerald A. Irona is not just a leader but an inspiration to many of us who look up to his courage and commitment to service. Celebrating him at 59 is celebrating excellence, resilience, and uncommon grace.”

Irona’s wife, Ogbuefi Vivian Irona, in a special birthday message, described Irona as a selfless leader. Her message reads in part – “today, I celebrate not just your birth, but the man you are- strong, yet gentle, visionary, yet humble, courageous, yet compassionate.”

“Your life of service, both to your family and to the people of Imo State speaks volumes of your character – selfless, noble, and deeply inspiring.”

Adding his voice, former Chairman of Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State, Ken Akunnakwe stressed that “in Hon. Gerald Irona, I found a humble, loyal, consistent, and practical politician. He is a man of few words who leads by example. Beyond his kindness, Irona is deeply grateful to those who have contributed to his journey.

Beyond Abuja, the 59th birthday of Engr. Irona was also celebrated by associates and supporters at various locations in Imo State, including the ‘Rebuild Imo movement’, reflecting the wide-reaching admiration he enjoys for his leadership, integrity, and principled politics.