Matthew Leo

My name is Matthew Mbaka Ogbu. I am a Nigerian Canadian digital builder, technology writer, web designer, and community volunteer based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. I am the founder and editor of Mapletechie, an independent Canadian technology publication. I write about artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, software, and the ways technology affects everyday life. I started Mapletechie because I wanted technology writing that went beyond company announcements and repeated talking points. My work focuses on explaining complicated subjects in simple language, checking claims against reliable sources, and separating useful developments from marketing hype. I am also the founder of TownZest, a Canadian city discovery platform designed to help residents and visitors find local businesses, events, restaurants, hotels, services, attractions, and community information. I work independently in graphic design, web design, and digital development, with more than seven years of freelance experience creating websites, visual materials, and online tools. My work includes building and supporting websites such as Miinikaanens.com, an Indigenous early childhood education initiative. I am currently developing a personal finance application intended to help people understand their spending, build practical budgets, and make better financial decisions — a project that reflects my interest in using technology to solve ordinary problems rather than creating products simply because the technology exists. I earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Abia State University in Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria. My engineering education gave me a foundation in systems, technical problem-solving, and analytical thinking. After moving from Nigeria to Canada, I began postgraduate studies in social work at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. My interests in engineering, technology, and social work shape how I think about digital access, public services, community safety, and the effects technology can have on people. I am a member of the Canadian Youth Road Safety Council, a national youth council organized by Parachute, Canada's national charity dedicated to injury prevention. As a survivor of a serious motor vehicle collision, I bring personal experience to conversations about road safety. I am particularly interested in preventing distracted and impaired driving, improving road-safety education, and ensuring that young people are included in decisions that affect them. I also volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross in emergency management and response, and before moving to Canada I served as a commissioned officer in the Boys' Brigade in Nigeria. Across my writing, digital projects, and volunteer work, my goal is straightforward: to make useful information easier to understand and to build practical tools that help people and communities.

Articles by Matthew Leo