Seunfunmi Joshua
Nigeria’s tech scene is booming, and our innovators are taking the world by storm. From revolutionizing savings to transforming goods transport across Africa, these brilliant minds are solving real-life problems with cutting-edge solutions.
These pioneers have not only transformed industries within Nigeria but have also positioned Africa as a key player in the global tech space. They’re showing the world that Nigeria isn’t just about oil and entertainment, our tech game is strong, and we’re playing on the global stage.
With ideas that simplify life and streamline business operations, these tech trailblazers are ensuring Nigeria’s presence in the global tech race.
- John Obaro: CEO of SystemSpecs
John Obaro is the brains behind Remita, one of Nigeria’s leading payment solutions. Through his company, SystemSpecs, Obaro revolutionized Nigeria’s public finance management by streamlining government payments. The company operates in multiple African countries, advancing Africa’s financial inclusion agenda.
Remita powers the Treasury Single Account (TSA), centralizing and simplifying federal government revenue collections, enhancing transparency and accountability.
- Mark Essien: Founder of Hotels.ng
Mark Essien’s Hotels.ng is Nigeria’s largest online hotel booking platform. Focused on solving real African problems using tech, Essien has revolutionized Nigeria’s travel and tourism industry. His approach to leveraging local tech talent has paved the way for more indigenous tech businesses.
Hotels.ng exemplifies how technology can address challenges, such as accommodation booking in Nigeria, and spearheads digital tourism on the continent.
- Odunayo Eweniyi: Co-Founder of PiggyVest
Odunayo Eweniyi co-founded PiggyVest, a fintech platform that encourages disciplined saving through technology. With a mission to help Nigerians manage money better, PiggyVest has become one of the most widely used financial apps in Nigeria, particularly among young people.
PiggyVest has empowered over two million users to save and invest, fostering a culture of financial literacy and planning in Nigeria.
- Iyinoluwa Aboyeji- co founder of Andela and Flutterwave Flutterwave
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji is one of the most influential names in Africa’s tech ecosystem. He co-founded Andela, a global tech talent accelerator, and Flutterwave, a payments infrastructure provider for global merchants and service providers.
His contributions have shaped Africa’s digital economy and made waves in Silicon Valley. Flutterwave has facilitated billions in transactions, and Andela has trained thousands of African developers for the global job market, showcasing Nigeria’s intellectual capital to the world.
Flutterwave has processed billions of dollars in transactions and Andela has trained thousands of African developers for the global job market, showcasing Nigeria’s intellectual capital to the world.
- Mitchell Elegbe – Founder of Interswitch
Mitchell Elegbe founded Interswitch in 2002 when cash was king and electronic payments were almost non-existent in Nigeria. His vision was to create a system that would simplify digital payments and reduce the reliance on cash. Over the years, Interswitch has grown into one of Africa’s largest integrated payment and transaction processing companies.
One of its most significant innovations is the Verve card, a homegrown debit card used by millions of Nigerians. Interswitch also created Quickteller, an online platform for bill payments, airtime purchases, and money transfers, making financial transactions more accessible to everyday Nigerians.
Interswitch was one of the first African fintech companies to achieve unicorn status (a valuation of over $1 billion), highlighting its global impact. The company continues to play a key role in driving the shift towards a cashless society in Nigeria and other African countries, enabling seamless transactions for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
- Jason Njoku – Co-Founder of iROKOtv
Jason Njoku is the co-founder of iROKOtv, a streaming service often referred to as the “Netflix of Africa.” He pioneered the online distribution of Nollywood films, giving African entertainment global reach. Through iROKOtv, Nollywood movies are now easily accessible to a global audience.
iROKOtv has not only revolutionized the distribution of Nollywood films but also highlighted Africa’s creative industry on the global stage.
- Sim Shagaya – Founder of uLesson and Konga
Sim Shagaya has been a driving force behind two revolutionary platforms. He founded Konga, one of Nigeria’s largest e-commerce platforms, and more recently uLesson, an EdTech startup aimed at making high-quality education accessible to students across Africa through mobile learning.
His innovative approach to e-commerce and education has placed him on the global tech map.
uLesson is making educational content available to millions of students across Africa, while Konga transformed Nigeria’s e-commerce sector.
Sim Shagaya founded Konga, one of Nigeria’s largest e-commerce platforms, and uLesson, an EdTech startup aimed at providing high-quality education to students across Africa via mobile learning.
His innovative approach to e-commerce and education has made him a significant player in the global tech scene. uLesson is reaching millions of students, while Konga transformed Nigeria’s e-commerce sector.
- Funke Opeke – CEO of MainOne
Funke Opeke, founder and CEO of MainOne, revolutionized internet access in West Africa by laying undersea fiber optic cables, vastly improving connectivity in Nigeria. Her company provides broadband solutions that power businesses and startups across the region.
MainOne has been instrumental in bridging the internet connectivity gap in Nigeria, fueling the tech boom across West Africa, and enabling the growth of digital businesses.
- Shola Akinlade/Ezra olubi– Co-Founder of Paystack
Shola Akinlade and Ezra olubi Co founded Paystack, a Nigerian fintech company that simplifies online payments for businesses. Paystack has become a key player in the African fintech space and was acquired by global payments giant Stripe for over $200 million in 2020, marking one of the biggest tech acquisitions in Africa.
Ezra Olubi is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Paystack, a leading Nigerian fintech company. Along with Shola Akinlade, Ezra built Paystack to help businesses in Africa accept payments easily online, enabling companies to process debit and credit card transactions, mobile money, and bank transfers.
Paystack’s technology enables thousands of African businesses to accept payments online, contributing to the growth of e-commerce in Nigeria and beyond.
- Chinedu Azodoh – Co-Founder of MAX.ng
Chinedu Azodoh is the co-founder of MAX.ng, a transport and logistics platform that connects users with bike rides and deliveries, addressing Nigeria’s transportation challenges with technology. MAX.ng is also one of the pioneers in introducing electric vehicles into the Nigerian market.
MAX.ng is solving the last-mile delivery problem in Nigeria and is contributing to reducing carbon emissions with its electric mobility initiative.
Conclusion
These Nigerian innovators are not only solving problems locally but also contributing significantly to the global tech scene. Their work is proof that Nigeria is becoming a hub for digital talent, entrepreneurial innovation, and groundbreaking technology.
