8 Women Leading Nigeria’s Payment Industry

Nigeria’s payment industry is growing fast, with fintech innovations creating new ways for people to manage and move money. Behind this wave of change are extraordinary women who are breaking barriers and leading the charge. 

Their efforts are making financial services more accessible, especially for underserved populations. Here’s a look at eight women who are shaping the future of Nigeria’s payment space.

Yanmo Omorogbe – Co-Founder, Bamboo

Yanmo Omorogbe is the co-founder and COO of Bamboo, a digital investment platform that allows Nigerians to invest in U.S. stocks from their phones or computers. With Bamboo, users can easily buy, sell, or hold shares in global companies, providing more investment opportunities for everyday Nigerians.

Yanmo’s background in investment analysis and private equity has equipped her with the skills to lead Bamboo’s growth. Her vision is helping Nigerians explore global investment markets, changing the way people think about wealth management.

Solape Akinpelu – Founder, HerVest

Solape Akinpelu is the founder of HerVest, a fintech platform that focuses on empowering women through financial services. HerVest provides women, especially smallholder farmers, access to savings, investments, and credit. The platform aims to improve financial inclusion for women who are often left out of traditional financial systems.

In addition to leading HerVest, Solape plays an important role in promoting gender equality and financial empowerment. She is a global co-chair of the Women in Tech Global Movement and serves on advisory committees focused on advancing women’s financial inclusion.

Tomilola Adejana – Founder, Bankly

Tomilola Adejana is the founder of Bankly, a fintech company that focuses on bringing financial services to Nigeria’s unbanked population. Bankly provides people with safe and secure savings options, especially for those without access to traditional banking services. The platform uses innovative technology to reach the underserved, promoting financial inclusion.

Tomilola’s passion for financial technology was sparked during her studies, and she has worked in various roles in investment banking and fintech. Her work with Bankly is transforming how Nigerians, especially in rural areas, can save and access funds.

Adebunmi Wellington – Founder, Credo

Adebunmi Wellington is the founder of Credo, a payment gateway platform that helps businesses handle transactions efficiently. She also founded Product Dojo, a hub for training future product managers in the tech space. Adebunmi’s experience spans multiple sectors, including her work at eTranzact International Plc, where she led product development in Nigeria’s first multi-channel electronic payment system.

With her background in information technology and payments, Adebunmi is making significant contributions to the way businesses and individuals interact with digital financial services.

Odunayo Eweniyi – Co-Founder, PiggyVest

Odunayo Eweniyi is the co-founder and COO of PiggyVest, a popular digital savings and investment platform in Nigeria. Launched in 2016, PiggyVest offers millions of Nigerians an easy way to save and invest their money. With over 5 million users, the platform allows people to set savings goals and grow their investments without hassle.

Odunayo’s dedication to financial inclusion and innovation has earned her several prestigious awards, including the Forbes Woman Africa Technology and Innovation Award. Her leadership is helping PiggyVest redefine how Nigerians handle their finances.

Fara Ashiru-Jibutoh – CEO and CTO, Okra

Fara Ashiru-Jibutoh is the CEO and CTO of Okra, a fintech platform that facilitates secure financial data exchange between banks and businesses. Okra’s technology is vital for companies looking to integrate financial services into their applications.

Before founding Okra, Fara worked with various U.S. startups, where she gained experience in product development and scaling businesses. 

She has also co-founded other tech companies and is recognized for her expertise in programming and technology solutions. Fara’s work with Okra is helping to bridge the gap between customers and financial institutions in Nigeria.

Seun Runsewe – Information Security Analyst, ChipperCash

Seun Runsewe started her career at KPMG before moving into the fintech space, where she now works as an Information Security Analyst at ChipperCash, a cross-border payment company. Seun’s journey in fintech began when she joined Paystack, another leading payment company in Nigeria, where she helped to grow the business before founding Switch by Sterling Bank.

Seun’s career is a testament to her passion for technology and her commitment to driving secure and reliable financial services in Nigeria.

Chinyere Don-Okhuofu – Divisional CEO, Interswitch

Chinyere Don-Okhuofu is a key player in Nigeria’s payment space as the Divisional CEO of Sales Networks at Interswitch, one of the leading payment companies in Africa. With over 16 years of experience in the financial sector, Chinyere has been instrumental in the growth of digital payments in Nigeria.

Her leadership has contributed to Interswitch’s success in offering payment solutions that are widely used across Africa, helping both businesses and individuals handle transactions seamlessly.