Tobi Odukoya and Deji Farohun’s Bet on Zero-Interest Shopping | issue 140

Tobi Odukoya and Deji Farohun’s Bet on Zero-Interest Shopping
Explores the growing shift in consumer finance and the business opportunity behind making everyday purchases more accessible through flexible, zero-interest payment models.

The cover story features Tobi Odukoya and Deji Farohun and examines their bet on zero-interest shopping, the thinking behind the model, and the changing expectations of African consumers around how they pay for products and services. The edition looks at the opportunity to remove interest charges from consumer purchases while creating a payment structure designed around affordability, access and convenience.

Beyond the cover feature, this edition explores the challenges facing consumers who want to buy essential and lifestyle products but may not have enough cash available to pay upfront. It examines how traditional credit structures, interest charges, limited access to financing and rising living costs can make everyday purchases more difficult for consumers across African markets.

Readers will also discover how businesses can use alternative payment models to reach new customers, increase purchasing power and create stronger relationships with consumers. The magazine examines the business economics behind zero-interest shopping, including customer acquisition, repayment behaviour, merchant participation and the importance of building sustainable financial models.

The issue also looks at the broader intersection of retail, fintech and consumer finance, exploring how technology is changing the way Africans shop, pay and access financial services. As digital payments and embedded finance continue to reshape commerce, new models are emerging around the relationship between merchants, consumers and financial platforms.

Designed for entrepreneurs, executives, investors, fintech professionals and business leaders, this edition offers insights into the people, strategy and market opportunity behind zero-interest shopping and the evolving future of consumer finance in Africa.