Nigeria is home to some of the most innovative and successful tech entrepreneurs in Africa. These pioneers are revolutionizing industries, creating solutions that address critical challenges on the continent, and attracting international recognition and investment. With groundbreaking startups like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Andela, Nigerian tech professionals are playing a key role in the global technology landscape. Here’s a closer look at some of the top names in Nigerian tech, their backgrounds, and their extraordinary achievements.
1. Shola Akinlade & Ezra Olubi – Founders of Paystack
Paystack is one of Nigeria’s most prominent fintech startups, co-founded in 2015 by Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi. Their journey to building Paystack began with a shared frustration over the fragmented state of online payments in Nigeria, where businesses faced numerous challenges in accepting digital payments.
Shola Akinlade’s Background
Shola Akinlade, an experienced software engineer, previously worked as a developer for Heineken before co-founding Paystack. His technical expertise and vision for a seamless payment system helped him launch a product that simplifies payment processes for businesses in Nigeria and across Africa.
Ezra Olubi’s Background
Ezra Olubi, who serves as the company’s CTO, also has an impressive background in software development, having worked at several tech companies, including Softcom and Jobberman. His role at Paystack focuses on maintaining the technical infrastructure that supports the platform’s efficiency.
In 2020, Paystack made headlines when it was acquired by Stripe, one of the world’s leading online payment processing platforms, for over $200 million. The acquisition was one of the largest in Africa’s tech industry and a clear indicator of the potential of African fintech startups to scale globally.
Source: [Paystack](https://paystack.com)
2. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Olugbenga Agboola, & Adeleke Adekoya – Co-founders of Flutterwave
Flutterwave, co-founded in 2016 by Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Olugbenga Agboola, and Adeleke Adekoya, has rapidly grown into one of Africa’s biggest fintech success stories. The company was created to simplify payment systems for businesses in Africa, allowing them to expand into the global market.
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji’s Background
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, a serial entrepreneur, is also the co-founder of Andela. Aboyeji, who dropped out of the University of Waterloo in Canada to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams, has consistently demonstrated a talent for launching companies that address Africa’s key challenges. Before Flutterwave, Aboyeji co-founded Bookneto, a social learning platform.
Olugbenga Agboola’s Background
Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, who currently serves as CEO, has an extensive background in banking and technology. He previously worked at PayPal and Google, and his experience has been crucial in building Flutterwave’s technical framework.
In 2021, Flutterwave raised $170 million in a Series C funding round, achieving unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. This marked Flutterwave as one of the few African startups to reach unicorn status, and the company continues to drive growth across the continent by connecting African markets with the global economy.
Source: [Flutterwave](https://flutterwave.com)
3. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Jeremy Johnson, & Christina Sass – Co-founders of Andela
Andela was founded in 2014 with a mission to address the global shortage of skilled software developers by identifying and training tech talent in Africa. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Jeremy Johnson, Nadayar Enegesi, and Christina Sass created a model that recruits, trains, and connects talented African developers with companies around the world.
Jeremy Johnson’s Background
Jeremy Johnson is an American entrepreneur who co-founded 2U, an education technology company. His experience in ed-tech helped shape Andela’s mission to not only provide skills training but also ensure that the talent produced can meet the demands of global tech companies.
Christina Sass’s Background
Christina Sass has an extensive background in education and workforce development, having worked with organizations like The MasterCard Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative, helping to build education programs across several countries.
In 2019, Andela received significant investment from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Google Ventures, and others. The success of Andela has showcased the wealth of untapped tech talent across Africa.
Source: [Andela](https://andela.com)
4. Obi Ozor & Ife Oyedele II – Co-founders of Kobo360
Kobo360, founded in 2017 by Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele II, is a logistics platform that connects cargo owners with truck drivers to transport goods across Africa. The company’s digital platform leverages technology to optimize supply chains, cut transportation costs, and improve efficiency in goods movement across the continent.
Kobo360 has grown rapidly, expanding its operations across Nigeria, Kenya, and other African markets. In 2019, the company raised funding from global investors, including Goldman Sachs and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Source: [Kobo360](https://kobo360.com)
5. Mitchell Elegbe – Founder of Interswitch
Mitchell Elegbe is the visionary behind Interswitch, one of Nigeria’s earliest and most successful fintech companies. Founded in 2002, Interswitch has become a major player in digital payments across Africa, providing a platform for millions of transactions each year.
In 2019, Interswitch became a unicorn after receiving investment from Visa, valuing the company at over $1 billion. Today, Interswitch continues to lead the digital payments space across Africa, helping to shape the continent’s financial infrastructure.
Source: [Interswitch](https://www.interswitchgroup.com)
The success stories of Paystack, Flutterwave, Andela, Kobo360, and Interswitch illustrate the dynamic and innovative spirit of Nigerian entrepreneurs in the tech industry. These companies are not only achieving significant milestones but are also attracting global attention and investment, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the world of technology.
