The 2024 Women’s Month focuses on promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion for women. This emphasis starts with the 2024 International Women’s Day theme, “Inspire Inclusion,” highlighting the significance of diversity and empowerment across all sectors of society.

Throughout March, recognised as Women’s Month, the celebration revolves around honouring “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” This acknowledgement applauds women who recognise that eliminating bias and discrimination is crucial for a better personal and institutional future.

Countless women globally are committed to the cause of inclusion, expressing their advocacy through activism, education, and various other means. In Nigeria, a remarkable group of women champions the inclusion of women by demonstrating courage, innovation, and leadership. They boldly convey that women have the right to be present and succeed in any field they choose.

These influential women have significantly impacted the financial technology sector in Nigeria. Their contributions have led to advancements in financial inclusion, streamlined transactions within the African business community, fostered economic growth, and facilitated cost-effective services.

Let’s look at 15 influential women in Nigeria’s fintech industry.

Saving money is a longstanding tradition in African culture, with various methods developed over centuries. One such method, Kolo, involves storing cash in a container that the individual only opens when savings are needed, standing the test of time as an effective saving strategy.

The concept of Kolo gained renewed attention thanks to a viral Twitter post, inspiring Odunayo Eweniyi and her partners to establish Piggybank (now PiggyVest). This innovative idea has transformed how younger generations in Nigeria approach saving money.

Eweniyi also co-founded FirstCheck Africa, recognising the importance of empowering women to access funding for their entrepreneurial endeavours. 

This angel fund focuses exclusively on supporting female founders, addressing the need for greater inclusion and support for women in the startup and business landscape.

A connected Africa, both internally and globally, plays a vital role in advancing the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion for women. There is enough evidence indicating that economic advancements can lead to positive impacts on women’s rights in various domains.

In many ways, Jituboh is championing women’s causes as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Okra. Okra is a fintech firm that facilitates the safe transmission of real-time financial data among customers, applications, and banks. Forbes has hailed it as the “super-connector” for its innovative approach.

Continuing the theme of connecting Africa financially and economically to the global economy, remittance plays a significant role. 

In this sphere, Busari stands out for her contributions through her work with SendSprint, a cross-border payment platform facilitating money transfers to and within Africa.

Busari’s expertise spans various business functions, from technology to design. There is no stronger advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion for women than those who excel in their roles, showcasing exceptional performance that dispels misconceptions.

Beyond her professional achievements, Busari advocates for women’s empowerment in various ways, including increasing the visibility of women in leadership positions. This advocacy inspires young girls to aim for greatness in their chosen fields.

Fincra, although relatively young in the African fintech landscape at less than three years old, has made significant strides that are impossible to overlook. 

This payment gateway company did not stumble into success; it achieved it through a solid commitment to advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion for women.

This commitment is evident in their management team, which comprises five exceptional women.

Uzoamaka Okoro, known for her strategic thinking, selflessness, tireless work ethic, and operational expertise, leads Fincra’s operations remarkably efficiently.

Ibifa Maclayton, an accomplished partnership and enterprise sales executive, heads Fincra’s Sales and Partnership team. She showcases her tenacity and prowess in the competitive sales landscape.

Fincra distinguishes itself in the market through its outstanding merchant support team, led by Kenechi Onyedum as Head of the Merchant Success Team. This team ensures businesses have all the necessary tools to collect payments easily.

The company’s rapid growth can also be attributed to its strategic marketing efforts, spearheaded by Jemima Lewis. Through innovative marketing strategies, she ensures that Fincra is visible to anyone who needs their services.

Managing tech talent is difficult, especially in the dynamic fintech sector. Still, Sunmisola Akerele handles it easily, showcasing her keen eye for talent, emotional intelligence in leadership, and steadfast commitment to upholding the company’s culture.

Through their daily contributions, these remarkable women at Fincra exemplify that women are fully deserving of any leadership roles they occupy, both within and outside the company.

The remarkable journey of Paystack’s success is widely known, and Abu has been a significant contributor in various capacities. 

Serving as the Product Partnerships Lead at Paystack, Khadijah has spearheaded initiatives that have significantly contributed to the achievements of one of Africa’s most successful fintech companies.

Furthermore, Khadijah has cemented her influence in African fintech by being the voice of Paystack’s acclaimed Decode Fintech podcast. Through this platform, she has skillfully narrated the narrative behind the evolution and growth of the African fintech landscape, showcasing her expertise and insights in the industry.

Runsewe’s impact on the industry is unquestionable. She possesses an in-depth understanding of the sector akin to the back of her hand. 

Her journey spans from pivotal roles at Paystack and Sterling Bank’s Switch to Opay, followed by Softcome, culminating in her tenure as a Senior Product Manager at Chipper Cash.

Although she may not currently hold a position in the industry, her impressive track record attests to her profound influence and leadership. Her extensive experience demonstrates that she not only navigated but also significantly contributed to shaping the landscape of this industry.

Consider the huge difference between the challenges of navigating stock markets in the past and the accessibility facilitated by Omorogbe’s contributions. 

As the co-founder and COO of Bamboo, Omorogbe has revolutionised digital investing. Omorogbe and her team grant digitally savvy Nigerians instant access to buy, sell, or hold assets traded on the US stock exchange directly from their mobile devices or computers.

Under Yanmo’s leadership as the COO of Bamboo, growth and operations have flourished, empowering Nigerians to invest in global giants such as Twitter, Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook. 

In Africa, where women often face more significant challenges of financial exclusion than men, Adejana’s story embodies a powerful narrative. 

She is the visionary founder and CEO of Bankly, a fintech company specialising in various products to expand financial inclusion.

Under Adejana’s leadership, Bankly has established itself as a trailblazer in addressing the needs of the financially excluded. 

The company provides essential personal and technological solutions for individuals to digitise their cash and increase their income securely and effortlessly.

Adejana’s work reflects a commitment to empowering marginalised communities, particularly women, by leveraging fintech innovations to create tangible opportunities for financial growth and stability.

Bello is a dedicated woman spearheading efforts to reach the unbanked, an endeavour with immense potential to impact women positively. 

She is the founder and CEO of Regxta, a fintech firm committed to offering banking services to traditionally unbanked demographics such as street hawkers, farmers, artisans, and residents of rural communities.

Bello proudly refers to herself as ‘madam grassroots,’ a title that reflects the transformative impact of Regxta’s services on marginalised communities. 

Through her leadership, Regxta strives to bridge financial gaps and empower individuals, particularly women, by providing essential banking services that enhance financial inclusion and economic stability.

Knowledge is a powerful tool for empowerment, which makes Olasiende an influential figure in fintech. Since 2018, Olasiende has been a leading advocate for financial literacy in Nigeria, empowering young Nigerians through personal and business finance courses.

Her platform has rapidly grown its community and provides valuable resources and education. 

Building on this success, Olasiende launched Ladda in 2020, a fintech company designed to connect individuals with investment opportunities, furthering the mission of financial empowerment and inclusion.

Alabi co-founded Cleva, a less-than-a-year-old fintech that has quickly made its presence felt in the market. 

Cleva is a cross-border payment company that helps people to send and receive international payments.

The blockchain industry stands out as a beacon of inclusion and diversity, presenting itself as the gateway to a world without barriers. 

Iselema exemplifies this ethos as a woman making significant strides in this space. 

She is the visionary founder of Bitmama, a crypto-fiat exchange enabling traders to buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, and various other digital assets.

Bitmama has left a lasting impact in Africa, with teams operating in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, as well as in Europe, Canada, and the UK. 

Iselema’s ambition shows no signs of slowing down, with recent reports that her company has successfully acquired Payday, a once-promising Nigerian fintech firm. 

Jessica Anuna is another brilliant leader who has made her mark in Nigerian fintech. 

Anuna is the founder and CEO of Klasha, a cross-border payment company that helps businesses move money within and to Africa.

After a career in the food and then auto business, Hussaini is making a mark with Keza. This smartphone finance company is making smartphone ownership more affordable and convenient in Africa.

Solape Akinpelu is a prominent figure in women-focused fintech with her venture, Hervest. This platform is dedicated to empowering African women by offering financial products centered around saving, investing, and loans.

Economic and financial inclusion for women holds immense power, granting them the autonomy to make independent decisions, take control of their lives, and foster independence. Akinpelu’s contributions in this area are invaluable, as they play a crucial role in uplifting and empowering women across Africa.