
My father once told me, ‘Ọmọ to bá ma jọba, ìlú rẹ ló ti ń ṣe’—“A child destined to lead first serves his people.” I didn’t understand this as a boy growing up in Lagos, but today, I live by it.
I’ve spent my career proving that Africa is not just a consumer of technology but a creator of it. From Lagos to Silicon Valley and back, my path has been about connecting African talent to global opportunities, reshaping how businesses move money, and proving that world-class innovation isn’t just possible on our continent—it’s already happening.
From a Curious Child to a Tech Pioneer
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, into a world where talent was everywhere, but opportunities weren’t. I was always curious, fascinated by how things worked. I wanted to build, to create—to take apart problems and rebuild them with solutions.
That curiosity led me to the University of Toronto, where I studied how technology could bridge economic gaps. But I knew my purpose wasn’t just in learning—it was in bringing those ideas home to Africa, where a new wave of innovators was waiting for someone to bet on them. I wanted to reshape the future of African business through technology.
How Andela Unlocked Africa’s Tech Talent
In 2014, I co-founded Andela. At the time, global companies overlooked African talent, assuming that great engineers could only come from Silicon Valley.
Nigeria’s youth population was exploding, and thousands of smart, hungry, problem-solving minds were waiting for an opportunity. Andela became that opportunity.
We trained and placed thousands of Nigerian software engineers in jobs with the world’s top tech companies. Google, Facebook, IBM—these giants were suddenly hiring African developers because of their undeniable skill and talent. And we built proof that the global tech industry couldn’t afford to ignore Africa any longer.
How Flutterwave Reimagined Payments in Africa
In 2016, I co-founded Flutterwave to tackle another major issue: payments in Africa were broken. Sending and receiving money across the continent was slow, expensive, and fragmented. Businesses couldn’t scale, and African entrepreneurs were locked out of global commerce.
Today, we process billions of dollars in transactions across 34 African countries, enabling businesses of all sizes to seamlessly move money across borders.
I’ve always believed that technology isn’t just about code—it’s about impact. And with Flutterwave, we proved that African fintech wasn’t just catching up—it was LEADING.
Lessons in Leadership: Be Ambitious, Not Thirsty
My mantra has always been: "Be ambitious, not thirsty."
It means chasing impact, not validation. It means building something bigger than yourself, rather than searching for quick wins.
I’ve faced every challenge an African entrepreneur could—funding struggles, regulatory battles, and people doubting what we could build. But through it all, I’ve led with three key values:
⚜️ Faith – In the talent and potential of Black professionals.
⚜️ Perseverance – Because vision without persistence is just a dream.
⚜️ Collaboration – Because building alone is for short-term wins.
Leadership to me has always been about how many people you empower.
Building a Future Where Black Professionals Thrive
I didn’t build Andela and Flutterwave just for personal success. I built them because Africa deserves an ecosystem where innovation thrives, where talent is valued, and where Black professionals globally can achieve six-figure success.
That’s why Black On The Job’s mission is so critical—because finding a job is easy, but the focus is on creating wealth, breaking systemic barriers, and proving that Black excellence is limitless.
Nigeria, Africa is not waiting to be included—we are building the future ourselves.
Where Do You Stand?
Your success isn’t just about you. You are opening the door for the next generation. Whether you’re in tech, finance, healthcare, or another field, your career is part of a bigger movement.
Are you ready to build with intention?
Talk to a career coach at Black On The Job and take the first step toward your next breakthrough.
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