Few are aware that the foundation of today’s Fintech landscape in Nigeria was established by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In response to the banking turmoil of 2007, the CBN introduced the Payments System Vision 2020, aiming to modernize payment methods and minimize cash dependency.
Trailblazers such as Interswitch, founded in 2002, and eTranzact were instrumental in creating shared digital transaction infrastructures. They developed platforms for ATMs, POS devices, and online payment systems that became the backbone of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem.
The fintech surge truly accelerated between 2010 and 2017, driven by the widespread availability of affordable mobile phones and enhanced internet access. The CBN’s cashless policy, initiated around 2012, compelled both consumers and businesses to embrace digital payments, sparking demand for innovative and efficient financial services.
This rapid expansion, supported by a youthful demographic, growing smartphone penetration, and substantial foreign venture capital, positioned Nigeria as Africa’s premier fintech hub, paving the way for influential female leaders in the sector.
By 2025, women have emerged as pivotal figures shaping the fintech industry. From launching apps with millions of users focused on savings and investments to steering major payment companies, their creativity is gaining international recognition and transforming Africa’s digital economy.
Below is a spotlight on ten of the most impactful women driving fintech growth in Nigeria:
Odunayo Eweniyi, Co-founder of PiggyVest
At the forefront of Nigeria’s fintech revolution is Odunayo Eweniyi, who co-founded Piggyvest. Originally launched as Piggybank.ng in 2016, the platform revolutionized personal finance management for millions across the country.
Within just four years, Piggyvest surpassed one million users, reflecting the rapid embrace of digital savings solutions by Nigerians.
Eweniyi envisioned a secure, transparent, and user-friendly digital vault that merges automated savings with lucrative investment opportunities. Today, Piggyvest boasts millions of users and attracts both domestic and international investors, standing as one of Africa’s fintech success stories.
By transforming saving into an accessible wealth-building tool, Eweniyi has solidified her role as a key driver of financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Nigeria.
Ifeoma Uddoh, Founder of Shecluded
Ifeoma Uddoh leads a fintech movement dedicated to women through Shecluded, Nigeria’s first fintech platform designed exclusively for female entrepreneurs.
Her motivation is deeply personal, shaped by her own financial struggles and a decade of experience in Strategy Consulting and Analytics at firms like PwC. She identified that the primary obstacle for women entrepreneurs was not ambition but a significant gender financing gap.
Founded in 2019, Shecluded goes beyond lending by offering a comprehensive ecosystem that includes capital access, financial literacy, and business development tools. Its proprietary algorithms evaluate creditworthiness beyond traditional, often biased, criteria.
Uddoh’s mission is to equip Nigerian women with the financial resources, knowledge, and networks necessary to scale their enterprises.
Chinyere Don-Okhuofu, Divisional CEO, Sales Network at Interswitch Group
Chinyere Don-Okhuofu brings decades of expertise to Interswitch, a pioneer in Nigeria’s electronic payments infrastructure since 2002.
As Divisional CEO of Sales Network, she spearheads efforts to expand the adoption of Interswitch’s digital payment solutions across diverse sectors.
With a strong background in banking and financial management, Don-Okhuofu focuses on driving sales strategies that encourage businesses-from small retailers to large corporations-to integrate Interswitch’s digital payment technologies.
Oluwatosin Olseinde, Founder of MoneyAfrica
Oluwatosin Olseinde leads two influential brands: MoneyAfrica and its investment counterpart, Ladda.
Established in 2018, MoneyAfrica is a trusted platform dedicated to financial education, addressing the critical knowledge gap that often limits wealth-building opportunities.
Launched in 2020, Ladda complements this by offering a practical fintech platform with curated investment portfolios, modern stock trading tools, and services like digital gift cards and payment solutions.
By merging education with accessible investment options, Olseinde empowers a new generation of Africans to engage actively in global financial markets, promoting wealth democratization.
Foyinsola Akinjayeju, CEO of EFInA (Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement)
Foyinsola Akinjayeju leads EFInA, a vital institution that underpins Nigeria’s financial ecosystem by providing data-driven insights and strategic direction for financial inclusion.
Founded in 2007, EFInA is not a fintech company but a development organization that operates at the nexus of data, policy, and innovation. It produces the authoritative Access to Financial Services (A2F) survey, highlighting persistent inclusion gaps among women, youth, and rural communities.
Under Akinjayeju’s leadership, EFInA is advancing the agenda from mere access to financial services toward achieving genuine financial well-being and empowerment.
Yanmo Omorogbe, Co-founder of Bamboo
Yanmo Omorogbe is expanding Nigerian finance’s global footprint through Bamboo, a brokerage app she co-founded in 2020 to address limited local investment options for Africa’s growing wealth.
Bamboo breaks down geographical barriers, enabling Africans to invest in U.S. and Nigerian stock markets. The platform offers access to global assets, including major technology stocks and ETFs, providing users with a secure and seamless investment experience.
Uche Uzoebo, CEO of Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) Limited
Uche Uzoebo plays a crucial role in bridging Nigeria’s fintech revolution with on-the-ground realities as CEO of SANEF Limited.
Appointed in February 2025, Uzoebo brings over 20 years of banking experience to oversee a vast network of shared agents. Her focus is on expanding financial inclusion by ensuring that even those without internet or bank branches can access essential financial services.
Her leadership connects Nigeria’s high-tech fintech advancements with the practical needs of underserved communities.
Ife Durosinmi-Etti, Founder and CEO of Herconomy
Ife Durosinmi-Etti bridges social empowerment and financial infrastructure through Herconomy, a platform she launched in 2019 that has evolved into a comprehensive fintech solution for women’s economic empowerment.
Durosinmi-Etti’s approach recognizes that financial independence requires more than savings products; it demands a supportive ecosystem. Herconomy offers digital savings tools, curated grants, scholarships, and a robust network to foster both business and personal growth.
This platform uniquely addresses the complex challenges women face in wealth accumulation and capital access, making it a standout in Nigeria’s gender-focused fintech space.
Solape Akinpelu, Founder and CEO of HerVest
Solape Akinpelu champions a gender-specific investment approach through HerVest, founded in 2019. This inclusive fintech platform applies a Gender Lens Investment (GLI) strategy to tackle the financial exclusion faced by African women.
Akinpelu identified that access alone is insufficient; financial solutions must be tailored to women’s specific needs, especially in agriculture. HerVest offers targeted savings, loans, and impact investments, enabling urban women to fund and support female farmers and women-led SMEs in rural communities.
Tomilola Majekodunmi, Co-founder and CEO of Bankly
Addressing the core challenge of cash management is Tomilola Majekodunmi, who co-founded Bankly in 2019. The platform aims to modernize the informal cash savings system known as ajo or esusu, widely used by Nigeria’s unbanked and underbanked populations.
Leveraging her extensive finance expertise, Majekodunmi developed a hybrid physical-digital model that digitizes cash savings “to the last mile.” Bankly’s extensive agent network assists informal sector workers, such as market traders and farmers, in converting physical cash into secure digital wallets, often through vouchers.
This innovation safeguards against theft and fraud, builds credit histories for future financial access, and integrates millions of cash-reliant Nigerians into the formal financial system.
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