10 Top Tech Leaders In Nigeria

Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is home to some talented tech leaders who are leading a vibrant tech ecosystem of startups and innovative companies.

A group of outstanding tech leaders are leading this transformation, not just creating prosperous companies but also revolutionizing the Nigerian economy.

These entrepreneurs are championing this cause, demonstrating that Nigeria is home to some of the most talented in tech.

They are paving the way for a new era of technical development in Nigeria as they keep coming up with fresh ideas and solutions to the problems that the people of Nigeria confront.

In this blog post, we highlight The top 10 tech leaders in Nigeria, according to their valuation and impact on the economy of Nigeria

Let us dive in, shall we?

10 Top Tech Leaders In Nigeria
Conclusion
FAQ’s
References
Our Recommendation

10 Top Tech Leaders In Nigeria

This list was curated from various sources online to give you the best.

The tech sector in Nigeria is changing, with innovators and entrepreneurs driving digital transformation in various sectors.

From fintech to e-commerce to education, these tech leaders are reshaping the economy of the country and positioning it as a key figure in the globe.

Below is a list of top tech leaders in Nigeria according to their valuation and impact on the economy of Nigeria.

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Sim Sahagaya
Jason Njoku
Odunayo Eweniyi
Olugbenga Agboola
Tosin Eniolorunda
Opeyemi Awoyemi
Mitchell Elegbe
Shola Akinlade
Bosun Tijani

1. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji

The first on our list of the top tech leaders in Nigeria is Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, a serial entrepreneur, and co-founder Flutterwave and Andela.

Flutterwave is a fintech company that provides seamless payment solutions for businesses across Africa, while Andela is a platform that connects African software developers with global companies.

By simplifying online payments and enabling companies to take payments from clients throughout the continent, Flutterwave’s cutting-edge technology has increased e-commerce in Nigeria and enabled cross-border trade, both of which have greatly accelerated economic growth.

He is the CEO and General Partner of Future Africa, an innovation fund for Africa’s future, providing capital, coaching, and community to bold and visionary leaders turning Africa’s biggest challenges into business opportunities.

Company: Flutterwave
Valuation: $3 Billion

2. Sim Sahagaya

The second on our list of the top tech leaders in Nigeria is Sim Sahagaya, the CEO of Konga, and uLesson. Konga, one of the biggest e-commerce sites in Nigeria, has promoted economic activity and produced a large number of job opportunities by facilitating online transactions between buyers and sellers.

Konga has played a crucial role in expanding access to goods and services across the country, particularly in remote areas.

It is worth noting that Sim Sahagaya is also the CEO of uLesson group, an edtech company that integrates learning solutions for students in Africa.

uLesson, founded in 2019, delivers quality and affordable education to students across West Africa, providing education gaps with interactive video lessons and quizzes interactive.

With its extensive library of instructional materials adapted to the Nigerian curriculum, uLesson enhances the effectiveness and engagement of learning.

Company: Konga

Valuation: $120 Million

3. Jason Njoku

The third on our list of the top tech leaders in Nigeria is Jason Njoku, the CEO of iROKOTV, a leading online platform for Nollywood movies and other African content.

As one of the biggest distributors of Nollywood content worldwide, iROKO gives African filmmakers a stage on which to present their work. In Nigeria, it is among the top ten most often used streaming services.

Notably, iROKO is now a household name in the Nigerian entertainment sector thanks to Jason’s entrepreneurial zeal.

By increasing access to African entertainment for a worldwide audience, iROKOtv has fostered cross-cultural interactions and brought in money for the Nigerian film industry.

Company: iROKOtv
Valuation: $50 Million

4. Odunayo Eweniyi

The Fourth on our list of the top tech leaders in Nigeria is Odunayo Eweniyi, the co-founder and COO of PiggyVest, a digital investment and savings platform in Nigeria.

Nigerians can now save and invest more easily thanks to PiggyVest, which also encourages financial awareness and gives people the tools they need to build wealth.

She graduated Covenant University in 2013 with a first-class degree in Computer Engineering.

In 2018, Eweniyi won the Future Awards Africa Prize in Technology. In 2019, she was on Forbes Africa 30 under 30 Technology list. Eweniyi was named as one of 30 Quartz Africa Innovators for 2019.

5. Olugbenga Agboola

The next on our list is Olugbenga Agboola, the co-founder and CEO of Flutterwave, a fintech company that provides seamless payment solutions for businesses across Africa

Agboola created fintech solutions at well-known digital firms and financial institutions like PayPal and Standard Bank before starting Flutterwave in 2016.

Under his leadership, Flutterwave has become one of Africa’s most well-known tech companies, becoming a unicorn and setting the standard for fintech innovation in the region.

6. Tosin Eniolorunda

The next on our list of the tech leaders in Nigeria is Tosin Eniolorunda, the co-founder and group CEO, Moniepoint Inc (formerly TeamApt), a leading fintech company in Nigeria.

In 2009, Tosin became a Software Engineer at Interswitch. He held the positions of Product Manager, Unit Head of Application Development, and Senior Software Manager at Interswitch.

After leaving his position at Interswitch in 2015, Tosin and Felix Ike founded TeamApt, a financial technology firm that offers banking and business payments solutions. The company later changed its name to Moniepoint Inc. At first, he used his own money to bootstrap the business.

Tosin’s idea is to make it easier for banks, companies, and individuals to pay, collect, grow, and manage money by developing software tools and payment infrastructure.

Moniepoint has helped businesses and individuals manage their finances more efficiently, contributing to economic growth.

Company: Moniepoint
Valuation: $500 million

Check this out: Top 15 Tech Universities in Nigeria

7. Opeyemi Awoyemi

The next on our list of top tech leaders in Nigeria is Opeyemi Awoyemi, founder of Jobberman, a leading online job portal in Nigeria.

Opeyemi is an MIT Legatum Foundry Fellow, has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, and recently finished an executive education program at Wharton Business School on Innovation and Growth, an executive education program for CIOs and Technology Leaders from CIO Institute, and Haas Business School.

In 2010, he co-founded Jobberman, and helped build it to become the largest online recruitment platform in Africa with 5 million+ users and 200k+ employers in Nigeria and Ghana.

Every month, Jobberman fills 5000+ job opportunities. He served as the company’s first CTO, CMO, Head of Product, and eventually CIO.

Jobberman was acquired by Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM), and he played a crucial role in setting up ROAM.

Opeyemi briefly held the position of Senior Technical Product Manager, overseeing the Jobseeker APIs and Gigs teams at Indeed, the biggest employment portal in the world.

Company: Jobberman
Valuation: $100 million

8. Mitchell Elegbe – Interswitch

The next on our list of the top tech leaders in Nigeria is Mitchell Elegbe, the group managing director and CEO of Interswitch, a dominant player in Africa’s digital payments market.

Interswitch is a leading African integrated payment and digital commerce platform company headquartered in Lagos.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Benin, Nigeria.

Mitchelle is a seasoned founder and people-focused leader with a track record of success in the financial services and IT sectors.

He is skilled in business strategy, transformational leadership, and team management.

9. Shola Akinlade

The next on our list is Shola Akinlade, the CEO of Paystack, a fintech company that provides payment processing solutions for African businesses.

Shola is a Nigerian-born entrepreneur. He graduated with a degree in computer science from Babcock University. In 2016, Shola and Ezra Olubi started Paystack.

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria awarded Akinlade the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in October 2022 in appreciation of his services to the development of technology in business and finance.

Paystack grew rapidly and garnered international attention; in 2020, it was one of the largest exits in Africa when Stripe acquired it for more than $200 million.

Tens of thousands of businesses have benefited from Akinlade’s guidance as Paystack has expanded around the continent, facilitating bank access and payment processing.

Through investing and mentoring aspiring startup entrepreneurs, the founder has contributed to the growth of the broader African tech ecosystem in addition to the effects of fintech.

10. Bosun Tijani

The last on our list is Bosun Tijani, a Nigerian-British entrepreneur who is the founder of Co-creation Hub (CcHub), a leading innovation center in Nigeria, and the current minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

He studied computer science at the University of Jos, before going on to study economics, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2002.

In 2010, Tijani co-founded CcHUB, a platform dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity.

Under his leadership, CcHUB has driven the growth of social innovation and influenced businesses and initiatives in different sectors.

CcHub has played a pivotal role in nurturing tech startups and promoting entrepreneurship in the country.

Conclusion

We have listed the top tech leaders in Nigeria in this blog post.

These ten tech leaders are spearheading Nigeria’s digital revolution, transforming sectors and enabling people all throughout the country.

In addition to increasing economic growth, their creative ideas are tackling important issues like information access, unemployment, and financial inclusion.

These executives and their businesses will be more and more crucial in determining Nigeria’s future as the nation continues to adopt technology.

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FAQ’s

Who are the top tech leaders in Nigeria?

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
Sim Sahagaya
Jason Njoku
Odunayo Eweniyi
Olugbenga Agboola
Tosin Eniolorunda
Opeyemi Awoyemi
Mitchell Elegbe
Shola Akinlade
Bosun Tijani