Country: Nigeria
Big Bet: Help millions of Nigerians access fair credit and better financial services by safely unlocking the bank data that can connect people to the financial tools they need.
Project: Open Banking Nigeria is working to make it easier for people to access fair and affordable financial services by allowing bank data to be safely shared with a customer’s consent. Today, most financial data in Nigeria is locked inside individual banks, making it difficult for many people and small businesses to qualify for loans or access better services. The initiative works with regulators, banks, and technology companies to establish the rules, standards, and infrastructure that allow financial data to move securely between institutions. By opening up this system, the project aims to expand access to credit, improve payment options, and help millions of Nigerians participate more fully in the formal financial system.
Adédèjì Olówè is a fintech leader redefining how the world lends. He is the founder of Lendsqr, building the world’s most advanced lending software ecosystem and serving lenders across multiple countries. He is also chairman of Paystack, one of Africa’s biggest fintech exits, acquired by Stripe.
With nearly two decades transforming digital banking across Africa, he co-founded Open Banking Nigeria, championing API-driven banking standards and open finance across the continent. He is a vocal advocate for financial inclusion and actively drives policy to expand access to credit for underserved populations.
He has blogged on payments and technology at dejiolowe.com since 2001.