Adebayo Oke-Lawal

Nigerian fintech pioneer expanding financial access through mobile payments in underserved African markets.

Pioneering FinTech

Adebayo Oke-Lawal's company Paga became Africa's first unicorn fintech startup in 2021. His mobile wallet platform now serves 20 million users across 5 countries, processing $2.5 billion annually in transactions.

In 2020, he launched Paga Microloans, providing no-collateral loans to informal traders. Over 500,000 borrowers have accessed $120 million in credit, with an 89% repayment rate.

Rural Impact

Oke-Lawal's AgriConnect program (2022) connects smallholder farmers to markets via mobile payments. This initiative has increased rural incomes by 40% in Nigeria's northern states, reaching 150,000 farmers by 2023.

His 2023 partnership with MTN Group expanded Paga's reach to 14 African countries. The World Bank cited Paga as a model for 'financial inclusion at scale' in their 2024 Africa Development Report.

Global Recognition

Oke-Lawal was named Forbes Africa's 2022 Businessperson of the Year. His TED Talk The Future of Money is on Your Phone has been viewed over 1.5 million times.