Biyi Bandele

Nigerian fintech pioneer who co-founded Paga, Africa's first mobile payment system accessible to unbanked populations.

Biyi Bandele (born 1973) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of Paga, a groundbreaking mobile payment platform launched in 2008. His innovation addressed Africa's financial inclusion crisis by allowing transactions via basic SMS technology, bypassing traditional banking systems. Paga now serves over 10 million users across Nigeria and Kenya, enabling micro-entrepreneurs and rural communities to access financial services. Bandele's approach differed from Western fintech models by prioritizing affordability – transactions cost as little as $0.01. His work was recognized by the World Economic Forum, which named him a Young Global Leader in 2016. Before Paga, Bandele worked in Silicon Valley for tech giants like Microsoft and eBay, gaining insights into scalable digital solutions. He partnered with local NGOs like the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System to navigate regulatory challenges. Bandele's vision is detailed in his TED Talk How a Fintech Start-Up Is Revolutionizing Africa and the case study Disruptive Innovation in African Financial Inclusion. He currently serves as Paga's CEO, expanding into insurance and cryptocurrency services while advocating for ethical tech policies through the African Fintech Alliance.