Bola Lawal

Nigerian fintech pioneer revolutionizing African payments through Flutterwave

Bola Lawal (born 1985) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of Flutterwave, a leading pan-African fintech company that has transformed cross-border payments in Africa. With over 200 million users across 33 countries, her company's innovations have enabled businesses to process payments in local currencies, bypassing traditional banking inefficiencies. Lawal's work addresses the continent's cash-based economy challenges, creating a $1.4 billion valuation for Flutterwave by 2023.

Her journey began at MIT where she studied computer science, but she returned to Nigeria noticing the lack of payment infrastructure. Launching in 2012, Flutterwave now handles transactions worth $10 billion annually. The platform's developer portal provides APIs for e-commerce, payroll, and remittances, empowering startups like Nigeria's Flutterwave-powered Kuda Bank. Lawal's advocacy for digital financial inclusion was recognized by Forbes Africa in 2021, where she shared insights on how technology can bridge Africa's economic divides.

Key initiatives include the FlutterPay terminal network, expanding access to 40,000+ merchants, and partnerships with global giants like Mastercard. Her TEDx talk "The Future of Money in Africa" highlights how her company's solutions are reducing transaction costs by up to 70% compared to traditional methods. Lawal's influence extends beyond business - she co-founded the African Fintech Alliance to foster industry collaboration.