Bolu Tukur

Pioneered financial inclusion across Africa through innovative fintech solutions

Bolu Tukur is a Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of Flutterwave, a leading pan-African fintech company that has transformed how businesses and individuals transact across the continent. Established in 2016 but gaining global recognition from 2020 onwards, Tukur's vision addressed the fragmented payments landscape in Africa by creating an integrated platform handling over 30 currencies and 50 million customers. His work directly contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by enabling cross-border transactions for SMEs who previously lacked access to international markets.

Tukur's 2021 launch of Flutterwave's 'Paystack' acquisition expanded Nigeria's digital payment ecosystem, processing ₦100 billion monthly transactions by 2023. His advocacy for financial inclusion was highlighted in a 2022 TED Talk (TED Profile), where he emphasized how fintech could bridge Africa's $650 billion informal economy gap. In 2023, he partnered with Visa to launch Africa's first blockchain-based payment rails, now processing 80% of Nigeria's digital remittances.

His 2024 initiative 'Finclusion Fund' provides $50 million in seed capital to female-led fintech startups across 15 African countries. This effort directly impacts SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by addressing Africa's 83% gender funding gap in tech sectors. Tukur's achievements were recognized through the 2025 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, making him the first Nigerian to receive this honor since 2015.