Bridgette Sokhioba

Pioneered cross-border mobile payments in Africa through MFS Africa

Bridgette Sokhioba is a Cameroonian entrepreneur and CEO of MFS Africa, a company that has revolutionized financial inclusion across Africa. Founded in 2014, MFS Africa enables interoperability between mobile money platforms, connecting over 300 million users across 33 countries. This innovation has transformed how Africans access financial services, with transactions ranging from remittances to utility payments.

Before MFS Africa, cross-border mobile money transfers were nearly impossible due to incompatible systems. Sokhioba's vision created a pan-African payment network that now processes over $2 billion annually. Her work directly impacts small businesses, migrant workers, and rural populations who previously had no access to formal banking. The platform's API integration allows even non-tech savvy users to participate in the digital economy.

In 2018, MFS Africa partnered with UNICEF to deliver cash transfers to refugees in Uganda, demonstrating the system's humanitarian potential. Sokhioba's leadership was recognized when MFS Africa was selected as one of the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers in 2019. Her company's infrastructure now serves as a blueprint for digital financial inclusion in developing regions.

Learn more about MFS Africa's impact at their official website or read case studies from GSMA's mobile money reports. Sokhioba's TEDx talk 'Building Africa's Digital Economy' provides deeper insights into her vision.