Olusegun Aganga

Revolutionized Nigeria's financial landscape through innovative fintech solutions, fostering economic inclusion for millions.

Olusegun Aganga, a Nigerian entrepreneur and engineer, is best known as the co-founder of Interswitch, a multinational payments technology company. Born in 1974, he graduated from the University of Lagos with a degree in electrical engineering and later earned an MBA from the University of Southern California. His career pivoted toward fintech in the late 1990s, when Nigeria’s banking infrastructure was underdeveloped.

Aganga’s vision was to create a unified payment system accessible across Africa. Interswitch, launched in 2002, became Nigeria’s first indigenous fintech firm, enabling transactions via cards, mobile money, and digital wallets. The company’s innovations, such as the e-Process platform, reduced reliance on cash and empowered small businesses and rural communities. By 2020, Interswitch processed over 1 billion transactions annually, spanning 30 African countries.

Aganga’s work has had a profound impact on financial inclusion, particularly for women and youth. He advocates for pan-African collaboration in technology and has supported initiatives like the Africa.com platform to promote continental connectivity. His contributions earned him recognition as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders, yet his focus remains on scaling solutions that bridge economic divides.