How Tayo Oviosu is Building The fintech Giant of Africa

Description

Building a business for 16 years in the African tech ecosystem requires more than just a good idea—it requires "crazy" resilience and the ability to pivot when the market shifts. In this episode, Tayo Oviosu, founder and CEO of Paga, shares the raw, unfiltered story of building one of Nigeria's leading mobile money infrastructures. From getting fired from his first job after college to navigating the complexities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NDIC, Tayo reveals what it actually takes to survive and thrive in the fintech space.We dive deep into the 2022 pivot that transformed Paga from a consumer-first app into the "infrastructure for African finance," much like how Amazon built AWS. Tayo explains why he opened up Paga's core technology to competitors and how this B2B move is shaping the future of payments across the continent. If you are an entrepreneur wondering if you are "too early" for your market or how to manage investor expectations over a decade-long journey, this conversation is a masterclass in long-term strategic vision.Tayo also breaks down the evolution of the Nigerian fintech landscape from 2008 to 2025. He discusses the "white spaces" still left in the market, the importance of "ownership" as a core company value, and why Paga chose to stop announcing funding rounds to focus on building a sustainable, net-income-positive business. Whether you are a founder, investor, or tech enthusiast, Tayo’s insights on financial maturity and the "going together" proverb provide a roadmap for building a business that lasts.This episode is sponsored by Obiex. Instantly buy and sell cryptocurrencies at zero fees here: https://www.obiex.finance/Connect with us:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundersconnectshow/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersconnect_X: https://www.x.com/thefcshow_