Tayo Oviosu Steps Down as Paga Nigeria CEO, Names Opeyemi Oyinloye as Successor

After 17 years of leading one of Nigeria’s most successful fintech companies, Tayo Oviosu, founder of Paga, has stepped down as CEO of Paga Nigeria. He announced the transition in early April 2026, confirming that Opeyemi Oyinloye, formerly the company’s General Manager of Business Operations, will take over as Acting CEO, pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Oviosu is not leaving the company; he’s moving into a broader role as Group CEO of Paga Group, where he’ll focus on expanding the brand across Africa and exploring new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and digital currencies.

Important Matters

This leadership change marks a major milestone for Paga. Since its founding in 2009, the company has grown from a small startup into one of Africa’s leading digital payment platforms. Oviosu’s decision to step back from day-to-day operations allows him to concentrate on Pan-African expansion, targeting markets such as Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Oyinloye’s appointment ensures continuity. Known for his operational expertise and customer-focused leadership, he’s expected to maintain Paga’s strong performance in Nigeria while supporting the company’s broader growth strategy.

Paga’s Journey So Far

Under Oviosu’s leadership, Paga has become a household name in Nigeria’s fintech space. The platform now serves over 22 million users and works with more than 140,000 agents nationwide. Since launch, it has processed over $50 billion in transactions, offering services like mobile payments, money transfers, bill payments, and merchant solutions.

These achievements have positioned Paga alongside major competitors such as Opay, PalmPay, and Moniepoint, all of which are driving Nigeria’s digital finance revolution.

Oviosu is widely respected for his vision of financial inclusion, using technology to make payments simple and accessible for everyone. His next chapter as Group CEO will focus on scaling that vision across Africa.

Oyinloye, on the other hand, brings years of experience managing Paga’s internal systems and customer engagement. His leadership style emphasises efficiency and innovation, making him a natural fit to lead the Nigerian operations.

Paga Next Move

With Oviosu now steering the group’s international strategy and Oyinloye leading locally, Paga is entering a new era. The company plans to:

• Expand into new African markets.

• Integrate AI and blockchain to improve transaction speed and security.

• Strengthen partnerships with banks, telecoms, and global payment networks.

This transition signals Paga’s readiness to compete more aggressively in Africa’s $200 billion digital payments industry while maintaining its Nigerian root mission, which is making financial services accessible to everyone, everywhere.