Paga appoints new Nigeria CEO as founder shifts to group leadership role

Leadership change supports expansion of payments infrastructure and development of cross-border financial services

Paga, a Nigerian fintech company that provides digital payments and financial services, has appointed Opeyemi Oyinloye as Acting CEO of its Nigeria business, marking a leadership transition after more than 17 years under founder Tayo Oviosu. The appointment is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Oviosu will move into the role of Group CEO, stepping away from day-to-day operations in Nigeria to focus on broader priorities, including product development, technology scaling and the company’s expansion into additional African markets. The transition reflects a structural shift as Paga evolves from a domestic payments provider into a platform designed to connect local users with global financial systems.

Oyinloye, who has held senior positions within the company, will lead operations in Nigeria, which remains Paga’s largest market. His responsibilities include overseeing transaction processing, partnerships and the continued rollout of services for consumers and businesses.

According to the company, the leadership change is part of a wider reorganisation aimed at supporting the next phase of growth. This includes increased focus on areas such as cross-border payments, integration with global financial networks and the development of new capabilities in artificial intelligence and digital assets.

“Moving into the group role allows me to focus on scaling our technology and expanding the platform beyond Nigeria,” Oviosu said. “Our goal is to build infrastructure that connects African users and businesses to global financial systems in a more efficient way.”

The shift comes as digital payments continue to grow in Nigeria. In 2025, Paga processed ?17.1 trillion in transactions, reflecting increased adoption of mobile and digital financial services. The company has also expanded its reach through partnerships with international players, including PayPal, and by developing solutions that support cross-border transactions.

“This transition is about strengthening execution in our core market while positioning the group for broader expansion,” said Oyinloye. “We will continue to focus on reliability, access and the development of services that meet the needs of users and businesses.”

Paga’s restructuring follows a pattern seen across the fintech sector, where founders move into strategic roles as companies scale across markets and build more complex financial infrastructure. The company said the new structure will support its focus on interoperability, cross-border capabilities and the development of systems that can operate across multiple regions.