West African fintech is being led by influential women, and their impact is being felt across the region.

Aminata Kane, Senior Vice President and Head of West and Central Africa at Visa, is one of the ten women who hold key positions in the fintech industry. Kane's background includes stints at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company, and she previously served as CEO of Orange Sierra Leone, where she led the launch of mobile money microcredit at just 33 years old. She now oversees operations across 23 markets, including Lagos, Accra, and Kinshasa, and plays a crucial role in driving Visa's $1 billion investment commitment to Africa by 2027.

Odunayo Eweniyi, Co-founder and COO of PiggyVest, is another influential woman in the fintech industry. A first-class Computer Engineering graduate from Covenant University, Eweniyi co-founded PushCV before launching PiggyVest in 2016. Under her leadership, the company has grown to over 4.5 million users and helped Nigerians save billions of naira annually.

Kemi Okunsanya, CEO of Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited, has over two decades of experience across oil and gas, banking, and remittances. She facilitated the launch of Visa on mobile in Ghana and its expansion into Nigeria, and under her leadership, Hydrogen processed over ₦42 trillion in two years.

Clara B. Arthur, CEO of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), has over 20 years of experience in financial services. Her career includes roles as Head of ATM and Payment Systems at Ecobank Ghana, and she currently oversees operations at GhIPSS.

These women are not only leading fintech companies but also driving innovation and growth across the region.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

When Aminata Kane says that Visa's $1 billion investment commitment to Africa by 2027 will focus on interoperability and SME support, that means the future of fintech in West Africa will be shaped by seamless transactions and empowered small businesses. This has significant implications for the growth of the region's economy, and it's clear that women like Kane are leading the charge.