Most powerful women in West African fintech
In this article, we highlight the women whose roles influence the systems, partnerships, and platforms at the core of West Africa’s fintech industry.
Across West Africa, the growth of the fintech industry is being shaped not just by startups but also by women leading infrastructure, payments, policy, and expansion across the ecosystem.
From global card networks to local payment rails, here are ten (10) women who hold positions that influence how money moves across the region.
1. Aminata Kane (SVP & Head of West and Central Africa, Visa)
Aminata Kane. Source: HEC Stories
Educated at HEC Paris and the MIT Sloan School of Management. Aminata Kane began her career at Goldman Sachs before moving to McKinsey & Company.
Before joining Visa, she served as CEO of Orange Sierra Leone in 2018, where she led the launch of mobile money microcredit at 33. She later became the regional CEO of Orange Money Group, overseeing fintech operations across 17 countries.
In September 2024, Kane was appointed Senior Vice President and Head of Visa’s West and Central Africa region. Based in Abidjan, she oversees operations across 23 markets, including Lagos, Accra, and Kinshasa. She also plays a key role in driving Visa’s $1 billion investment commitment to Africa by 2027, focused on interoperability and SME support.
Her recognitions include Africa CEO of the Year (2020) by AfricaCom/AfricaTech Festival, Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and one of the 100 Most Influential African Women CEOs by Africa.com and Harvard University.
2. Odunayo Eweniyi (Co-founder & COO, PiggyVest)
Odunayo Eweniyi, COO of PiggyVest, at the Lagos Startup Expo
A first-class Computer Engineering graduate from Covenant University, Odunayo Eweniyi co-founded PushCV before launching PiggyVest in 2016.
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