Paga Restructures Leadership, Founder Becomes Group CEO

Paga, Africa’s leading financial services infrastructure company, has announced a significant evolution in its leadership structure as it celebrates 17 years of operation.

The restructuring marks the end of a transformative first chapter and the commencement of “Act 2,” an ambitious phase focused on deepening infrastructure, exploring new technology frontiers, and expanding geographically across the continent.

Under the new arrangement, founder Tayo Oviosu is transitioning to the role of Group Chief Executive Officer. In this capacity, he will move away from day-to-day operations in Nigeria to focus exclusively on the group’s high-level expansion priorities.

This includes leading Paga Labs—the company’s innovation arm dedicated to stablecoins, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency as well as spearheading market entry across Africa and driving global fundraising efforts. Oviosu will also maintain his position as Chairman of the Group Board and the Paga Nigeria Board.

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Stepping into the newly created role of Group Chief Operating Officer is Ope Oyinloye, a seven-year veteran of the company. Oyinloye will also assume the role of CEO for Paga Nigeria, pending regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

This appointment marks the first time in the company’s history that its largest and most mature market will be led by someone other than its founder. Oyinloye is tasked with overseeing all established business lines, maintaining operational excellence, and ensuring that Paga continues to scale its core infrastructure quietly and efficiently.

Furthermore, co-founder Jay Alabraba has been named Group Director of Special Projects. Alabraba will lead the company’s strategic push into the lending and credit space while collaborating with Oviosu on international expansion.

The leadership shift comes at a time of record-breaking growth for the fintech pioneer. In 2025 alone, Paga processed over 169 million transactions with a total value of $11 billion—a 17-fold increase in value since 2021.

The company has evolved from a consumer payments business into a full-stack infrastructure provider, serving over 265 enterprise clients, including global giants like PayPal, Amazon, and Meta.

By separating operational management from strategic growth, Paga aims to accelerate its mission of connecting Africans to global financial rails.

The company has signaled plans for a new funding round and potential strategic acquisitions to support its vision of building a comprehensive financial ecosystem for the African continent and its diaspora.