In a continent where payment systems often face hurdles like unreliable internet connectivity, limited infrastructure, and cumbersome processes, two Nigerian innovators are charting a bold course to revolutionize how Africans transact. Meet the co-founders of DingPay, a contactless payment solution tailored specifically for Africa’s unique challenges. Drawing inspiration from their experiences in the UK and Nigeria, these trailblazers, Itohowo Udofia and his long-time friend Josteve Adekanbi, are combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of the region’s needs to create a seamless, user-friendly, and secure payment platform. In this exclusive interview with Tech Cabal, they share the inspiration behind DingPay, the challenges they’ve encountered, and their vision for the future of payments in Africa.
- What inspired you to create DingPay, and how did you identify the need for a contactless payment solution tailored for Africa?
Last year, during a visit to Nigeria, I experienced first-hand the challenges of making payments. Often, I found myself without cash or my ATM cards, leaving mobile transfers as the only option and I found this process cumbersome and unreliable. On one occasion, I waited nearly an hour for a transfer to reflect, and at other times, network issues have forced me to call a friend to assist with payments. In contrast, in the UK, I enjoy the convenience of Apple Pay, easily making payments with a tap of my phone. Upon returning to the UK, I shared these experiences with my friend, now co-founder, Josteve Adekanbi, who acknowledged he has faced similar problems on his visit to Nigeria. Sometime later, during a discussion, Josteve recalled his final-year project, a parking system that used sound for verification. I had a light bulb moment: if sound could be used for authentication in parking, why not for payments? We put some thought to it and successfully developed a prototype for DingPay. Currently, we are building our MVP and although we have built a prototype that leverages sound technology, our current MVP release will be QR based.
- Why the change in technology from sound to QR?
Josteve and I played around with our prototype app and identified several edge cases and tried to fix as many as we could. However, we took the business decision to delay the roll out of our sound-to-pay technology so we can make improvements. So, rather than delaying building our MVP, the next best solution was QR. There are existing QR payment solutions but what can I say for now is they’re not implementing it the way we are. Understand that Josteve and I have a lot of additional context to how payment works having lived in the UK and so we’re putting in all that knowledge and resources to deliver a contactless payment solution that would change payment in Nigeria and Africa. In the end, it’s just a switch to enable sound-to-pay.
- What problem are you trying to solve with DingPay, and how does it address the unique challenges of Africa’s payment ecosystem?
DingPay aims to simplify the payment experience by eliminating complexities and delays commonly encountered in Africa. Existing solutions, while effective, often rely on internet connectivity, physical ATM cards, and NFC technology that do not cater to the region’s infrastructure limitations. Our technology, be it sound or QR enables fast, seamless, and secure transactions without requiring an internet connection for customer devices. This makes DingPay particularly well-suited for Africa’s diverse digital landscape.
- As founders, what personal experiences or observations motivated you to explore this innovative approach to contactless payments?
Having lived in the United Kingdom for over two years, Josteve and I have experienced the convenience of contactless payments both locally and internationally. This exposure fueled our belief that Nigerians and Africans should have access to the same level of ease and efficiency in their daily transactions. Currently, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in only Morocco, South Africa and Kenya. Our goal is to introduce a solution that addresses existing challenges while providing a seamless, user-friendly experience for all.
- As co-founders, how do you complement each other in the process of launching a business?
Josteve and I have been friends for over eight years, and have worked together on numerous projects. Josteve, who I refer to as “boy genius,” holds a first-class undergraduate degree and a distinction in his master’s program. He has worked with top fintechs like PayDay, Changera, GladeFinance and Klasha; he literally built Klasha. He’s also worked with the NHS as an AI researcher, he is a staff software engineer and UK Global Talent recipient, all by the age of 21. He leads the technical development of DingPay. And then there’s me, first class undergraduate degree, distinction in my masters program, two mini-MBAs, one in Business Design & Strategy and the other in Business Administration and Management. I bring my expertise in product design, and business & marketing strategy, ensuring the product aligns with market needs and business goals. Who better to build a product like this than two long time friends, brothers even, whose skill set complement the other. Our mutual trust allows us to focus on our strengths, making us a formidable team.
- How does DingPay plan to ensure secure and seamless transactions, even in areas with unreliable internet connectivity?
DingPay operates similarly to existing POS devices that are widely used across Africa. If a POS system functions in a given location, DingPay will too. A key advantage of our solution is that customer devices do not require an internet connection to complete transactions. Payments are authenticated on the vendor’s device ensuring accessibility even in low-connectivity areas. Josteve and I have actually figured out how to achieve a completely offline payment system. However, there’s still a lot of testing that needs to be done in that regard but you can expect to hear from us in the near future.
- What does success look like for DingPay in the next few years?
Success for us is achieving progressive user adoption, starting with ten users, scaling to a hundred, a thousand, and eventually reaching millions. Our vision is to see Nigerians and Africans embrace the convenience of contactless payments, similar to what is experienced in developed markets. Ultimately, we aim to drive widespread adoption and position DingPay as a leading player in Africa’s fintech landscape.
- Are there any specific industries or sectors you’re targeting for DingPay’s initial rollout?
DingPay is designed to cater to all users and businesses at the point of sale. Our strategy involves partnering with businesses of all sizes, from large retail chains, restaurants, and malls to small market vendors. We aim to establish a presence across diverse sectors to ensure widespread adoption and scalability.
- As African entrepreneurs, what lessons have you learned while working on DingPay, and what advice would you share with others building solutions for the continent?
One of the most valuable lessons we’ve learned is the importance of assembling the right team. Building a successful product requires collaboration with individuals who share your vision and possess the necessary expertise. And so my advice to other builders is if you can find the right team, you can do anything. I would add that aspiring entrepreneurs need to stay resilient, focus on solving real problems, and build solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the African market.
- When is Dingpay likely to launch?
We are on track to launch our Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Q2 of 2025.
