Oluwatobi Oladapo, Head of Product at myCircle Africa, was named Nigeria’s Most Exceptional Fintech Professional of the Year at the 2024 Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA), in recognition of his work leading the development of culturally grounded financial products that aim to build trust and inclusion across the country’s digital finance landscape.
At the award ceremony held in Lagos in December 2024, organisers cited Oladapo’s focus on behavioural product strategy and the integration of traditional savings models into digital platforms as a key factor in his selection. “He redefined what trust looks like in digital finance, blending behavioural insight with execution clarity,” said Austine O., Director of Business Impact and Market Influence Evaluation at NiTA.
Now in its tenth edition, the Nigeria Technology Awards spotlight individuals and organisations contributing to digital advancement across sectors. Past recipients include professionals from leading institutions such as Interswitch, Seamfix, and Inlaks. Nominees are evaluated through expert committee vetting, public publishing, and a final open vote based on measurable impact and sector relevance.
Oladapo’s work on myCircle’s SPEND & SAVE feature, launched in 2023, was highlighted as a defining project. The tool enables automatic savings from daily transactions into group-based pots, mimicking communal financial systems like Ajo and Esusu that remain popular across Nigeria. The feature has contributed to over ₦987 million in user savings, ₦570 million in investments, and paid out ₦200 million in user interest, with average annual returns exceeding 10 percent.
“Last month, I shared in Disrupt Africa how traditional savings systems like ajo and esusu still drive financial behavior across the continent,” Oladapo told TechCabal. “The SPEND & SAVE feature that earned this recognition is a direct extension of that thinking.”
Speaking on the philosophy behind the product, Oladapo noted, “Trust doesn’t emerge from branding. It’s earned through transparency, control, and cultural alignment.” He added that understanding the role of traditional savings behaviours was essential in developing features that resonate with users. “The SPEND & SAVE feature that earned this recognition is a direct extension of that thinking.”
Before joining myCircle, Oladapo co-founded Exchequer, an early USSD-native savings platform developed to serve users without internet access. The product reportedly reached over 12,000 users by leveraging familiar thrift models. Observers note that this early emphasis on accessibility has consistently shaped his approach to product leadership, rooted in user-centered strategy.
“For those of us who’ve followed his work since Exchequer,” said Segun Allen, former product lead at Venture Garden Group, “this award wasn’t a surprise. His impact has been building for years, this is just the visible result of long-standing product discipline and user empathy.”
Oladapo has also overseen the development of myCircle’s Wallet SDK, which allows businesses to integrate group savings features into their platforms. Since its introduction, more than 40 merchants and 36 SMEs have adopted the tool, with a reported 11,000 transactions processed externally and partnerships formed with organisations such as Jumia and Kuda.
According to NiTA panelists, Oladapo’s contribution goes beyond metrics. “He shapes systems for belief, for belonging, and for behaviour,” one panellist noted. “It’s not just scalable, it’s human.”
As myCircle expands into Ghana and Senegal, piloting communal savings tools with social cooperatives, Oladapo says the next phase will focus on broader partnerships and policy alignment. “The platforms that win in African fintech won’t just be the fastest,” he said. “They’ll be the ones people believe in, and that starts with systems built to listen.”
Oladapo also co-hosts The Pioneer STEM Show, a nationally syndicated programme highlighting African innovations in science and technology, further reinforcing his interest in demystifying technology for a broader audience. He is regarded as one of the continent’s notable voices in inclusive product strategy and behavioural finance.
