Eghosa Nehikhare set out to study medicine because his ambition was to save lives. Today, he’s still saving lives, only in a different way. As the CEO of one of Africa’s most innovative fintech firms, Multigate, Nehikhare is building the financial “rails” that could redefine how trade flows across the continent and beyond.
His journey from an aspiring doctor to fintech leader underscores a central truth of Africa’s tech story: innovation often comes from the most unexpected places.
A doctor who chose a different path
Nehikhare’s path into fintech wasn’t a straight line. He trained as a doctor, but found himself drawn to the problems slowing down Africa’s economy, particularly in finance and trade. That realisation birthed Multigate, a platform designed to simplify one of the continent’s biggest challenges: FX and cross-border transactions.
Beyond technology, Nehikhare’s story is also one of leadership. His pivot from medicine to fintech illustrates a willingness to embrace change and take risks—a quality he believes more African leaders need to adopt.
The problem and the Multigate solution
Every year, African businesses struggle to move money across borders. Fragmented FX systems, compliance complexities, and high costs make it difficult for companies to trade seamlessly. This results in billions of dollars in lost opportunities and slower economic growth.
This was the problem Nehikhare and his team set out to solve.
At its core, Multigate provides a secure, compliant, and scalable platform that enables businesses to carry out FX and cross-border transactions efficiently. Nehikhare emphasises that trust and compliance are at the heart of Multigate’s offering. Licensed and regulated, the platform gives institutions confidence that their cross-border transactions will be executed safely.
What makes Multigate different?
The fintech ecosystem is crowded, but Multigate is carving its niche by focusing on Africa-first solutions. Unlike many global players who build products with developed economies in mind, Multigate understands the unique challenges of African trade flows, including currency volatility and regulatory hurdles.
This localised expertise, combined with world-class technology, makes Multigate stand out.
Perhaps the most ambitious part of Multigate’s story is its vision. Nehikhare has publicly stated that within the next decade, 30% of Africa’s trade flows will run on Multigate’s rails. It’s a bold goal; one that reflects both the scale of the problem and the size of the opportunity.
With Africa’s trade volume expected to grow significantly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a platform like Multigate could become indispensable.
Nehikhare adds: “While others focus solely on cross-border payments, we automate the entire financial workflow, ensure robust security, and provide Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) with instant access to the data they need. Many CFOs cannot tell you their exact liquidity position across all banks in real time”.
Future roadmap
While Multigate’s current focus is on FX and cross-border payments, the company isn’t stopping there. Plans are underway to introduce new products that expand its role as a trade-enablement platform, providing even more tools for African businesses to compete globally.
This long-term roadmap positions Multigate not just as a fintech player, but as an economic catalyst for the continent.
Redefining Africa’s financial future
Eghosa Nehikhare’s story is a case study in how vision and adaptability can spark systemic change. As Africa’s fintech revolution unfolds, leaders like Nehikhare remind us that the continent’s growth won’t just come from technology, but from bold ideas, courageous pivots, and a relentless commitment to solving African problems with African solutions.
