A new playbook for global expansion is emerging from Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, with leaders using the United Kingdom (UK) as a strategic hub to unlock international capital, top-tier talent, and regulatory credibility.
Speaking at the GITEX Africa summit on the panel ‘Nigeria’s Fintech Revolution,’ moderated by the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi, Founder and Group CEO of Kuda, Babs Ogundeyi, and Co-founder of PiggyVest, Odunayo Eweniyi, highlighted how a UK presence is increasingly essential for African startups seeking to compete globally.
“Momentum is amazing. One success accelerates the next. Talent grows, know-how spreads, and capital flows more easily,” said Ogundeyi, reflecting on Nigeria’s fintech growth over the past five years. Central to this progress, he stressed, is trust. “Everything else can be built, but you have to invest in the name, and your brand has to be trusted,” he said, noting that regulation, credible partnerships, and visible operations are key to building confidence in digital-first financial services.
The UK offers a dual advantage. For Kuda, it provides access to European investors, many of whom prefer investing in UK entities, as well as regulatory credibility. “If you can get regulated there… investors and customers will have that faith and trust in you,” Ogundeyi said.
This cross-border operation is a way for Nigerian fintechs to show that they can meet the highest standards of international corporate governance while building products tailored for African realities. Co-founder of PiggyVest, Odunayo Eweniyi, noted that the strategy also helps Nigerian fintechs attract and retain talent. “We also have to follow talent where they go. And we saw a lot of them emigrating to the UK,” she explained, highlighting the need to build globally competitive teams while staying rooted in Nigeria.
The panelists emphasised that this international expansion is not about leaving Nigeria behind. Instead, it allows fintechs to show cross-border competence, uphold high standards of governance, and build products that meet African realities while scaling globally. As Nigerian-led companies begin acquiring UK firms, the speakers predicted this model will become standard, positioning Nigeria’s tech ecosystem not just as a continental leader, but as a global cultural and economic exporter, akin to the country’s music industry.
Ogundeyi concluded with a vision for the future: “As we maintain consistency in products and teams, brand awareness and trust will compound. It’s going to take time, but it will happen.”
The session underscored the strategic thinking driving Nigerian fintechs’ global ambitions, combining local problem-solving, trust-building, and cross-border expansion as the formula for worldwide impact.
