‘Technology should serve everyone not just elites’

For Victor Daniyan, a techpreneur runs Nearpays and Yourrider, two business entities that provide solutions to teething problems confronting businesses and also at the forefront of technology and innovation. He spoke with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

What inspired your interest in building solutions that address everyday economic activity in Africa?

Growing up in Nigeria, I saw firsthand how everyday people struggled with basic financial transactions – from sending money to family to paying for goods at markets. A pivotal experience was working with a local fintech startup early in my career, where I saw the power of tech in solving these everyday economic challenges. Witnessing how simple innovations could make transactions faster, cheaper, and more secure sparked my passion for building solutions that address real economic pain points in Africa. It’s about making economic activity easier for everyone.

Your company operates without extra hardware. How does this lower barriers for Nigeria’s informal sector and small businesses?

Our hardware-free approach is a game-changer for Nigeria’s informal sector and small businesses. By letting merchants turn their smartphones into POS terminals, we’re slashing upfront costs and tech hurdles – no expensive hardware needed. This means market vendors, street traders, and small shops can accept digital payments instantly, boosting sales and efficiency. It’s about meeting them where they are: on their phones, in their businesses. This drives financial inclusion and unlocks growth for the informal sector, which is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.

Nearpays softPOS offering lower fees than traditional POS terminals is a huge relief for businesses grappling with rising costs in Nigeria. With inflation biting and operational expenses soaring, every naira counts – and by reducing transaction fees, we’re helping businesses keep more of their hard-earned money. This is particularly crucial for small and medium enterprises with thin margins; lower fees mean they can invest more in growth, stock, or even just staying afloat. It’s about easing the burden and letting them focus on what matters: serving customers and growing their business.

You’ve mentioned Kaizen as a guiding principle. How does continuous improvement manifest in the day-to-day operations of Nearpays and Yourrider?

Kaizen is more than a buzzword for us; it’s how we breathe. At Nearpays and Yourrider, continuous improvement is woven into our DNA. Every team member is empowered to suggest tweaks, big or small, to our products, processes, or customer interactions. We have “Kaizen Fridays” where teams focus on refining something specific – whether it’s streamlining our onboarding flow or enhancing a feature. It’s about making small, consistent improvements that add up to a big impact.

This mindset trickles into everything we do. For example, our dev team constantly iterates on our softPOS platform based on user feedback, pushing updates that make transactions smoother or adding features like offline payments. Customer support teams feed insights back into product design. It’s a loop of listening, iterating, and improving. By fostering this culture, we stay agile, responsive, and always pushing to make payments and energy access better for our users.

What drives your ongoing commitment to financial inclusion and access through technology?

I’m driven by the belief that technology should serve everyone, not just the privileged few. Seeing how financial exclusion holds back individuals, businesses, and entire communities in Africa – it stays with you. Our mission is to break those barriers, making financial services accessible and affordable for all.

With tech as our tool, we’re pushing boundaries to include the underserved, empower entrepreneurs, and fuel economic growth from the ground up. It’s about building a future where everyone participates, transacts, and prospers.

With over 60,000 SMEs using your platform, why is now the right time to scale AI-driven payments across Africa?

With over 60,000 SMEs on our platform, I believe now is the right time to scale AI-driven payments across Africa because we’ve cracked the code on trust, scale, and tech readiness. Our SMEs have shown us that simplicity, security, and speed drive adoption – and AI takes these to the next level. By leveraging AI for smarter fraud detection, personalized services, and seamless transactions, we can supercharge financial inclusion and meet the continent’s growing demand for digital payments. Africa’s young, tech-savvy population is ready; our job is to deliver solutions that make sense.

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Awards like GITEX highlight global recognition. How do such accolades reflect your journey and ambitions for Nearpays?

Awards like GITEX are a huge validation of our team’s hard work and vision. It’s not just about the recognition; it’s about knowing we’re on the right track in solving real problems for Africa and beyond. These accolades reflect our journey of pushing boundaries in fintech and energy access, and they fuel our ambitions to do more – to scale impact, innovate relentlessly, and put Africa on the global tech map. It’s a nod to our users, partners, and team; we’re just getting started.

Payments and EV charging are seemingly different sectors. What synergies do you see between the two in Africa’s emerging markets?

I see massive synergies between payments and EV charging in Africa’s emerging markets. Both are about enabling transactions for critical services – payments are the lifeblood of commerce, and EV charging is the fuel for the future of mobility. In Africa, where cash is still king but digital adoption is rising fast, integrating payments into EV charging ecosystems is a natural fit. Imagine drivers paying for charging via mobile money or merchants offering charging services and accepting digital payments – we’re building the rails for this future.

The bigger synergy is in solving infrastructure gaps. Africa’s EV adoption is nascent, but with leapfrog tech, we can shape the narrative. By marrying payments with EV charging, we enable pay-as-you-go models, reduce upfront costs, and drive adoption. Our softPOS tech, for instance, can turn any merchant into a potential EV charging point. It’s about creating an ecosystem where energy access, mobility, and payments converge to unlock new opportunities.

What is your vision for the intersection of fintech and clean energy in Africa?

My vision for the intersection of fintech and clean energy in Africa is one of explosive growth and impact. I see fintech as the enabler of Africa’s clean energy revolution – powering solar home systems, EV charging networks, and pay-as-you-go energy solutions through accessible, affordable digital payments. By bridging energy access gaps with smart financial services, we can drive mass adoption of clean tech, empower households and businesses, and leapfrog traditional infrastructure hurdles. It’s about creating a future where energy access fuels economic growth and inclusion.