Bidemi Oke: Nigerian Fintech Trailblazer Nominated for Young Man of the Year Award for Transforming Nigeria’s Financial Sector

Toke Samuel

Bidemi Oke is a Nigerian fintech specialist who has contributed significantly towards expanding access to financial services for underbanked populations in west Africa. He began his working life at a strategy consulting firm, where he gained experience in strategic planning and business development. In search of social impact with an international agency concerned with poverty alleviation, where he specialized in developing enterprise solutions aimed at facilitating economic empowerment.

Oke furthered his studies for a higher level degree at Obafemi Awolowo University, graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agricultural Science in 2019. His education provided a stepping stone to his future forays into technology and social entrepreneurship. Besides his university credential, he has further honed his management skills through a series of professional certifications, such as the Owner-Manager Programme at Strathmore University in Nairobi.

In 2019, Oke co-founded Flashchange Limited, a digital financial services firm. Throughout his years, his projects have focused on the utilization of mobile technology to promote financial inclusion, particularly in regions with inadequate banking infrastructure. His work has been recognized internationally; in 2021, he was awarded the Nigerian Book of Records and was listed by the World Economic Forum as one of 100 Young Global Leaders. These awards highlighted his contribution to the fintech sector and to economic development through innovative approaches.

Oke led the efforts from 2021 through 2022 in developing mobile trading platforms, savings, and loans products, which became the blueprints for mobile-led financial services in Nigeria and the region. Following Nigeria’s 2020 ban on cryptocurrency trading, he launched a mobile app in 2022 through which users could trade cryptocurrencies within the law and exchange them for cash, maintaining digital financial transactions within the jurisdiction of the country. His work still impacts millions of users by providing accessible financial tools in under-resourced communities, with further enhancements in progress targeting financial inclusion and digital asset trade.

His innovative approach and dedication to financial inclusion have earned him in this year a nomination for ThisDay Newspaper’s Young Man of the Year for his remarkable contribution to Nigeria’s financial sector.