Crest Awards: Elizabeth Ndefo Recognised for Excellence in Fintech Product Design

By Salami Adeyinka

A Senior Product Designer and systems thinker, Elizabeth Ndefo has been recognised at the Crest Awards with the Product Design Excellence in Financial Technology honour.

The award celebrates professionals whose work has significantly improved how financial services are accessed and experienced through thoughtful product design.

Ndefo’s career spans fintech and identity-focused platforms including Okra and VerifyMe, where she worked on payment systems, credit products, and verification infrastructure supporting millions of users across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and other emerging markets.

Her work has contributed to platforms processing large transaction volumes while maintaining usability, trust, and regulatory alignment.

According to the Crest Awards organisers, the recognition reflects Ndefo’s ability to design products that balance business growth with strong user experience. Her approach combines deep systems thinking with practical execution, helping fintech companies scale responsibly while meeting real user needs.

The award also highlights the growing importance of product design as a strategic driver in Africa’s financial ecosystem. As digital finance adoption increases, her work demonstrates how well-designed products can strengthen inclusion, improve reliability, and support sustainable growth across markets.