Daniyan: Why Fintech and Clean Energy Must Grow Together in Africa

The visionary behind Nearpays and Yourrider, Victor Daniyan, is shaping Africa’s fintech and clean energy landscape. A Forbes 30 Under 30 nominee and Certified Management Consultant, he is recognized for bringing practical, people-centered innovation to everyday business challenges. With Nearpays, Victor is redefining payments through AI-powered Soft POS solutions, while Yourrider pioneers electric vehicle charging and swap infrastructure across the continent. In this interview, he discusses the thinking behind Nearpays and Yourrider, the role of contactless payments in Africa’s growth, and his long-term vision for sustainable innovation. Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts.

How do you position your work at Nearpays and Yourrider Energies within Africa’s wider transition toward digital finance and clean technology?

I’d say our work is deeply aligned with Africa’s transition towards digital finance and clean energy. At Nearpays, we’re driving financial inclusion through accessible digital payments, while at YourRider, we’re pushing the boundaries of clean energy in transportation. Together, we’re creating an ecosystem where digital finance fuels sustainable growth – enabling electric mobility, reducing emissions, and expanding financial access. We’re positioning ourselves at the intersection of these two transformative trends, contributing to a more inclusive, sustainable future for Africa.

How does the app manage card types and transaction amounts to ensure a smooth and error-free checkout experience?

The Nearpays SoftPOS app is designed to handle various card types and transaction amounts seamlessly, ensuring a smooth checkout experience. We’ve implemented robust card scheme integrations and optimized our payment processing to support multiple card types, including local and international cards. Our system dynamically routes transactions for optimal authorization, and we’ve set intelligent limits to minimize declines. Plus, our user-friendly interface guides customers through the payment process, reducing errors and making it easy to retry if needed – all contributing to a near-frictionless experience.

Once a customer enters their PIN, what processes occur in the background to confirm and complete the payment instantly?

Once a customer enters their PIN, our system swiftly orchestrates a series of checks in the background. The PIN is validated, and the transaction is routed through our secure payment gateway to the relevant card scheme (Visa) for authorization. Simultaneously, our fraud detection systems kick in to assess risk. If all checks pass, the issuer approves the transaction, and we receive an authorization code – all typically within seconds. The customer gets instant confirmation, and the merchant is notified of the successful payment.

Your journey has led Nearpays to over 60,000 users. Which experiences or decisions most influenced this growth trajectory?

I’d attribute our growth to a few key decisions. One was focusing on simplicity and user experience – we built a SoftPOS solution that’s easy for merchants to adopt and for customers to use. Our contactless payment feature, enabled through smartphones, resonate with users looking for convenient and secure ways to transact. We also prioritized partnerships with local banks and card schemes, ensuring wide acceptance and smooth integrations.

Another factor was our focus on solving real pain points for small businesses and traders in Nigeria. By offering affordable transaction fees and making digital payments accessible, we tapped into a growing demand for digital financial services. Our team’s agility in responding to user feedback and market needs also played a big role. All these factors combined have driven our growth to over sixty thousand users.

Yourrider Energies combines fintech with logistics and energy infrastructure. Why was this integrated approach necessary to achieve real-world impact?

I’d say our integrated approach was necessary to tackle Africa’s energy challenges head-on. Combining fintech, logistics, and energy infrastructure lets us create a seamless ecosystem that addresses payment challenges, logistics inefficiencies, and energy access gaps – providing affordable, reliable energy solutions to underserved communities while driving economic growth and sustainability.

Many founders focus on one sector. What motivates you to tackle both payment inefficiencies and clean energy gaps at the same time?

Honestly, I think it’s about solving real problems, not just chasing sectors. In Africa, payments inefficiencies and energy gaps are two massive hurdles holding back businesses and communities. By tackling both, we’re addressing interconnected challenges that impact people’s lives daily. Payments are the lifeblood of any economy, and energy is the backbone of growth. Fixing one without the other felt incomplete.

For us, it made sense to combine forces. Clean energy needs efficient payments to scale, and fintech thrives when paired with critical infrastructure like energy. It’s about creating an ecosystem where solutions reinforce each other, driving bigger impact. Plus, it lets us build something unique that solves complex problems holistically. We’re not just building products; we’re enabling possibilities.

How do strategic partnerships and backing, such as Visa-related investments through Plug and Play, reinforce confidence in your long-term vision?

Strategic partnerships like Visa’s investment through Plug and Play have been game-changers for us. Their backing isn’t just about funding; it’s a massive vote of confidence in our vision to revolutionize payments in emerging markets. With Visa on board, we’re tapping into their global expertise and network, which amplifies our ability to scale and innovate. It sends a strong signal to other investors, partners, and customers that we’re playing in the big leagues. Plus, their support helps us accelerate our growth, enhance our tech, and push boundaries in fintech – all while staying true to our mission of making payments work for everyone.

Cash still dominates many African markets. Why do you believe contactless technology is the right focus at this stage of the continent’s evolution?

I believe contactless technology is the right focus for Africa’s evolution because it leapfrogs traditional payment hurdles and meets users where they are – in a mobile-first world. With widespread mobile adoption and a young, tech-savvy population, contactless payments via mobile are a natural fit. They’re faster, more secure, and more hygienic than cash, addressing real pain points like transaction speed and safety. Plus, contactless tech enables financial inclusion at scale, letting people access services without needing traditional bank accounts. It’s not about replacing cash overnight; it’s about giving people better options and building the rails for a modern, digital economy.

Finally, how do you see Nearpays SoftPOS technology evolving to support cross-border trade and clean energy transactions across Africa?

I see our softPOS technology evolving to play a pivotal role in transforming cross-border trade and clean energy transactions across Africa. We’re building a network that lets businesses and individuals transact seamlessly, securely, and affordably across borders – think merchants accepting payments from anywhere in Africa, instantly and in local currencies. Our softPOS tech makes this possible by turning any smartphone into a POS terminal, lowering barriers for businesses to go digital and transact globally.

For clean energy, our tech will enable peer-to-peer energy trading, pay-as-you-go models, and efficient payment collection for energy providers. Imagine solar home system owners selling excess energy to neighbours or businesses paying for clean energy via mobile – our softPOS tech powers these transactions, driving energy access and sustainability. We’re focused on making these flows frictionless, boosting commerce and energy access across the continent.