Chijioke Dozie

Chijioke Dozie is a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and a leading figure in the African FinTech industry, best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Carbon (formerly Paylater), one of Nigeria’s pioneering digital banks. His career is marked by a dedication to leveraging technology to improve access to financial services for underserved populations across Africa.Early Life and Education Chijioke Dozie was born into a distinguished Nigerian family. He pursued a robust education that combined strong financial acumen with strategic business management. He earned an MBA from the renowned London Business School, supplementing his earlier degrees and providing him with the foundational knowledge in finance, technology, and emerging market economics that would later shape his entrepreneurial path.Career Progression and Founding Carbon Dozie began his career in traditional finance, gaining experience in investment banking and consulting roles. This exposure to the inefficiencies and barriers within conventional financial systems in Nigeria provided the impetus for his shift toward digital finance. In 2016, along with his brother, Ngozi Dozie, he co-founded Paylater, a digital lending platform designed to offer instant, collateral-free loans to Nigerians via a mobile app. Paylater was one of the earliest digital lending services in the country and successfully addressed the need for fast, accessible credit. As the company expanded its services beyond simple lending to include savings, payments, and investments, it rebranded to Carbon in 2019, reflecting its ambition to become a comprehensive digital bank. Under Dozie’s leadership, Carbon grew rapidly, leveraging AI and machine learning to offer personalized financial products and scale its operations across Nigeria and, subsequently, other African markets. He served as CEO until 2024, when he transitioned to a non-executive role.Major Achievements and Notable Works Dozie's primary achievement is the establishment and scaling of Carbon, which fundamentally changed the landscape of digital financial services in Nigeria. Key milestones include: * **Pioneering Digital Lending:** Carbon (as Paylater) was instrumental in popularizing digital, app-based lending, offering a legitimate alternative to predatory lenders and complex traditional bank processes. * **Expansion of Services:** The platform’s evolution into a full-service digital bank under the Carbon brand demonstrated a successful transition from a single product to a multifaceted FinTech ecosystem. * **Industry Influence:** Dozie is recognized as a thought leader in the African technology space, frequently speaking on financial inclusion, venture capital, and regulatory challenges within the continent's digital economy.Current Status Following his transition from the CEO role at Carbon in early 2024, Chijioke Dozie continues to be active in the African technology and investment space. He maintains his role as a co-founder and board member of Carbon, contributing to the company's long-term strategy. Additionally, he focuses on his roles as an investor and advisor to emerging startups, leveraging his deep experience in scaling successful technology ventures in challenging markets. His work continues to center on promoting financial literacy and economic empowerment through digital innovation.