Tunde Opasina

Tunde Opasina is a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur, technology executive, and venture capitalist, recognized for his significant contributions to the African tech ecosystem. He is best known as the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Paystack, one of Africa's leading payment platforms.Early Life and Education While Tunde Opasina maintains a relatively private personal life, he is known to have obtained a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Babcock University, Nigeria. His academic background in technology laid the foundation for his subsequent career path in the Nigerian tech space.Career Progression and Entrepreneurship Opasina's professional journey began with roles that sharpened his skills in operations, business development, and software engineering. He worked with various technology startups, gaining critical experience in scaling tech products and managing complex business processes. His career culminated in the co-founding of Paystack in 2016 alongside Shola Akinlade. Paystack was established to solve the persistent challenge of online and offline payment acceptance for businesses across Africa. As the COO, Opasina was instrumental in building the company's operational structure, expanding its merchant base, and ensuring compliance across various regulatory environments. His leadership was crucial in navigating the operational complexities inherent in the rapidly evolving Nigerian fintech market.Major Achievements Opasina’s most significant achievement is his role in the success and subsequent acquisition of Paystack. Under his operational guidance, Paystack rapidly became a standard for seamless digital payments in Nigeria and expanded into other African markets. In October 2020, Paystack was acquired by Stripe, a leading global financial infrastructure platform, in a deal estimated to be over $200 million. This acquisition marked one of the largest exits in Nigerian tech history and positioned Opasina as a highly influential figure in African venture creation.Notable Works and Influence As a key leader at Paystack, Opasina has been pivotal in creating infrastructure that supports thousands of businesses, ranging from small enterprises to large corporations, in accepting payments globally. Beyond his executive role, Opasina has become an active investor and mentor in the next generation of African startups, often sharing his operational expertise and capital to foster new technological innovation across the continent. He is recognized for his focus on developing sustainable, high-growth technology companies in emerging markets.Current Status Tunde Opasina remains actively involved in the technology and investment space. Following the acquisition, he has continued his leadership role within Paystack/Stripe, helping to drive the company’s mission and expansion. He also frequently engages in public speaking and thought leadership focused on fintech, entrepreneurship, and building scalable tech operations in Africa.