Ejiroghene Odiase is a distinguished fintech and financial services leader with over 15 years of experience across commercial banking, digital identity, SaaS, and payments. She has built a strong track record in sales, business development, strategic partnerships, and data-driven growth, working with respected organizations such as NIBSS and MetaMap. Today, she serves as Head of Partnerships at Bluecode Africa, where she drives strategic growth by building impactful collaborations with financial institutions, fintechs, and merchants across the continent.
A high-achieving professional, Ejiroghene is passionate about digital transformation, ecosystems, and platforms; she is committed to enabling businesses to scale through effective market penetration strategies. She consistently exceeds performance targets and focuses on delivering real value to clients while solving meaningful business problems
One of her most defining achievements includes facilitating digital payment projects worth over $2 million at NIBSS, successfully onboarding 180+ Microfinance Banks and automating payment services to deepen financial inclusion. She also closed one of MetaMap’s largest renewal deals, nearly $1 million in revenue within a year, by identifying growth opportunities and strengthening key relationships.
Growing the Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) customer base from zero to 180+ was a significant challenge, navigating diverse client needs, building trust from scratch, and maintaining resilience during difficult customer engagements. This journey strengthened her leadership skills, broadened her experience, and deepened her confidence. Another challenge was navigating the rapidly evolving fintech landscape, which she overcame through continuous learning and building a strong support network.
Ejiroghene acknowledges the role of mentors such as Abi Odedeyi and Ogochukwu Onwuzurike, along with the peers and industry leaders who have guided her career. She also credis the strength of the communities she belongs to, including Women in Revenue, Women Tech Network, Women in Sales Africa, and Her Network. These mentors and networks have been instrumental in helping her make informed decisions, gain industry insights, and stay grounded in the fast-paced fintech environment.
She sees fintech as a catalyst for financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Africa. Over the next five years, she aims to shape the continent’s fintech landscape by driving innovation, expanding access, and empowering businesses to scale sustainably through collaboration and strategic growth.
Advice to Women:
Be bold, build strong networks, stay curious, keep learning, and seek mentorship. Never stop challenging yourself, growth often begins outside your comfort zone.
Guiding Principles:
• Execution Superpower: Deliver with precision and speed.
• Business Superpower: Grow with intention and insight.
• Leadership Principle: Prepare with diligence, execute with confidence.
She believes that “Diligence will open the door, but character will keep you there.”
Inspiring Quote:
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there. Never stop challenging yourself, even if you do it afraid.”
