PalmPay has appointed Samuel Oluyemi as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for its Nigeria business as the fintech strengthens its leadership team to deepen financial inclusion and enhance the security and reliability of its digital payment services.
The appointment takes immediate effect and comes as PalmPay seeks to expand its reach among underserved communities while supporting the ongoing modernisation of Nigeria’s financial services sector.
As COO, Oluyemi will oversee the company’s operations in Nigeria, where PalmPay provides a range of digital financial services to individuals and businesses. He will also work closely with regulators to ensure the company’s growth aligns with Nigeria’s financial inclusion and digital transformation goals.
According to the company, Oluyemi brings more than two decades of experience from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), where he played a key role in developing several national payment infrastructure projects.
During his time at NIBSS, he led the development of services including the Digital Validation of Nigerian International Passport (e-Passport Validation), the Electronic Dividend Mandate Management System (e-DMMS) and the Electronic Pension Contribution Collection System (EPCCOS).
He also played a significant role in the launch and early adoption of NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP), Nigeria’s real-time interbank payment platform introduced in 2011, and later supported its expansion to other financial institutions.
Oluyemi holds a master’s degree in Monetary Economics from the University of Ibadan and has undergone extensive professional training both in Nigeria and internationally.
Commenting on the appointment, PalmPay Nigeria Managing Director Chika Nwosu said the company is strengthening its leadership as it enters a new phase of growth.
“Oluyemi joins PalmPay at an important stage in our journey to strengthen the foundations that will support our long-term goal of driving financial inclusion,” Nwosu said.
“His extensive experience positions him well to help us scale sustainably while maintaining the operational discipline, strong governance and customer-first culture that define PalmPay.”
Speaking on his appointment, Oluyemi said he looks forward to helping the company strengthen its operations and expand access to digital financial services.
“PalmPay has established itself as one of the most impactful fintech companies in emerging markets by making financial services more accessible and affordable for millions of people,” he said.
“I am excited to join the company and work with an exceptional team to strengthen operational excellence and support PalmPay’s vision of building a leading digital financial services platform.
“Together, we will continue delivering secure, reliable and customer-focused financial solutions while contributing to the continued evolution of Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem.”
The appointment underscores PalmPay’s commitment to strengthening its operational capacity as competition intensifies in Nigeria’s fast-growing fintech industry, where digital payment providers are increasingly focused on financial inclusion, cybersecurity and customer trust.
