Eyitayo David Oviosu, widely recognized as Tayo Oviosu is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and fintech pioneer who founded Paga, one of Africa’s pioneering mobile payments companies. Born in 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria, he is a leading figure in Africa’s fintech revolution, enabling millions of unbanked Nigerians to access digital financial services. As Group CEO of Paga Group, he oversees a mobile payment ecosystem serving over 20 million users across Nigeria.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Eyitayo David “Tayo” Oviosu |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian-American |
| State of Origin | Edo State (father from Ora, Edo State) |
| Partner/Wife | Affiong Williams (married 2014) |
| Children | 2 children |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, Founder & Group CEO of Paga, Angel Investor, Co-founder of Kairos Angels |
| Net Worth | Approximately $50 million (estimated) |
Early Life and Education
Tayo Oviosu was born on September 10, 1977, in Lagos State, Nigeria. He is of Edo State origin—his father is from Ora, Edo State, and his mother is from Kogi State. He was born and raised in Nigeria with a middle-class upbringing before leaving Nigeria as a teenager to pursue education abroad.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, cum laude, from the University of Southern California (USC). He later obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University in 2005.
Career
After graduating from USC, Oviosu worked as a Semiconductor Chip Design Engineer at Biomorphic VLSI and Software Engineer at Event 411 in Los Angeles. He then joined Deloitte Consulting as a Senior Consultant before completing his MBA at Stanford.
At Cisco Systems in San Jose, he served as Manager of Corporate Development, leading strategy, acquisitions, and private equity investments, including Cisco’s expansion into Africa. In 2008, he returned to Nigeria to join Travant Capital Partners as Vice President.
In 2009, Oviosu founded Paga, a mobile payments company focused on digitizing cash in emerging economies. The company has grown to become Nigeria’s leading mobile money service with over 20 million users and has raised over $34 million in funding.
In 2026, he transitioned to Group CEO and Chairman of Paga Group. He also co-founded Kairos Angels, an angel investment firm, and serves on the board of the African Leadership Foundation.
Personal Life
Tayo Oviosu is married to Affiong Williams, CEO and founder of Reelfruit, a fruit processing company. The couple married in 2014 and are considered one of Africa’s premier “power couples” in tech. Affiong made the Forbes list of African future billionaires in 2015.
They have two children together. Both are avid runners who ran the Paris Marathon together and hosted Mark Zuckerberg in Lagos. Tayo supports Chelsea FC, while Affiong supports Arsenal FC.
Net Worth
Tayo Oviosu’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $50 million as of 2025, reflecting Paga’s success. Some sources suggest his wealth may approach or exceed $100 million given Paga’s scale. Exact figures are not publicly disclosed, but his wealth is estimated in the tens of millions.
Awards and Recognition
| Award/Honor | Year | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur of the Year (West Africa) | 2014 | CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards |
| Outstanding Growing Company of the Year in Africa | 2015 | African Leadership Network |
| FAME Award (FATE Alumni Model Entrepreneur) | 2020 | FATE Foundation |
| Nominated for Investor of the Year | 2025 | MOI Awards |
| Nominated for Man of Steel (Male Trailblazer Award) | 2025 | MOI Awards |
| Endeavor Outlier Entrepreneur | — | Endeavor |
| Paga selected for Fintech 250 list (multiple times) | — | Global fintech platforms |
Oviosu is widely cited as one of the leading figures in the African fintech revolution.
