Clea, a blockchain-powered platform that allows African importers to pay international suppliers in USD while settling locally, has officially launched.
During its pilot phase, Clea processed more than USD 4 million in cross-border transactions, demonstrating strong early demand from businesses navigating the complexities of global trade.
African importers have long struggled with limited FX access, unpredictable exchange rates, high bank charges, fraudulent intermediaries, and payment delays that slow or halt shipments.
The continent also faces a trade-finance gap estimated at over USD 120 billion annually, limiting importers’ ability to access the FX and financial infrastructure needed for timely international payments.
Clea addresses these persistent challenges by offering fast, transparent, and direct USD settlements, completed without intermediaries or banking bottlenecks.
Founded by Sheriff Adedokun, Iyiola Osuagwu, and Sidney Egwuatu, Clea was created from the team’s own experiences dealing with unreliable international payments. The platform currently serves Nigerian importers trading with suppliers in the United States, China, and the UAE, with plans to expand into additional trade corridors.
Key features include:
- Local payments in Naira with instant access to USD
- Instant, same-day, or next-day settlement options
- Transparent, traceable transactions that reduce fraud risk
Speaking on the launch, Sheriff Adedokun, CEO and co-founder, said,
“Importers face unnecessary stress when payments are delayed or rejected. Clea eliminates that uncertainty by offering reliable, secure, and traceable payments completed in the importer’s own name, strengthening supplier confidence from day one.”
Iyiola Osuagwu, co-founder & CTO, added,
“Our goal is to make global trade feel as seamless as a local transfer. By connecting local currencies to global transactions through blockchain technology, we are removing long-standing barriers that have limited African importers for years.”
Clea is already working with shipping operators who refer merchants to the platform and is also engaging trade associations and logistics networks in key import hubs.
The company remains fully bootstrapped but is open to strategic investors aligned with its mission to build a trusted global payment network for African businesses.
Looking ahead, Sidney Egwuatu, co-founder & COO, said,
“The next phase for us is scale. We are expanding across all 36 Nigerian states, strengthening partnerships, and opening new payout routes across Africa and beyond. Our focus is building a dependable financial infrastructure that genuinely supports importer growth.”
