Nigeria’s product design scene is thriving, with creative minds reinventing global digital experiences.
In this article, Techeconomy presents five great Nigerian product designers whose contributions demonstrate quality and creativity.
These individuals were selected based on their industry impact, global recognition, and contributions to the design ecosystem.
1. Opemipo Aikomo
As the Head of Design and Co-Founder at Paystack, Opemipo Aikomo has been at the forefront of innovation in digital payments since 2016.
Paystack, which processes over 50% of all web payments in Nigeria, serves more than 60,000 organizations, including giants like FedEx, UPS, and MTN.
Opemipo’s design journey began in university as a graphic designer, evolving into a decade-long career in building digital products. Before co-founding Paystack, he played pivotal roles in launching startups like Devcenter, a developer community; Tix, a platform for events; and Sendcash, a cryptocurrency-powered money transfer app.
Under his leadership, Paystack scaled from a small team in Nigeria to a multinational operation across six countries, significantly shaping the company’s culture, brand, and merchant experience.
Stripe’s acquisition of Paystack in 2020 stands as a testament to the company’s global influence.
2. Jude Ejike
Jude Ejike is an innovative product designer and user experience researcher whose work has had a significant influence on fintech. Jude played an important role in the success of Squad by HabariPay, GTBank’s fintech platform.
Squad reached a significant milestone in January 2024, surpassing $190 million in monthly transactions while becoming profitable in its first month.
Beyond fintech, Jude has led groundbreaking UX research on the NHS app, focusing on digital healthcare usability. His research identified key usability challenges in digital health solutions, leading to improved patient engagement, accessibility, and efficiency.
With a Master’s in UX Design, Jude is a strong advocate for user-centred product development, mentoring upcoming designers and contributing to industry discussions on design strategy, accessibility, and digital transformation.
Jude’s dedication to community-building and mentoring future designers further solidifies his role as a leader in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.
3. Michael Ajah
Michael Ajah brings over six years of expertise in product design, merging aesthetics with functionality to create sustainable solutions.
As Lead Product Designer at Raise since January 2022, he has spearheaded transformative projects that have redefined private equity product experiences.
Michael’s achievements include developing the Hermes Design System and internal tools that enabled teams to operate at ten times their previous speed.
He also led the redesign of Raise’s core product, resulting in a remarkable 400% revenue increase. His integration of AI-driven features, such as Organize AI and sales AI voice agents, has improved user experience and positioned Raise as a leader in equity management.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Michael shares his insights through a YouTube channel and curates resources for his design community.
4. Clive Ayonye
Clive Ayonye’s passion for crafting user-centred designs has led him from Lagos, Nigeria, to Amsterdam, where he has made a significant impact on the global tech scene.
With 12 years of experience, Clive specializes in creating digital experiences that balance simplicity, clarity, and empathy. Previously leading the team responsible for designing payment experiences at Booking.com, the world’s largest accommodation platform, Clive’s work emphasized usability and effectiveness.
Currently, as part of Meta’s WhatsApp team, he contributes to shaping secure and reliable communication experiences for over 2 billion users worldwide. His approach, informed by data yet driven by empathy, has enabled him to solve complex problems while connecting users with brands through thoughtful design.
5. Kene Udeze
Kene Udeze is a multifaceted designer and community organizer who has contributed to diverse sectors of product design. Currently working at IKEA in Amsterdam, Kene collaborates with teams to design tools that help individuals create personalized physical spaces and enhance home furnishing journeys.
Before joining IKEA, Kene made his mark at Booking.com and led design initiatives at Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), one of Nigeria’s leading innovation centres.
He founded Usable Community, a platform for product designers passionate about building functional and beautiful products.
He also created the UX Curriculum, a curated guide for newcomers to UX design. Through Origin Stories, Kene shares the journeys of designers to inspire and guide the next generation of product creators.
