Held on Thursday, November 20, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the event convened government leaders, founders, investors, creators, technologists and policy makers to map out what tomorrow could look like for Ogun’s fast-growing innovation sector. 

The summit, now in its sixth edition, has become the largest annual gathering of youth and digital talent in the state.

A Summit Framed by Urgency and Opportunity

The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Naimat Salako-Oyedele, described the digital economy as “the backbone of modern development” She stressed that young people are central to the state’s growth strategy.

She described how Ogun has spent the past few years laying the foundations for a thriving technology ecosystem: “We have been intentional here in Ogun state about creating the right environment for technology to flourish.” 

She pointed out the transformation of the Ogun Tech Hub; partnerships with innovation clusters; and new international collaborations, including the Window America initiative, which provides workshops and learning opportunities for young people.

The Deputy Governor also announced the newly commissioned NCC Koba Centre, already training youths in AI engineering, cloud computing and data technologies. According to her, its location in Ogun is “not accidental… It reflects the confidence that national institutions and private partners have in our talent base.” 

But she also warned, “We must not work in silos. We need more coordination, more shared learning and more deliberate linkages between state programs, federal initiatives, private sector projects, university research and community-based ecosystem.” 

A Federal Perspective: Nigeria Must Create, Not Just Consume

Representing the Presidency, Tobi Matthew, director of the PBAT Media Centre, gave a statement reinforcing the federal government’s position on digital acceleration growth.

He noted, “Nigeria must not only consume technology, we must create it and also export it.” 

He outlined three pillars of a functional digital ecosystem, policy, governance and partnership, and emphasised the administration’s focus on reforms that ease doing tech business, expand broadband access and strengthen global partnerships.

According to him, summits like Ogun’s bridge government and the tech community by helping “co-create policies that work in the real world.” 

Legislative Power Meets Tech Vision

The summit received a strong policy perspective from Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, who announced that the long-awaited National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill would soon be signed into law.

The bill, he explained, will compel ministries and agencies to digitise operations: “They are all compared, not as a matter of option. They are compared to digital patients.” 

He described how digital signatures and electronic documents would gain full legal recognition, removing long-standing limitations for startups and online businesses. The Senator called the summit “the largest gathering of youth in Ogun state… gathered for empowerment that truly empowers.” 

Founders and Innovators Urged to Build for Ogun, Not Just From It

Summit Convener Victor Adeleye returned to a central problem; retention. Although many celebrated Nigerian startups originated from Ogun institutions, most relocate to Lagos. He challenged young innovators to stay and build where they were trained.

“The tech skill is not the destination, it’s just the beginning.” 

He added that more than 7,500 talents have been supported since 2020, and that the state is now spotlighting revenue-generating startups built locally.

PaidHR’s Seye Bandele Urges Founders to Build for Africa’s Realities, Not Imported Playbooks

Seye Bandele, co-founder & CEO of PaidHR, told young founders that Africa is in its own “printing-press moment”, a turning point impacted by AI, rapid information flow and a high youth population.

He drew parallels between Gutenberg’s invention and today’s technology wave, stressing that the tools being built now will affect the next 100 years of African innovation.

Seye warned that founders must build with Africa’s realities in mind; weak infrastructure, low internet access and high volatility, not imported frameworks. He urged them to design products that work offline, handle currency swings, embed trust from day one and collect data intentionally.

He also emphasised that Africa’s population surge makes the continent the world’s next major market, and those building today must think in decades, not sprints. For him, progress comes from solving real problems and adapting global ideas to local context.

“You may not see the full impact, but what you build today is what the next generation will inherit.”

Microsoft’s Damila Rashu, lead for AI and Cloud, reiterated the global relevance of Ogun’s emerging talent pool and encouraged founders to join Microsoft’s startup programmes.

“Hopefully, in a few months, a few years down the line, we will have our own global unicorns right here in Ogun state.” 

Earlier, Bola Akindele, group managing director of Courteville Business Solutions Plc, recalled the evolution of his own company and the importance of domain understanding, using examples from his early academic journey.

Messan to Founders: “Traction Is Your Number One De-Risker”

David Lanre Messan, chief venture builder at FirstFounders, explained that most struggles with fundraising come from poor positioning, not lack of ideas.

He stressed that “every investor has an investment thesis,” urging founders to first identify whether they are at the idea, product or revenue stage before approaching anyone.

Messan noted that early-stage success depends on validation and real market demand, noting that “you cannot build anything without automatic demand.” He closed with an insight that investors respond to proof, not promises: “traction is your number one de-risker.”

Dr Solomon King: The Power of Diaspora Capital

From the Lagos Angel Network, Dr Solomon King presented a startling economic context: “17 million Nigerians live in the diaspora, and those 17 million people push back home to Nigeria, 20 billion US dollars on average per year.” 

He argued that this flow of capital, coupled with Ogun’s youth base, positions the region for outstanding investment if structures stay consistent.

Community Leadership: Ogun Tech Community’s Stand

President of the Ogun Tech Community, Adekunle Durosinmi, commended the summit for becoming a reference point. “We have seen the ecosystem growing stronger, more connected, more impactful.” 

He urged attendees to “disrupt Google”, amplify Ogun’s tech story online, and enhance collaboration instead of isolation.

Inspirational Close: What Will You Build?

One of the most memorable reflections at Ogun Digital Summit 2025 came from a keynote speaker who linked today’s creators to historical innovators: “Your code, your content, your companies are the real printing presses of this generation.” 

The challenge was, “What infrastructure are you going to build today that the people of tomorrow will inherit from you?” 

PANEL SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Panel Session 1: The Creative Economy

Key Highlights

• Defined the creative economy as the movement of goods and services within creative industries.
• Identified various creative sectors, including music, storytelling, photography, design, YouTube content, branding, and cinematography.
• Discussed the role of storytelling and its relevance to audience engagement.
• Raised matters about content creators ignoring policy updates that directly benefit them, including tax reforms and IP protection.
• Emphasised that Ogun has the strongest environment for creative-tech talent development.
• Called for more platforms that highlight policies affecting creators.

Fireside Chat: Journey from Zero to 1 Billion

Key Highlights

• Speakers discussed realistic planning for market size and expansion.
• Warned founders against exaggerated market assumptions that harm investor confidence.
• Emphasised calculating total addressable market (TAM) within one’s region before expanding.
• Explained the investment committee process and how risk assessments shape funding decisions.
• Encouraged founders to build strong roadmaps and avoid premature scaling.

Panel Session 2: Policy, Governance and Talent

Key Highlights

• Examined how data governance, digital payments and financial infrastructure affect tech growth.
• Highlighted existing federal and state programmes supporting innovators, including tech hubs and new digital infrastructure.
• Noted the gap between policies and actual adoption by citizens and creators.
• Stressed the need for intentional inclusion of youth-led tech teams in procurement and governance processes.
• Raised issues about low awareness of policy benefits, especially tax reforms.
• Reemphasised the importance of intellectual property protection.
• Asserted that Ogun should become Nigeria’s digital capital due to its youth population and number of tertiary institutions.

Ogun Digital Summit 2025 stressed that Ogun is no longer waiting for inclusion in Nigeria’s digital growth. The state is supplying talent, building institutions, attracting global partners and implementing policy-driven reforms designed to keep innovators rooted at home.

In Nigeria’s digital economy, Ogun State is now one of the country’s strongest engines.

The investment was led by Accion Venture Lab, with strong participation from existing investors Zrosk, Chui Ventures, and Zedcrest Capital.

Founded in 2020 in Nigeria, PaidHR has rapidly expanded to reach Pan-African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and tech startups across Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. 

The majority of PaidHR’s users are logistics, retail, and manufacturing businesses with under 200 employees, whose reliance on manual, time-consuming processes has created inefficiencies and compliance challenges. 

PaidHR’s all-in-one platform enables businesses to scale efficiently and improve employee wellbeing by formalizing HR administration, automating both local and cross-border payroll, ensuring full regulatory compliance, and providing tailored financial services to employees.

By 2030, half of all new entrants into the global labor force will come from sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, 44 million SMEs provide an estimated 80% of jobs across the continent; however, these businesses are often informal and unable to provide HR and financial services to their employees. 

In Nigeria, 83% of the workforce lacks access to credit and cannot meet emergency and basic needs.

PaidHR aims to improve financial inclusion and promote economic resilience for Africa’s growing workforce. Through earned wage access (EWA), employees on PaidHR’s platform can access a portion of their salary before payday, helping to reduce reliance on predatory loans and alleviate financial stress. 

PaidHR’s integrated multi-currency wallet allows employees to receive payments and save in both local currency and USD, helping them navigate financial instability.

The platform also leverages payroll data to connect employees to other financial products, such as credit and savings plans, through partnerships with financial service providers.

“We are building HR management for the African context, and this funding allows us to scale our vision, expand our reach, and deliver even more value to our clients,” said Seye Bandele, CEO of PaidHR. 

“With the support of Accion Venture Lab and our returning investors, we are well- positioned to help small businesses grow and scale more effectively across borders.”

Amee Parbhoo, managing partner at Accion Venture Lab, commented: “PaidHR’s integrated platform is tackling deep-rooted structural challenges faced by small businesses and their employees in underserved markets, starting in Nigeria. 

“By combining human resources automation with embedded financial services like earned wage access and USD savings, the platform not only improves how businesses operate, but seeks to deliver meaningful financial inclusion for workers.

“We are proud to support the team as they deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions that help strengthen small businesses and enable employees to take control of their financial lives.”

Established in 2020, PaidHR has gained traction within the HR management sector, offering businesses solutions that simplify their operations, from onboarding to payroll and compliance.

The company’s latest product innovation, a cross-border payroll system, is designed to allow businesses with employees in various countries to pay their staff in local currencies. 

This solution supports payments in 49 currencies and integrates a wallet feature, enabling employees to convert their earnings into a preferred currency and make direct transactions. PaidHR has partnered with licensed financial institutions to manage these transactions and ensure compliance with local regulations.

CEO Seye Bandele noted the importance of this development, particularly for their clients in Nigeria, where the devaluation of the naira has forced many to look for ways to mitigate the effects of inflation by converting salaries into foreign currencies. “We are building a cross-border solution that meets the needs of employees, particularly those facing economic instability,” Bandele said.

PaidHR’s decision to provide cross-border payroll comes on the heels of its success with Earned Wage Access (EWA), a feature introduced in 2023 that allows employees to access part of their salaries before payday. The company has processed over ₦20 billion in salaries this year and currently serves 20 businesses, managing payroll for about 60,000 employees.

The new funding will support PaidHR’s plans to expand into three additional markets by the second quarter of next year. With a strong emphasis on providing HR solutions targeting the African market, the company is finding a resilient place in the HR tech industry.