How Elizabeth Ajao is Mapping Africa’s Tech Ecosystem
In March 2020, Elizabeth Ajao graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University with a degree in Botany and a clear plan to pivot into corporate finance. Then the global pandemic hit, erasing her secured internship at Sterling Bank and forcing a total reinvention.
Today, Ajao is not just working in tech; she is building the infrastructure for it. As a Product Manager at the cryptocurrency startup Quidax and co-founder of Builders in Fintech, she is solving the very problem she faced when entering the industry: a lack of localized knowledge.
The Journalism Interlude
Ajao’s entry into tech was unconventional. After a brief stint in product operations, she transitioned into tech journalism at WeeTracker. Over three months, she authored 30 stories covering venture funding in Francophone Africa and shifting banking trends in Kenya and South Africa.
“Tech journalism exposed me to the industry by default,” Ajao says. “You get to know more companies and startups.” However, reporting on the ecosystem eventually felt insufficient; she wanted to be an operator.
Building in the “African Context”
Following roles at VBank and the software agency Enyata, Ajao joined the tech team at Polaris Bank in 2023, overseeing payments for the VULTe 3.0 app. It was here she identified a critical void: while global resources like ChatGPT existed, there was no central hub for the specific, “on-the-ground” knowledge required to build financial products in Africa.
In June 2025, alongside co-founder Betty Bada, she launched Builders in Fintech. The platform serves as:
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An Open-Source Hub: A community-driven repository for fintech professionals.
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A Technical Glossary: A specialized dictionary defining industry terms within an African context.
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A Growing Community: Reaching 3,000 professionals and over 10,000 readers since its inception.
“Everybody was just winging it,” Ajao recalls. “We want this to be the go-to platform whenever people need clarity about fintech in Africa.”
The AI Shift: Doubling Down on Human Judgment
As generative AI begins to automate traditional Product Management tasks—such as writing Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) and user stories—Ajao remains unfazed.
She argues that while the barrier to entry for “building” has dropped, the value of a human operator has shifted toward problem framing and strategic execution.
“The tools may change how quickly we work, but they don’t replace judgment, context, or the ability to make the right decisions about what should be built and why,” Ajao explains.
Looking Ahead
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Innovation and IT Management at the University of Salford, Ajao is focused on scaling Builders in Fintech across the continent.
While her days are spent navigating the complexities of cross-border payments and AI integration, her downtime remains grounded: a “cringey” Nollywood movie or a K-drama. “They are so relaxing,” she says, proving that even the most modern “builders” need a classic escape.
