Fintech innovator Chidinma Ndego speaks on financial inclusion, her Nigerian roots, and transformative tools in Africa's digital economy
Q: You've driven impactful fintech solutions across Africa. Why did you become interested in financial inclusion?
Chidinma: It started during my time working on a digital fintech application- that was a digital short-term lending product for one of Africa's largest commercial banks. Through that experience, I saw firsthand how technology could bridge financial gaps, especially for the low-income earners who couldn't access the traditional, collateral-based lending. By simplifying access, the bank increased disbursements by 50%, but more importantly, empowered individuals who had previously been locked out of the financial system. Witnessing the tangible impact on their lives, whether it was covering emergency needs or supporting short term goals, solidified my belief in the power of inclusive fintech to create real, lasting change.
Q: You focused on youth saving at MyPennyTree. What was special about your approach?
We realized that functionality was not enough to induce behavior change- it has to be engaging. We added group savings and gamified challenges to the app to cater to students and young earners. Think "squads" where peers keep each other accountable. This delivered a 30% increase in retention and 40% additional platform savings in the year. It was all about the combination of financial education and community, proving tech can nurture habits.
Q: In what ways does your Nigerian background affect your philosophy on products?
Deeply. The dynamism of Nigeria teaches you to plan to survive. I have tailored investment analytics for high-net-worth clients, but the core lesson applies universally: products must respect local context. It can be remittance flow simplification at TransferXO or alternative credit scoring at LedgeFi to serve the unbanked, but in both cases, success depends on understanding nuances—like how trust is built or transactions fail.
Q: You're now building MyRateCard in the UK. Why focus on freelancers?
During the process of scaling fintech products in Nigeria, I realized that freelance talent, particularly Africans, had a problem with price transparency in the global market. MyRateCard addresses that. It is a tool for professionals to showcase standardized rates depending on the skills promoting reasonable negotiations. It is in early-stage but the vision is simple: democratize opportunity. This is part of my bigger philosophy that inclusive design elevates entire ecosystems.
Q: So what is your message to young Nigerian/African product builders?
Begin not with solutions but with problems. We talked to over 30 users at MyPennyTree, and realized that visualization of their goals was hugely engaging to them, before we redesigned our onboarding. Also, learn to love limitations. In such markets, such as Nigeria, creativity is tested by infrastructural constraints. Last but not least, create bridges. My work now spans Lagos to Manchester because diverse perspectives fuel innovation.
Africa is not only embracing technology, but we are also defining it. Nigeria's 25 million+ unbanked adults? That is not a roadblock, that is an opportunity to leapfrog over legacy systems. The next decade is for the solutions that are both scalable and empathetic, be it AI-based microloans or social savings instruments. And I am here for it--one product at a time.
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