Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lauded Flutterwave founder Olugbenga Agboola for his ability to recognise and capitalise on economic opportunities, describing the company as the largest and most influential fintech enterprise in Africa during remarks at the firm’s 10th‑anniversary gala in Lagos.

The inaugural Gala Night, held at The Delborough Lagos, brought together leading political figures, business executives and cultural icons to celebrate a decade of innovation and excellence in digital financial services.

Obasanjo’s address showed the transformative role of strategic opportunity utilisation in technology and entrepreneurship.

He traced part of Flutterwave’s success to broader shifts in Nigeria’s economic landscape, notably reforms he championed in the telecommunications sector that helped lay the groundwork for technology‑driven ventures across the continent.

Obasanjo said that recognising and seizing opportunities, as Agboola has done, is crucial to driving innovation that can compete globally.

“Many people don’t get that type of opportunity,” Obasanjo remarked, emphasising that understanding and acting on emerging prospects often separates success from obscurity.

His comments aligned with his recount of how Nigeria’s auction of GSM licences during his presidency generated significant revenue and catalysed growth in information and communications technology, a precursor to today’s fintech boom.

At the gala, Obasanjo concluded by commending Agboola’s entrepreneurial drive and the company’s rise from addressing basic cross‑border payment inefficiencies to becoming a fintech powerhouse, the largest in Africa.

His remarks set the tone for discussions on Nigeria’s economic prospects and global competitiveness.

The event, hosted by Africa’s leading payments technology company Flutterwave in partnership with luxury hospitality brand The Delborough, brought together top executives and policymakers from technology, aviation, hospitality, FMCG, insurance, fashion, beauty, and the public sector. The gala celebrated innovation, leadership, and strategic collaboration while signalling Flutterwave’s deepening commitment to Nigeria’s business ecosystem.

From the red carpet arrival to high-level networking over refreshments, industry leaders, founders, policymakers, and creatives exchanged ideas on scaling Nigerian enterprises globally. The evening was hosted by Mojibade Sosanya, with Flutterwave Founder and CEO Agboola delivering a keynote reflecting on the company’s journey and its role as a financial infrastructure partner to Nigeria’s largest businesses.