Top earners: Leaders transforming Nigeria’s future through data, product innovation

technology


In Nigeria’s rapidly growing tech sector, a select group of professionals are standing out, not just for their earnings but for their revolutionary innovations. These trailblazers are transforming industries, driving trends, and making a lasting impact across data science, product management, and technology. Through interviews, financial insights, and reports from leading organisations, we’ve highlighted the top earners—data scientists and product managers—who are pushing the limits of innovation and reshaping how complex challenges are approached.

Creating a credible and accurate ranking of the highest-earning data scientists and product managers in Nigeria required an extensive and meticulous research process. Rather than relying on speculation or publicly available salary estimates, we conducted a structured, multi-layered validation process to ensure that the figures presented here reflect reality.

To build a reliable dataset, we reached out to leading organisations across Nigeria’s key industries, including banking, asset management, fintech, telecommunications, logistics, healthcare, and technology—sectors where data scientists and product managers play crucial roles in driving business value. Our research team engaged with human resource departments, industry insiders, and senior executives to collect compensation data from over 50 organisations that employ professionals in these roles.

Additionally, we sampled data from the head offices of these companies, ensuring coverage across their branches nationwide rather than focusing solely on Lagos or Abuja. This approach provided a more accurate national representation of salary structures, ensuring geographical inclusivity.

To maintain data integrity and confidentiality, we relied on salary verification methods similar to those used by top consulting firms and research agencies. This included direct compensation reports provided by HR and payroll departments (where available), verification through payslips and official financial statements (without breaching data privacy regulations), cross-validation against financial disclosures from select publicly listed companies, and interviews with professionals in the industry to confirm market trends and earning potential. We also benchmarked our findings against global compensation trends for similar roles in emerging markets.

Through this extensive groundwork, we identified the top earners in data science and product management, ensuring that the figures presented are both accurate and reflective of industry standards.
Nigeria’s tech and finance ecosystems are rapidly evolving, with professionals in data science and product management at the forefront of innovation. These individuals are not just earning high salaries—they are making transformational contributions that redefine how businesses leverage data, optimise risk, and build ground-breaking products.

Top 5 Data Scientists

Habeeb Olawin
Annual Remuneration: NGN 30.5 Million


Habeeb Olawin stands out as a leader in financial data analytics, specialising in risk assessment, predictive modeling, and fraud detection. His expertise lies in developing machine learning models that enable financial institutions to detect fraudulent activities with high accuracy while optimising credit risk analysis. His work has directly contributed to reducing losses and improving financial security, saving banks billions of naira annually.

Doris Onuoha
Annual Remuneration: NGN 30 Million


Doris Onuoha has made a huge impact across the finance and tech sectors, with her predictive analytics and machine learning models transforming the way Nigerian businesses operate. Her work in fraud detection and risk assessment has played a pivotal role in strengthening the financial sector. Doris is also a passionate advocate for ethical data use and transparency, ensuring that her work leads to more secure and effective systems. She’s a true leader in the field, constantly finding new ways to apply data science for greater industry-wide benefit.

Akintayo Saheed
Annual Remuneration: NGN 28 Million


Akintayo’s specialty lies in using machine learning to predict customer behaviour and optimise resources, giving Nigerian financial institutions a major competitive edge. His ability to translate complex data insights into actionable strategies has made him a go-to expert. Whether optimising customer outcomes or streamlining resource allocation, Akintayo’swork has significantly improved the efficiency of Nigeria’s finance sector, earning him widespread respect among his peers.

Samson Edozie
Annual Remuneration: NGN 27.7 Million


Samson is leading the way in predictive analytics for the logistics sector, pioneering innovative strategies that have saved companies millions in operational costs. His expertise in machine learning has transformed delivery models, ensuring efficiency and reducing waste. Beyond his technical skills, Samson is committed to mentoring others in the field, fostering a community of excellence within the data science industry. His work continues to inspire the adoption of data-driven strategies across different sectors.

Chidinma Nwandu
Annual Remuneration: NGN 27.6 Million


Chidinma has completely redefined healthcare analytics in Nigeria, using big data to improve patient outcomes and streamline resource allocation. Her models provide actionable insights that drive efficiency in decision-making, which have been vital in addressing healthcare challenges. Chidinma’sinnovative work has led to collaborations across various sectors, showing just how versatile data science can be in tackling large-scale problems. She is also passionate about using data to tackle public health crises, and driving improvements in community health.

Top 5 Product Managers

Ibrahim Ojomu
Annual Remuneration: NGN 33.2 Million


Ibrahim’s innovative approach to financial products has set a new industry standard, driving both profitability and customer engagement. His deep market insight has led to the successful launch of multiple flagship products, cementing his role as a leading force in the fin-tech space. Ibrahim’s ability to predict market trends and create products that meet emerging customer needs has solidified his leadership in product development.

Martin Ilesanmi 
Annual Remuneration: NGN 33 Million


Martin is behind some of the most revolutionary cloud-based solutions in Nigeria, driving massive growth in user engagement. His ability to turn bold ideas into successful products has made him a key player in Nigeria’s tech scene. Martin’s knack for staying ahead of the technological curve enables him to lead innovations that elevate the customer experience and redefine industry expectations.

Joshua Ali 
Annual Remuneration: NGN 31 Million


Joshua has been at the forefront of creating products that simplify digital payment systems, bringing ease to small businesses and driving widespread adoption. His customer-first approach has increased user satisfaction and retention, making him a leader in the field of digital finance. Joshua understands the pain points of SMEs, and his tailored products have made financial transactions more accessible and efficient for businesses of all sizes.

Ifeoluwa Oladele Annual Remuneration: NGN 30 Million


Ifeoluwa is an expert in crafting customer-centric strategies that align perfectly with business objectives, ensuring each product launch is impactful. Her ability to balance user needs with business goals has contributed to major gains in market share for her companies. Ifeoluwa’s strategic thinking has driven the success of several high-profile products, making her a respected name in the industry.

Olawale Osineye
Annual Remuneration: NGN 29 Million


Olawale’s impact in the tech world has been huge, thanks to his ability to create products that directly address user challenges. His deep understanding of market needs allows him to develop solutions that resonate with customers. Known for his attention to detail and analytical approach, Olawaleleads teams to successfully launch products that make a real difference in the market.

This research provides a data-backed reflection of industry trends and delivers credible insights into the value of skilled professionals in Nigeria’s digital economy.
By showcasing these top earners, we aim to highlight the impact of data-driven decision-making and product innovation, provide aspiring professionals with insight into career growth and earning potential, and encourage organisations to invest in top talent for business and technological advancement. The figures presented are a result of rigourous validation, ensuring that this list remains one of the most comprehensive and reliable reports on compensation trends in the Nigerian tech space.

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