A Nigerian software engineer, Israel Iyonsi, has continued to make notable contributions to financial technology systems across Africa and beyond, following a career that began over a decade ago with self-taught programming skills and limited access to resources.
Iyonsi’s introduction to technology started in 2010 when, as a teenager, he discovered a YouTube tutorial on HTML using his sister’s laptop. What began as curiosity evolved into a sustained effort to master coding through online resources, self-guided projects, and consistent experimentation.
Despite repeated setbacks, including multiple instances of losing his laptops to theft, Iyonsi maintained his focus. “Losing my laptops was discouraging, but stopping would have meant giving up on the future I wanted. That was never an option,” he said.
Over the years, Iyonsi has played key roles in projects across major financial institutions. At Hydrogen, he worked with a multidisciplinary team on a settlement platform that processed over $1 billion in transactions. By 2024, the company had scaled operations, handling ₦49.1 trillion ($30.6 billion) in payments and generating ₦10.3 billion in revenue.
While at Zenith Bank, he contributed to the redesign of the Domestic Transfer Application, helping to integrate national payment systems that facilitated seamless money transfers. At the United Bank for Africa (UBA), he was part of a team that enhanced anti-money laundering systems through the integration of advanced screening modules into Actimize AML.
His experience extends beyond banking. At Heirs Technologies, Iyonsi helped improve Greenpole, a capital investment platform developed for Africa Prudential Plc, making corporate investment processes more efficient. He also contributed to Invearn, another Africa Prudential platform designed to simplify digital investments for individuals.
Iyonsi’s work with Kindred also focused on affiliate integrations, which generated over £2 million in revenue.
Speaking on his approach to technology and innovation, he said: “Technology must not be a quick fix; it has to endure, adapt, and create opportunities that extend far beyond the code.”
Currently, Iyonsi is expanding his expertise in artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, while continuing to contribute to large-scale enterprise projects. He described his philosophy as one grounded in “curiosity and consistency,” adding that his greatest achievement lies not only in the systems he has helped build but in the value they create for people and organisations.
“Contributing to platforms that power financial transactions on a global scale, and helping teams achieve business-critical goals, has been the most rewarding part of my career,” he said.
Iyonsi’s story, marked by persistence and self-driven growth, reflects the increasing role of African engineers in shaping global financial technology infrastructure.
