The appointment, which takes immediate effect, comes as Nigeria's fintech industry continues to evolve, driven by increased digital payment adoption, stronger regulatory oversight, and a growing focus on cybersecurity and fraud prevention. PalmPay says the leadership change will help position the company to expand its reach to more underserved communities while strengthening the reliability and security of its financial services.
PalmPay Group, a multinational fintech company providing digital financial services across high-growth emerging markets, said Oluyemi will oversee the company's Nigerian operations, where it delivers a broad range of digital financial products and services to both individuals and businesses. He will also work closely with regulators to ensure PalmPay's expansion aligns with Nigeria's financial inclusion, digital transformation, and social development objectives.
Oluyemi joins PalmPay with more than 20 years of experience in Nigeria's payment ecosystem, having built an accomplished career at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). During his time at NIBSS, he served as Business Development Lead and was instrumental in developing several national payment initiatives, including the Digital Validation of Nigerian International Passport (e-Passport Validation), the Electronic Dividend Mandate Management System (e-DMMS), and the Electronic Pensions Contribution Collection System (EPCCOS).
He also played a significant role in the rollout and early adoption of the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) platform, Nigeria's pioneering real-time interbank payment system introduced in 2011. His contributions extended to expanding the platform's accessibility to Other Financial Institutions (OFIs), helping accelerate digital payments across the country's financial system.
Academically, Oluyemi holds a Master's degree in Monetary Economics from the University of Ibadan and has completed extensive professional training both within Nigeria and internationally.
Commenting on the appointment, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, Chika Nwosu, said the company is entering an important phase of its growth journey and requires experienced leadership to support its long-term ambitions.
"Samuel joins PalmPay at an important stage in our journey to strengthen the foundations that will support our long-term goal of driving financial inclusion. His extensive experience makes him well positioned to help us scale sustainably while maintaining the operational discipline, governance and customer-first culture that define PalmPay."
Speaking on his new role, Oluyemi expressed enthusiasm about joining one of Africa's fastest-growing fintech companies and contributing to its next phase of expansion.
"PalmPay has established itself as one of the most impactful fintech companies in emerging markets by making financial services more accessible and affordable for millions of people.
"I am excited to join the company and look forward to working alongside an exceptional team to strengthen operational excellence and support PalmPay's vision of building a leading digital financial services platform. Together, we will continue delivering secure, reliable, and customer-focused financial solutions while contributing to the continued evolution of Nigeria's digital financial ecosystem."
PalmPay noted that the appointment reflects its broader commitment to building trusted, secure, and accessible financial services across all the markets where it operates. As digital finance continues to reshape Nigeria's economy, the company said strengthening its leadership team is part of its strategy to ensure millions of customers continue to enjoy reliable and innovative financial solutions that seamlessly fit into their everyday lives.