The real problem with African payments isn’t technology – Ehi Ijewere, Senior product manager at KoraPay

From fragmented regulations to deeply localised financial behaviours, Ehi Ijewere of KoraPay explains why scaling fintech products across the continent requires more than infrastructure.

For many, technology is a tool of convenience. For Ehi Ijewere, Senior Product Manager at Kora, it is a medium for transformation, particularly for a continent as complex and underserved as Africa.

Ijewere doesn’t trace his introduction to technology to one defining moment. There was no early coding experience or long-standing fascination with computers. Instead, his curiosity was sparked by something as ordinary as Google Maps.

At the time, it wasn’t just about navigation; it was the experience. The ability to share locations with friends in real time, track movement, coordinate meetups, and even call out who was truly “five minutes away” felt almost magical. But beyond the novelty, he wanted to know how this technology was built.

The backstory

Ijewere’s path didn’t initially point towards fintech. He studied logistics and management, and his early career reflected that training. 

His first role was at a hyperlocal logistics startup, Ace, where he worked on one of Nigeria’s earliest structured delivery systems, helping power Chicken Republic’s original delivery service. At a time when delivery standards were almost inconsistent, the model introduced speed and structure standards.

But staying within defined roles was never the plan. 

After Ace, he explored several entrepreneurial paths, experimenting with ride-hailing networks for package delivery, launching a local food delivery service, and even attempting to build a Patreon-like platform for African creators. While some of these ventures didn’t succeed, each one deepened his understanding of systems, markets, and user behaviour.

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