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| Segun Aribisala |
By [Emmanuel Kayode], The Brain Magazine
In a region teeming with youthful potential yet challenged by limited access to opportunity, Segun Aribisala’s appointment as ECOWAS Youth Ambassador is more than a personal achievement — it's a symbol of possibility. The West African Youth Council has not only bestowed upon him the prestigious Nelson Mandela Leadership Award for Excellence and Integrity, but also handed him a daunting task: to inspire, innovate, and influence the future of millions of young West Africans through the power of financial technology and inclusive leadership.
At the intersection of technology and transformation, Aribisala has already carved a name for himself. As the Head of Professional Services and Delivery at Union Systems Limited, he’s been the brain behind several large-scale fintech deployments used by African banks to manage trade finance, treasury, and FX operations. With over 15 years of cross-functional experience, he brings more than technical expertise — he brings a vision.
The Task Ahead
Aribisala now stands at a critical juncture, with three major tasks set before him as ECOWAS Youth Ambassador:
1. Bridging the Digital Gap for Youth:
Across West Africa, millions of young people remain digitally disconnected. Internet access, fintech literacy, and startup capital remain concentrated in urban zones. Aribisala must now advocate policies and programs that bridge this gap and promote digital inclusion across rural and underserved areas.
2. Youth-Led Innovation and Financial Inclusion:
In a region where youth unemployment hovers alarmingly high, Aribisala’s task involves championing youth entrepreneurship in the digital economy. That includes empowering young innovators with access to credit, training, and platforms to launch scalable fintech solutions that solve local problems.
3. Strengthening Institutional Collaboration:
As Youth Ambassador, he must also work with regional governments, banks, tech hubs, and development agencies to shape policies that support youth-led innovation. Whether it's simplifying business registration or reforming digital financial regulations, policy-level influence is key.
Proposed Solutions: A Strategic Blueprint
To tackle these tasks, Aribisala will need more than goodwill. He’ll need a strategic approach backed by partnerships, advocacy, and execution:
Digital Skills Empowerment: Launch ECOWAS-wide digital bootcamps and innovation labs that train youth in financial technology, coding, product design, and digital entrepreneurship. These can be delivered in partnership with banks, telcos, and development partners like the African Development Bank or World Bank.
Micro-Innovation Grants: Advocate for a special ECOWAS Youth Innovation Fund focused on providing seed grants and early-stage capital for youth-led fintech projects that address inclusion, cross-border payments, and local challenges such as remittance cost reduction and agri-finance.
Policy Advocacy and Think-Tank Engagement: Establish youth policy roundtables where young professionals can influence regulatory reforms and startup policy frameworks. This will ensure young voices are embedded in national fintech and economic strategies.
Mentorship and Regional Knowledge Exchange: Create a mentorship program pairing experienced fintech leaders across ECOWAS with emerging youth founders, encouraging peer learning and cross-border collaboration.
Why It Matters
Aribisala’s appointment is a signal that excellence in private sector leadership can — and should — be redirected toward regional transformation. In his own words: “This recognition is a reflection of the work we’re doing to make financial technology more efficient, inclusive, and forward-looking.”
Observers say his career — spanning banking operations, structured trade, economics, and fintech delivery — uniquely positions him to merge practice with policy. He embodies the kind of leadership Africa needs: innovative, grounded, and impact-driven.
As youth remain at the heart of West Africa’s demographic boom, the road ahead demands leaders who understand both the heartbeat of technology and the pulse of the people. With the weight of a region on his shoulders, Segun Aribisala now begins a new chapter — not just as a fintech executive, but as a youth ambassador with a mission to unlock opportunity, scale innovation, and shape West Africa’s digital destiny.
For The Brain Magazine – Where Innovation Meets Impact.
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