At 16, Oluwatosin Olaseinde moved with her family to the Democratic Republic of Congo and later to South Africa, where she pursued her A-levels and tertiary education. Despite obtaining two degrees and securing a well-paying job, she returned to Nigeria with a trimmed pocket and a burning passion for impacting the financial landscape.
Olaseinde observed that financial literacy is one challenge affecting people, especially those in African regions. People struggle with managing their finances, understanding investment opportunities, and securing their financial future. Despite increasing access to banking services and digital finance, a vast knowledge gap persists, leaving many individuals vulnerable to poor financial decisions and economic hardship.
Determined to prevent others from making the same financial mistakes she made, she began sharing financial insights on social media. That quickly gained traction and revealed a widespread desire for accessible financial education.
Thereafter, she launched Money Africa in 2018 to create a structured platform where individuals could learn practical financial skills to build wealth and achieve financial independence. The platform secured the $100,000 NSIA Prize for Innovation in 2023.
“Joining Money Africa was one of the best decisions I made in 2019. Prior to joining, I recommended a few people to the community since I follow Money Africa on IG. A post in August finally did the magic for me and it’s been an awesome experience so far. I didn’t know agritech was a thing before I joined. I’ve been able to grow from a place of no-risks syndrome to taking calculated risks as regards my finances.”~Testimonials
Oluwatosin Olaseinde further expanded her mission of enhancing financial literacy and inclusion by launching Ladda in 2020, a fintech platform designed to democratise access to investment opportunities for Nigerians. Ladda offers a user-friendly mobile application that enables people to save in Nigerian Naira and US Dollars and invest in diverse assets, including global stocks, mutual funds, and alternative investments. This empowers users to achieve their financial goals with ease and confidence.
In 2021, Money Africa was projected to earn $1 million in revenue, with Ladda having $700,000 in assets under management. Both platforms boast 15,000 active users and a thriving social media community exceeding 300,000 members. These members benefit from the educational resources and investment opportunities on these platforms. They create a safe forum for individuals to discuss, ask questions, and receive personalised financial guidance from industry experts.s
Olaseinde also introduced Money Africa Kids, an edtech platform to educate children about money management. The platform offers engaging learning modules, interactive quizzes, and gamified elements tailored for children aged 7 to 18. Since its inception, Money Africa Kids has organised virtual boot camps and physical training sessions for over 1,500 African children, equipping them with essential financial literacy skills.
Oluwatosin Olaseinde is a Washington Mandela Fellow. She aims to make wealth-building more accessible for Millennials and Gen Zs, empowering them with the knowledge and tools needed for economic independence.
