These product managers are shaping the future of technology and business on the continent and beyond. They come from diverse backgrounds and have a wide range of experiences, but all share a passion for building great products that solve real-world problems.
In this article, we will profile the top 10 African product managers who are making waves in the industry. These are the individuals who are leading the charge in product development, driving growth for their companies, and changing the face of business in Africa. From fintech to e-commerce, healthtech to edutech, these product managers are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and paving the way for a brighter future for the continent. So without further ado, let’s meet the top 10 African product managers you need to know about.
1. Oluwatobi Otokiti
Oluwatobi is a leading African female product management leader who is revolutionizing the tech space. She is a member of the Forbes Technology Council. Her dedication to innovative product development has earned her recognition as one of the top 10 female product management leaders in Africa. In 2022, she was an award winner of the US TechWomen initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
With over a decade of work experience in building financial and EduTech services technology products, Oluwatobi has a track record of delivering innovative technology products for Africa, the US, Europe and emerging markets.
She has worked in three unicorns – Flutterwave, Andela and Interswitch – which has positioned her as a strong product leader.
Oluwatobi is also the founder of Productive, the largest product management community and school in Africa that helps product managers become better skilled.
Her work at Productive has been recognized in the tech ecosystem in Africa due to the many success stories it has birthed. In addition to her work at Productive, Oluwatobi is also a product mentor at Google Launchpad.
Oluwatobi is a public speaker and has spoken at conferences in London, Manchester, South Africa, Rwanda and Nigeria. In 2020, she was a public speaker at Mind the Product, a product management conference with over 1,000 career professionals. Oluwatobi’s dedication to building great products and her contributions to the tech industry in Africa make her one of the top African product managers to watch.
2. Oladipupo Bolaji
Oladipupo is an experienced technology professional in the computer software industry, with a range of expertise in software development, project management, agile practices, and product management. Throughout his career, he has served in various roles, including Software Engineer & Programmer, Network Connectivity and Enterprise Software Solutions Provider, Senior Product Manager, and Service Delivery Manager.
Currently, Oladipupo is a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, responsible for the product management of part of MESH among other responsibilities. With his extensive experience and accomplishments, he is confident in his ability to add value to any organization he works with.
Oladipupo has a strong track record of delivering successful products and services across a range of industries. He has a deep understanding of customer needs and has worked closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions that meet those needs.
Oladipupo’s dedication to delivering great products and his contributions to the tech industry make him one of the top African product managers to watch.
3. Oluwatosin Isaiah Aladeojebi
Oluwatosin is a seasoned product manager in the fintech industry. His experience in leading African banks , FirstBank Nigeria and United Bank for Africa (UBA) where he currently is the Product Manager, Remittance Product Team have showcased his skill and expertise in solving problems in product management.
He is a certified Project Management Professional and also has a first class degree in Project Management from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Oluwatosin is definitely one of the top African PMs to look out for.
4. Anjola Akinrinola
Anjola Akinrinola is a passionate and detail-oriented product manager with a strong focus on process, strategy, and solving user problems. With years of experience in the tech industry, he has developed a deep understanding of how to leverage market feedback, stakeholder management, and cross-functional team inputs to develop nimble processes and create concise product road maps.
Currently, Akinrinola is a Senior Product Manager at Omnibiz, where he oversees the product development process and helps the company to achieve its strategic objectives. With his extensive experience in product management, he has been instrumental in driving the success of several products and services across a range of industries. With his passion for product, process, and strategy, and his dedication to delivering great outcomes for his stakeholders, Akinrinola is one of the top African product managers to watch.
5. Benjamin Dada
Benjamin Dada is a startup and product-obsessed intrapreneur with years of experience working with startups at different stages of growth. With a focus on key go-to-market functions such as business development, partnerships, and growth, Benjamin has helped several startups to scale and achieve their strategic objectives.
Over the course of his career, Benjamin has worked for companies headquartered in Nigeria, South Africa, and the UK, giving him exposure to a broad range of cultures, a deep understanding of local landscapes, and a diverse professional network.
He is highly regarded for his expertise in the fintech sector, where he has made significant contributions to the growth of several startups.
In addition to his work in the fintech sector, Benjamin is also a leading voice in the African Tech Media space. He has spent over six years documenting the growth and evolution of the tech industry in Africa, first as a journalist and now as a media entrepreneur. His experience in this area has given him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing African startups, and he is passionate about using his platform to help them succeed.
Currently, Benjamin is a Product Manager at GigBridge, where he is responsible for overseeing the product development process and driving the success of the company’s products and services. With his deep knowledge of the startup ecosystem and his passion for product and innovation, Benjamin is one of the top African product managers to watch.
6. Uchechukwu Oluwakayode Ukaigwe
Uche is an accomplished IT professional with a strong background in product management, IT sales, and partnerships. With over five years of experience working with telecoms, consultancies, and startups, he has a proven track record of growing revenue for both Nigerian and international organizations. As a seasoned leader, Uche has extensive experience building and managing digital and SaaS products.
He brings an agile mindset, expert communication skills, and a data-driven approach to product planning and analysis.
Uche is well-versed in product development management using agile processes, user experience research and design, software QA manual testing, and operations management. He has a talent for writing feature requirements, developing product strategy, ensuring product safety, wireframing, roadmap planning, and execution.
Uche has also learned, developed, and managed products using Scrum methodologies, and he has a proven track record of identifying growth and product-market fit opportunities using metrics and data. Currently, Uche works as the Manager of Products and Partnerships at TBO Consulting Group. With his skills and experience, Uche is an invaluable asset to any team seeking to develop and launch successful products.
7. Temi Giwa
Temi is a seasoned Product Manager with over 15 years of experience in various tech fields, including Development, Digital Marketing, Consulting and Product Management.
She prides herself in her ability to craft, launch, and grow technology products from strategy to execution. With a proven track record of developing and executing product strategies in high-risk, low-information markets, Temi considers herself the “Swiss Army Knife” of Product Managers- generally useful, multi-purpose, and adaptable.
In her four years as Product Lead at Paystack, Temi has been responsible for driving product success for Nigeria across multiple levers, including Merchant Tools (Web and Mobile), Internal Operations, and Quick Delights. Prior to Paystack, Temi had worked at Wakanow and KPMG Nigeria, where she honed her expertise and gained a wealth of experience in product management.
8. Tobi Dele-Safa
Tobi is a driven and dedicated individual adept in Front-End Software Engineering and Product Management. She is currently a senior associate product manager at PwC Nigeria, bringing her skills in using Software Engineering and Product Management tools/frameworks such as React.js, React (TypeScript), Nodejs, APIs, MongoDB, Firebase, ABP, Python, Pandas, Scrum, Agile Methodology, Kanban, Waterfall, MSCW, T-Shirt framework, Jira, Figma, Asana, etc.
With over 3 years of experience as a Software Engineer, Tobi has worked with both startups and large corporations, as an in-house software engineer and freelancer.
She has worked with teams to build fraud management systems that have lowered fraudulent transactions by over 70% for clients, as well as fully automated internal audit solutions using Angular and the ABP framework. Tobi has also demonstrated her skills as a PM by consistently prioritizing effectively, bringing a thoughtful and engaging process to each business problem, and applying frameworks such as the MoSCoW method and T-Shirt Framework to select and develop features. She communicates clearly through the use of User Stories and by sharing the rationale behind each prioritization decision.
Overall, Tobi enjoys building and working on products to solve problems in several facets of human endeavor, especially in novel spaces. She is an extraordinary team player, with a blend of technical skill and business acumen, where she can align a group around a common goal and lead them to a successful outcome.
9. Jacquelyn Ekueme
Jacquelyn is an experienced Technology Solutions Professional with expertise in solution delivery using Agile and Waterfall methodologies. She is skilled in business process optimization using Lean principles and has a proven track record in resource and stakeholder management.
Currently a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, Jacquelyn has also worked with leading Nigerian banks such as Access Bank, Diamond Bank, and United Bank for Africa (UBA).
She is passionate about leveraging technology to solve business problems and has successfully delivered various technology solutions for her clients. Her experience in managing complex programs and her ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders has enabled her to deliver value to her clients consistently.
10. Teneika Askew
Teneika Askew is an accomplished Analytics Leader with more than a decade of experience in providing data-driven insights, business process optimization, and consulting services.
She specializes in analyzing financial, talent, and operational data to drive workforce strategies for Fortune 500 companies. Using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, SQL, and Python, Teneika creates innovative and 100% data-driven solutions from organizational data. In addition to her expertise in business analysis for commercial, non-profit, and governmental entities, she is also committed to training hercolleagues and communities in the use of open data available through the DATA Act.
Teneika has received numerous awards, including the Women of Color in STEM – Technology All-Star Award, and has been recognized as a US Digital Leader by Globant in the annual edition of the Globant Awards – Women that Build. She holds several certifications, including Microsoft Data Analyst, Certified Scrum Master, and AWS Solution Architect. Teneika is a distinguished scholar and has been recognized as a speaker at several conferences, including People Analytics World and the Society of Women Engineers.
She currently is the Group Product Director, Data Science & Analytics Enablement in the US Navy.
The individuals mentioned in this article are talented and accomplished professionals in their respective fields. They possess a wide range of skills and experience, from product management to analytics and business consulting. Their dedication and expertise have earned them much deserved recognition and awards, and they continue to make significant contributions to their industries. They serve as inspiration and motivation for other Africans striving to excel in Product Management.
