Payaza has struck a strategic partnership with Lebara Nigeria, becoming the telecom company’s exclusive payments and technology partner as it prepares to launch a new lifestyle and commerce hub
L-R: Adenike Ajayi – Head Sales and Distribution Samuel Alabi – Head Brands and Comms Ololade Afolyan – Head Finance Yinka Isioye – Director Consumer Business Philip Akinyele, CTO – Payaza Africa Ltd Opeyemi Disu , VP Product – Payaza Africa Ltd Taiwo Adeeko , VP Global Acquiring/Country Manager Nigeria – Payaza Ejiro Onokpasah – Manager Strategy and Innovation Tomi Awofiranye – Office of the CEO
The platform is designed to take Lebara beyond its traditional role as a telecom provider. Instead of simply buying airtime or data, subscribers will be able to book flights, purchase event tickets, pay for digital services, and access a range of everyday products and services—all from one place
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The partnership combines Lebara’s growing subscriber base with Payaza’s licensed payment infrastructure, providing the telco with the technology to power secure, seamless transactions
Fawaz Abaniwonda, Executive Advisor for Innovation & Research at Payaza, said the partnership reflects the company’s broader ambition to improve how millions of Africans interact with digital services
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“At Payaza, customer obsession shapes every decision we make. Our partnership with Lebara Nigeria allows us to translate that commitment into services that improve the everyday experience of millions of Nigerians,” he said
For Payaza, the agreement is a validation that its technology has matured into infrastructure capable of supporting global brands entering African markets
“Lebara’s decision to select Payaza as it begins operations in Nigeria is a significant vote of confidence in our infrastructure, our people and our ability to support global brands—not only in Nigeria, but across the 19 African markets in which we operate.”
Yinka Isioye – Director Consumer Business and Philip Akinyele, CTO – Payaza Africa Ltd at the signing ceremony for the strategic partnershipBI Africa
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The collaboration reflects a broader evolution taking place across Africa’s digital economy
Telecom operators are increasingly moving beyond connectivity into commerce, entertainment and financial services. As those ecosystems grow, the payments layer becomes one of the most important pieces of infrastructure behind the customer experience
“What we’ve brought to the table is the payment side of that vision—accepting payments, making collections seamless and ensuring the trust that both brands are known for remains central to the customer experience,” Taiwo Adeeko, Payaza’s Vice President of Global Acquiring and Country Manager for Nigeria, said
For Lebara Nigeria, choosing a payment partner wasn’t just about finding someone to process payments. The company was looking for a partner that could grow with its ambitions as it expands across Africa
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According to Yinka Isioye, Lebara Nigeria’s Director of Consumer Business, Payaza stood out because its growth journey closely mirrored Lebara’s own, making it a natural fit for the long term
“They’re young, but they’re very ambitious, and you can see that in what they’ve achieved,” Yinka said. “The ratings they’ve received from industry agencies gave us confidence that this is the kind of partner that can scale with us as we expand across the continent.”
That endorsement reflects how Payaza has positioned itself over the past few years—not simply as a fintech serving merchants, but as infrastructure capable of supporting businesses with continental ambitions
The company’s presence across multiple African markets also means partners entering new countries do not need to rebuild their payments infrastructure from scratch, allowing them to scale more efficiently
LebaraBI Africa
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The partnership also reflects changing consumer behaviour. Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world, with millions of digital-first consumers who expect payments, entertainment and connectivity to work together effortlessly
Lebara believes those consumers will shape the future of telecommunications, and Yinka says partnerships with companies like Payaza make the brand immediately more relevant to that audience
“Nigeria has a very youthful population, and they are data natives. They consume a lot of connectivity,” he said. “Partnerships like this help us connect with younger users because Payaza is also a young, innovative platform that many digital natives already know and trust.”
For Payaza, that recognition highlights another aspect of its growth. Beyond building payment technology, the company has increasingly become a trusted digital brand among startups and younger consumers navigating Africa’s expanding digital economy
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Philip Akinyele, Chief Technology Officer at Payaza, believes the collaboration with Lebara demonstrates how fintech and telecom companies can jointly redefine digital experiences
“I think it’s going to be a significant breakthrough,” he said. “They’re here to offer different layers of content and services that appeal not only to businesses but also to digital natives.”
As Lebara expands its product offerings and footprint across Africa, Payaza’s infrastructure is expected to power many of the digital experiences that follow. Together, the companies are laying the foundation for a platform that extends far beyond calls and data
