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Top 10 African Product Managers
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.
Bolt, Africa’s leading ride-hailing platform, hosted its Bolt Family Fest in Lagos to honour driver loyalty, reward top performers, and strengthen community ties within its driver network.
As Bolt’s largest market in Nigeria, Lagos served as the ideal location for this vibrant celebration of excellence and shared growth.
The event recognised and rewarded some of Bolt’s longest-serving and still-active drivers, who have been with the platform for 7 to 8 years since the early days when Bolt was known as Taxify.
These veteran drivers were specially recognized and rewarded, each receiving a cash award of ₦200,000 in appreciation of their commitment to the platform and consistent service delivery.
In addition to honouring loyalty, the Bolt Family Fest provided a platform to scale up vehicle branding efforts in the city.
The on-site branding process was made easy and accessible for drivers, while attractive incentives including branded merchandise, gift bags, and raffle entries encouraged participation.
A key highlight of the day was a lucky dip giveaway, where two lucky drivers, one newly branded and one previously branded each walked away with a brand-new SmartTV.
Osi Oguah, General Manager, Bolt Nigeria said: “Our drivers are the heart of everything we do at Bolt, and this event is our way of saying thank you for their dedication and professionalism. We’re not just building a platform, we’re building a family.
“The Bolt Family Fest is about creating moments of connection and showing our drivers they are seen, appreciated, and celebrated.”
The event delivered multiple wins for Bolt including increased the number of branded vehicles in Lagos, enhanced Bolt’s street-level visibility across the city and strengthened the sense of unity and pride within the driver community.
MultiChoice is reportedly testing weekly subscription plans in Uganda, aiming to ease financial pressure on customers struggling with monthly payments.
If successful, the pay-TV giant may expand the model to other African markets as it fights to retain subscribers amid economic challenges, according to the Sunday Times.
The company, which operates in 16 African countries, has seen its subscriber base shrink by 1.2 million in the past year, dropping to 14.5 million.
Half of those losses came from South Africa, where high unemployment and rising living costs have forced households to cut discretionary spending, including DStv subscriptions.
Calvo Mawela, group CEO, MultiChoice, confirmed the weekly subscription trial has been running for seven weeks.
“Within three to six months, we’ll have a good idea if it’s working,” he told the Sunday Times.
“If successful, we’ll expand it to other markets. We believe this approach can help customers in the same way prepaid mobile services revolutionized telecoms.”
MultiChoice faces financial strain from currency depreciation in key markets like Nigeria, Angola, and Ghana, alongside rising inflation.
In South Africa, economic stagnation has further squeezed consumer budgets.
Despite a recent 31% price hike in Nigeria, Mawela remains optimistic, noting that the naira has stabilized and subscriber recovery may follow.
While the new payment option could improve affordability, Mawela dismissed the idea of letting users customize channel bundles, stating, “We still don’t think it works.”
However, MultiChoice is researching tiered packages, including separate sports and entertainment offerings, to boost revenue.
The company is also streamlining costs, targeting R2 billion in savings by 2026 through reduced satellite expenses, better content deals, and fewer decoder subsidies.
As broadband penetration grows, MultiChoice reports a 38% surge in DStv Stream users.
However, its standalone streaming platform, Showmax, has underperformed initial expectations despite a 44% increase in paying subscribers. Mawela admitted the venture’s high costs are unsustainable, prompting talks with partner Comcast NBCUniversal to adjust funding.
“Streaming is the future, but data prices must improve for it to thrive in Africa,” MultiChoice stated.
For now, the company hopes flexible subscriptions and cost controls will stabilize its business as it navigates a tough economic climate.
MultiChoice Nigeria’s subscription revenue declined by 44 per cent to $197.74m in the financial year ended March 2025, down from $355.93m recorded in the same period a year earlier, as rising inflation and a worsening economic climate triggered a mass exit of subscribers.
The sharp revenue drop was driven by “sizeable customer losses in Nigeria as high inflation adds more pressure on consumers,” the company said in its latest financial report. Inflation stood at 23.71 per cent in April 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The pay-TV provider has lost 1.4 million subscribers in Nigeria since its financial year ended in March 2023.
Nigeria alone accounted for 77 per cent of the 1.8 million subscribers lost across MultiChoice’s Rest of Africa segment, which includes markets such as Kenya, Zambia, and Angola.
Between April and September 2024, the company lost 243,000 subscribers in Nigeria, as macroeconomic and consumer conditions deteriorated further.
At the close of its 2025 fiscal year, MultiChoice reported 14.5 million total subscribers, with 7.5 million of them in RoA. The group attributed part of the overall decline in performance to foreign exchange losses resulting from a 44 per cent depreciation of the naira against the US dollar.
MultiChoice said it incurred foreign exchange losses of $158.19m and managed to remit only $133m from Nigeria at an average exchange rate of N1,589 per dollar, compared to $184m at N1,044 per dollar in the previous year.
“Nigeria’s economic challenges had a significant impact on our Rest of Africa operations, contributing to a 23 per cent drop in RoA subscription revenue to $779.66m,” said Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Group, Calvo Mawela.
Total subscription revenue, including South Africa, declined by 11 per cent year-on-year to $2.27bn. Overall group revenue fell nine per cent to $2.87bn, while operating profit declined by 34 per cent to $263.50m. Trading profit dropped by nearly half to $228.14m.
“Our performance reflects both the challenges we’ve faced and the resilience of our teams,” said Mawela. “While macroeconomic pressures and currency volatility have weighed on our results, our disciplined execution, cost management, and investment in new long-term growth opportunities position us well for the future.”
In spite of its declining linear subscriber base, down 2.8 million across two financial years, MultiChoice reported notable growth in its digital and streaming businesses.
DStv Internet revenue rose 85 per cent, KingMakers grew by 76 per cent in constant currency, DStv Stream increased 48 per cent, and Showmax saw a 44 per cent year-on-year rise in active paying customers.
“Our strategy is shaped by developments in our industry, such as changes in technology which are driving shifts in consumer behaviour, as well as the impact of a rise in piracy, streaming services, and social media,” Mawela said.
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