About Niyi Ajao

Holds the B.Sc.(Computer Science & Economics, combined honours) degree of University of Ife, Nigeria, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), MBA of OAU, and M.Sc.(Computer Sciences) degree of the University of Lagos. Was Assistant Lecturer at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), and Associate Lecturer at the University of Lagos. He is an Aresty Scholar. 'Niyi Ajao is founder and CEO of Digital Finance Solutions Ltd - a firm specialised in the development of solutions and provision of consulting services to support the Digital Financial Services sector with a view to enhance the robustness of the national payments and settlement system, to grow cashless payments and financial inclusion, while deepening seamless and secure digital payments. He left Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc as Deputy Managing Director in April 2021, where he served as Executive Director(Business Development) for 3 years and Executive Director (Technology & Operations) for 4 years. He joined NIBSS as Deputy General Manager (Operations) in 2001 following 10 years in ICT roles in commercial banking in Nigeria where he left as AGM and Head, IT. While at NIBSS, he played leading roles in the development and subsequent operations of the Nigeria Automated Clearing System, Nigeria Central Switch, NIBSS Instant Payments and other shared-service initiatives of the financial services industry. ‘Niyi specializes in Financial Technology; Clearing, Switching and Settlement systems; Digital Financial Services; and Digital Identity. He actively participates in, and speaks at, local and international industry fora on payments system practice and policy, payments innovation, and Digital Identity. 'Niyi is a Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), member of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), and a Fellow of the Computer Society of Nigeria (NCS). He frequently attends local and off-shore strategy and leadership development executive trainings. He has interests in Digitalization, Digital Financial Services (DFS), the Payments System, and the bankers clearing, switching and settlement system. He loves reading, adventure travels, and astronomy.