At the recent GITEX Africa 2025 conference, Olugbenga Agboola, CEO of Flutterwave, shared his insights on how to transform a local fintech disruptor into a global payment infrastructure provider. In his keynote session, "10X Stage: From Local Disruptor to Global Fintech Powerhouse," Agboola emphasized the vital role of compliance, regulation, and collaboration in achieving this success.

Flutterwave, founded in 2016, has established itself as a leading fintech player in Africa, operating in key markets and processing over 400 million transactions annually. With a transaction volume of over $450 million to date, the company is now expanding into new global markets. However, Agboola stressed that scale means nothing without the systems that sustain it, highlighting the importance of investing heavily in risk and compliance.

Agboola views regulation not as a hindrance, but rather as a strategic advantage. He believes that compliance builds trust among users, regulators, and partners, which is crucial when things go wrong. A solid framework, he said, can mean the difference between crisis and continuity. This approach has enabled Flutterwave to secure licenses across the African continent, ensuring smooth and compliant money transfers.

One of the biggest operational challenges Flutterwave faces is the country-specific licensing model in Africa. Unlike Europe, where a single license enables cross-border activities, each African country has its own rules and licenses, making scaling difficult. Despite this complexity, Flutterwave continues to navigate the regulatory landscape with agility, accepting the complexity to make things simple for the end user.

Agboola also drew a striking comparison between developed and emerging markets. He noted that in the US, the payments system hasn't fundamentally changed in over 20 years, whereas in Africa, it might have changed just last week. This pace of development presents both a challenge and an opportunity, which Flutterwave has learned to navigate with agility.

Another key aspect of Flutterwave's strategy is investing in African talent beyond infrastructure. Agboola emphasized the need for African entrepreneurs, governments, and companies to treat talent like infrastructure – something that needs to be nurtured, scaled, and protected over the long term. He believes that world-class talent requires investment, and Flutterwave is committed to developing and managing talent in Africa.

Agboola also highlighted the importance of stakeholder management, particularly when dealing with regulators. He emphasized the need for proactive engagement between founders and regulators at every stage of growth, stressing that trust in regulators is essential. This approach has enabled Flutterwave to build strong relationships with regulators, which can mean the difference between being shut down and being supported.

When asked about global players shaping his thinking, Agboola cited OpenAI and Apple as companies that are redefining the way industries operate. He expressed interest in partnering with such companies to shape trends, rather than just following them.

As Flutterwave expands beyond the African continent, its strategy remains focused on compliance, operational excellence, and talent development. Agboola believes that Africa's fintech future will be built on trust – not just with consumers, but also with regulators, partners, and teams. With its sights set on becoming a global payments titan, Flutterwave is poised to make a significant impact on the fintech industry.

In conclusion, Agboola's keynote session at GITEX Africa 2025 provided valuable insights into the importance of compliance, regulation, and collaboration in transforming a local fintech disruptor into a global payment infrastructure provider. As Flutterwave continues to expand its reach, its commitment to these principles will be crucial in shaping the future of Africa's fintech industry.