Broadcasting
Dayo Samuel: An African Product Leader, Driving AI and Embedded Finance
Dayo Samuel
In this conversation, we’ll explore his journey, his approach to product leadership, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Dayo, Africa’s technology ecosystem is growing rapidly, but infrastructure challenges still exist. How do you approach building products that balance global best practices with the unique realities of African markets?
Dayo Samuel (DS): Yeah, so for me, it always starts with context. I’ve seen that when you just copy-paste global playbooks into African markets, it doesn’t always land because the realities on the ground are different. Things like payment infrastructure, internet reliability, and even how trust is built with users those are not the same as in Europe or the U.S.
So the way I approach it is to learn from global best practices things like user-centered design, iterative testing, strong product frameworks, research methodology but then adapt them with the realities here. For example, in embedded finance, you can’t assume every user has a credit card on file. You need to consider mobile money, offline access, or even social trust networks as part of the product design.
I prefer to run reasonably controlled, research-led experiments. What I mean by that is I spend time understanding the local constraints and user behaviors first through interviews, observation, or data and then I design quick pilots to test solutions against those insights. That way, the experiments are not just “try and see,” they’re actually grounded in the realities of the people we’re building for.
At the end of the day, I see my role as bridging both worlds: bringing in the structure and discipline of global product leadership, but staying close enough to the ground here in Africa to design for what’s real. That balance is what creates products that actually scale sustainably.
In markets where reliable data can be scarce or fragmented, how do you go about gathering and validating customer insights to guide your product decisions?
DS: Yeah, that’s a really common challenge here. Sometimes the data just isn’t complete or reliable, so you can’t just rely on dashboards or reports like you would in other markets. For me, it’s about triangulating insights from multiple sources. I combine whatever quantitative data is available even if it’s fragmented with qualitative research: talking directly to users, observing behavior in context, and understanding their real pain points.
Many African startups struggle with scaling beyond their first wave of users. From your experience, what does achieving true product–market fit in Africa look like, and how can companies measure it effectively?
DS: Yeah, achieving a product–market fit here is a bit different from other markets. In Africa, it’s not just about hitting growth numbers or downloads, it’s about building something that actually works for the people you’re serving, given local realities. For me, true product–market fit happens when users not only adopt the product but rely on it, tell others about it, and engage with it consistently, even in environments where infrastructure or trust can be challenging.
From my experience, getting there starts with really understanding the user: running research-led experiments, observing behavior in context, testing assumptions, and iterating quickly. For example, in embedded finance, we had to validate whether people would trust a new payment flow or rely on it for recurring transactions and that meant combining qualitative insights with small pilots before scaling.
As for measuring it, I focus on a few key signals: retention over time, engagement metrics that show real usage, and how much users become advocates for the product. In Africa, sometimes the numbers alone don’t tell the story so combining quantitative metrics with qualitative feedback is what really shows whether you’ve found a product that fits the market.
Monetization is often tricky in Africa, where consumers are highly price-sensitive. How do you design business models that are both inclusive and sustainable in the long term?
DS: Yeah, monetization here definitely has its challenges. For me, it’s about designing business models that meet people where they are affordable, accessible, and relevant while still making the product sustainable. I combine user research with small experiments to test pricing, payment methods, and value perception. For example, with embedded finance, we explored mobile-money-first flows and tiered pricing, validating what people would actually pay for before scaling. It’s all about balancing inclusivity with long-term viability.
There’s a growing demand for skilled product managers across Africa, but the talent pipeline is still maturing. How have you built or mentored product teams to deliver global-standard products while staying rooted in local context?DS: Yeah, building product teams here is definitely about balancing global standards with local realities. For me, it starts with hiring people who are curious and adaptable, not just technically strong, but willing to learn from the market and the users. Then, I mentor them through research-led, hands-on experiences: small experiments, pilots, and iterative testing that are rooted in local context.
I also emphasize frameworks and processes from global best practices things like structured roadmaps, clear metrics, and user-centered design but always adapt them to what actually works here. Over time, this approach helps teams deliver products that meet international quality, but are also deeply relevant and usable for African users.
With global tech giants entering African markets, how can local product managers differentiate their solutions and compete on both value and scale?
DS: Local product managers win by deeply understanding the market and designing for realities global players might overlook things like offline access, mobile money, and social trust. I focus on research-led experiments to test solutions quickly, combining local insights with global best practices. That’s how you deliver products that are both relevant and scalable.
Fintech, mobility, and e-commerce have all seen significant regulatory attention in Africa. How do you navigate shifting government policies while ensuring product innovation isn’t stifled?
DS: Regulation is definitely a big factor here, so I treat it as part of the product strategy, not a blocker. I stay close to policy updates, engage with stakeholders early, and design flexible solutions that can adapt as rules change. At the same time, I ensure experimentation culture to keep innovation moving, so we’re iterating and learning without risking compliance. It’s about being proactive, adaptable, and user-focused.
Partnerships with telcos, banks, and even governments often determine the success of African products. What’s your framework for evaluating and structuring partnerships that drive adoption?DS: Partnerships start with alignment, understanding what the partner can bring and how it adds value to the user. I evaluate potential partners based on reach, trust, operational capability, and shared incentives. Structuring the partnership is about clear roles, measurable goals, and flexibility to iterate. I also run small pilots early to test assumptions before scaling, so the partnership drives real adoption, not just theoretical impact.
Africa is made up of 54 very different markets. What strategies have worked best for you when trying to scale a product across multiple countries on the continent?
DS: Scaling across Africa is all about balancing standardization with local adaptation. I start with a core product framework that works universally, but I don’t assume it fits every market out of the box. I spend time understanding local behaviors, regulations, and infrastructure, then run small, research-led pilots in each market to validate assumptions before full rollout.
I also focus on building modular solutions things like flexible payment flows or language support that can be adjusted per market without redesigning everything. And finally, I prioritize partnerships and local teams who understand the context; they’re key to scaling efficiently while keeping the product relevant and trusted.
Finally, looking ahead, with technologies like AI, blockchain, and digital identity gaining traction, what do you see as the biggest product opportunities in Africa over the next decade?
DS: Looking ahead, I see huge opportunities at the intersection of technology and local needs. AI can help personalize financial services, credit scoring, and even healthcare in ways that were impossible before. Blockchain opens doors for transparent transactions, secure identity, and cross-border payments. Digital identity, in particular, is foundational once people can prove who they are, a lot of services become accessible, from banking to government programs.
For me, the biggest product wins will be solutions that combine these technologies with a deep understanding of local context solving real problems for users while building trust and accessibility. Products that do that will scale fast and have lasting impact.
Gold remains one of the most powerful commodities in the global financial architecture. It is widely recognized that, for traders in Nigeria, specifically, currency pressures, inflation expectations, and shifts in global liquidity make up the macro environment more often than not; hence, understanding the correlation of gold with key Forex assets is more of an economic insight than a trading tactic.
The correlation between gold and currencies, equities, bonds, and even energy markets provides a broader framework for interpreting global risk sentiment. A growing number of Nigerian investors use this correlation to hedge against inflation, read capital-flow trends, and adjust trading strategies across major currency pairs.
Why Gold Matters in Today’s Macro Environment
This can be explained by looking at the larger picture and how global factors either positively or negatively impact the price of gold: spiraling inflation, geopolitical tension, tightening by central banks, and the flight-to-safety dynamic that heightens in moments of market stress. African traders, especially those active with international brokers such as JustMarkets, are very sensitive to how gold performs not only as a commodity but also as a macro indicator.
Indeed, the strongest correlations of gold are more often found with the US dollar, major bond markets, equity indices, and energy instruments in periods of high geopolitical risk. Each one of these offers a different angle for Nigerian traders to approach macroeconomic changes.
Gold and US Dollar: The Most Watched Correlation
The inverse correlation between XAU and the USD remains one of the bedrock relationships in global finance. It usually weighs on gold because a stronger dollar raises the opportunity cost of holding the metal. Conversely, the opposite has occurred when the market has priced in rate cuts, rising inflation, or policy uncertainty.
This relationship provides Forex traders in Nigeria with a macro perspective:
USD strength; pressure on gold; bullish signals for USD-pairs like USD/JPY or USD/CHF
USD weakness; appreciation of gold; potential strengthening of the non-USD majors
This dynamic is often emphasized by platforms such as JustMarkets in their markets analytics, allowing traders to match the technical setup with real policy shifts from the Federal Reserve.
Gold and Bond Yields: A Window into Global Risk Appetite
Gold is highly sensitive to real interest rates. When US real yields fell, it sent gold higher because investors saw it as a hedge against inflation and thus a haven. Yet higher yields tend to dampen demand for precious metals.
To traders, this correlation is a reason for short-run volatility around announcements like:
US CPI
FOMC decisions
Results of Treasury auctions
In countries like Nigeria, when domestic inflation is high and Naira pressure amplifies sensitivity to global risk, the movement of gold often proves an early indicator of how capital might rotate between safe havens and risk assets worldwide.
Gold and Equity Markets: The Fear Gauge
While geopolitical tensions or recession fears tend to deflate equity markets, they strengthen gold. This negative relationship is considered helpful for traders looking to deduce spikes in volatility and risk-off flows. Examples include:
Sharp US30 or NAS100 declines coupled with XAU/USD rallies
Broad-based sell-offs driven by political uncertainty or commodity shocks
This dynamic helps explain to the Nigerian analysts focused on policy and political economy how global risk events transmit to the local market through capital-flow sentiment.
Gold and Energy: Transmission via the Inflation Channels
Although gold and oil are not directly correlated, both respond to inflation expectations. Surging oil prices can fuel inflation forecasts that support the price of gold.
This channel is particularly important in the case of Nigeria, a major oil exporter. When crude markets temporarily tighten due to supply disruptions or OPEC policy decisions, gold becomes a complement to hedge against global inflation risk.
Trading with the Use of Gold Correlations
A structured approach allows traders to put gold’s relationships into practice:
Start with the macro driver.
Identify whether inflation, geopolitics, or monetary policy is the primary force shaping markets.Translate the macro event into correlation expectations.
Example: falling bond yields lead to a weaker USD, which in turn supports gold and could lead to upside in EUR/USD.Use correlation clusters instead of isolated signals.
Gold + USD + bonds provide a more reliable picture than gold alone.Apply risk management aligned with volatility cycles.
Gold’s volatility often spills over into major currency pairs.
Market platforms like JustMarkets emphasize these cross-asset links to help traders simplify complex macro interactions into actionable insights.
Why Nigerian Traders Pay Close Attention
The Nigerian economy is highly integrated into global commodity flows; inflation cycles, dollar liquidity, and geopolitical developments tend to reach the local market faster than the pace at which policy adjustments can be made.
Gold serves as a barometer of global risk, a hedge against currency depreciation, and a signal of moves in the key USD pairs that headline Nigeria’s trading activity.
In a region increasingly active in the Forex market, understanding the relationships involving gold is not just about trading but also a strategic tool for analyzing global economic behavior
Mr. Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, took centre stage at the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) annual end-of-year meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, recounting the company’s remarkable growth and reaffirming free IT training for journalists.
Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, in a group photograph with NITRA Members
Speaking directly to IT media members at the company’s training facility in Lagos, Akano acknowledged the critical role journalists played in supporting New Horizons during its formative years two decades ago.
He detailed how the firm evolved from a handful of staff to one of Africa’s leading ICT skills training organisations, now employing about 500 staff across multiple training centres nationwide.
Akano Spotlights Youth Training, University Partnerships
Akano highlighted that New Horizons has trained over 500,000 youths, particularly tertiary institution students, equipping them with practical IT skills essential for Nigeria’s digital economy.
He announced recent partnerships with universities, including a new agreement with Afe Babalola University, to scale hands-on training programmes for students.
“This growth would not have been possible without the media’s support in documenting our journey,” Akano stated, pledging continued free IT skills training for media members to remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
Reciprocal Support Defines Long-Standing Partnership
The venue hosting the NITRA meeting underscored Akano’s generosity; NITRA Secretary Chidiebere Nwankwo secured the free facility after contacting him—a gesture consistent with New Horizons hosting multiple association events and training IT journalists since its inception 20 years ago.
Participants shared personal testimonies of Akano’s support, including veteran journalist Aaron Ukodie, whose daughter—an Accounting graduate from the University of Johannesburg—received NYSC placement and IT scholarship at New Horizons.
The Guardian’s Yemi Adeyemi recounted Akano accommodating his editor’s child for mandatory IT training after other firms declined.
Members praised Akano’s commitment to human capital development as evidence of deep appreciation for the media community that chronicled New Horizons’ success over two decades.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has launched the NIMC Pre-Enrolment Portal to revolutionise the National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment process, enabling applicants within Nigeria and in the Diaspora to capture biodata online prior to biometric verification at enrolment centres.
NIMC
Accessible via penrol.nimc.gov.ng, the platform allows users to fill enrolment forms, schedule appointments, upload supporting documents securely, and manage personal details directly, thereby slashing congestion, minimising wait times, boosting data accuracy and enhancing overall service efficiency at centres nationwide.
NIMC Director-General and CEO, Engr. (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, spearheaded the initiative as part of the Commission’s technology-driven strategy to fortify institutional performance, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that emphasises digital transformation, efficient public service delivery and inclusive national development.
Dr Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, highlighted key benefits including simplified biodata handling, confidential data protection through robust security measures, reduced physical centre visits and heightened operational effectiveness, urging all prospective enrollees to adopt the portal for a faster, citizen-friendly experience.[conversation_history]
The move underscores NIMC’s mandate under the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 to manage the National Identity Database, issue NINs and foster a reliable digital identity ecosystem vital for national planning, with users advised to complete pre-enrolment online before heading to selected centres for biometrics.
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