Personality of the Week: Abiola Metilelu Impacting Education Financing & Redefining Fintech in Africa

At the heart of every great transformation lies a visionary, someone bold enough to challenge the status quo, innovative enough to build new solutions, and passionate enough to carry others along on the journey. This week, on PressPayNg’s Personality of the Week, we celebrate Abiola Metilelu, the brilliant mind and driving force behind PressPayNg, Africa’s foremost education-focused fintech platform.

Abiola is more than a CEO. He is a financial innovator, enterprise strategy consultant, and social impact leader whose work is transforming both education and the fintech space across Africa. His story is one of resilience, disruptive thinking, and a burning desire to open doors of opportunity for millions of young people.

Africa’s 40 Under 40 Recognition

Abiola Metilelu was honoured as one of Africa’s top 40 Under 40 leaders at the 40Under40 Africa Awards held on February 22, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt. He won in the Banking & Finance category in recognition of his work in revolutionizing access to education financing through fintech. This prestigious award celebrates young African leaders who are making significant contributions and driving innovation across the continent. Abiola’s inclusion underscores how impactful PressPayNg’s model has been in bridging the finance gap for students and parents alike.

The PressPayNg Revolution: Impact on Education

Under Abiola’s leadership, PressPayNg has become a game changer in education financing, offering innovative tools for students and families to:

• Save consistently toward tuition fees and school related expenses
• Borrow responsibly with tailored micro lending solutions
• Insure educational journeys, reducing risk of dropout due to unexpected events

The impact is profound:

• Thousands of students who once faced the threat of dropping out can now stay enrolled, graduate, and pursue their ambitions.
• Parents are empowered with financial planning tools that reduce stress and bring dignity to how school fees are handled.
• Schools and universities benefit from more predictable funding flows, stabilizing operations and reducing administrative obstacles.

Shaping Fintech with Purpose

Abiola’s work doesn’t stop at education. He’s helping reshape fintech in Africa by integrating savings, Edu-Loans, not as separate products, but in a seamless ecosystem that addresses real-world problems.

• PressPayNg stands out as a model of inclusive fintech innovation.
• It blends social purpose with strong financial structure.
• Its success is contributing to Africa’s growing fintech narrative, one where access, equity, and impact count just as much as growth and profits.

A Scholar, Leader, and Changemaker

Abiola holds academic qualifications including MSc, MBA, FCE, FIHSD, FIMC and is currently pursuing an LLB (Hons) in Law With Business. His pursuit of knowledge and excellence is reflected in how PressPayNg operates; combining academic rigor, institutional partnerships, and innovation to solve real problems.

In a world where the cost of education is often seen as a barrier, Abiola Metilelu stands out as a beacon of change. Through PressPayNg:

• He’s breaking down financial barriers that stop many students from fulfilling their potential.
• He’s setting new benchmarks in fintech for how innovation can directly support social good.
• He’s elevating Nigerian leadership on a continent-wide stage.

His recognition at the 40Under40 Africa Awards is not just another accolade, it’s proof that solutions built with purpose are noticed, celebrated, and rewarded.

Join us in celebrating Abiola Metilelu, our Personality of the Week; an achiever, a pace setter, and a leader who is rewriting the future of education and fintech in Africa.