Two Nigerian companies, Moniepoint and Flutterwave, have secured spots on TIME’s 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Companies. This recognition is a significant milestone for both firms and a powerful endorsement of Nigeria’s growing role in shaping the future of fintech and digital inclusion across Africa.
Their inclusion underscores a broader shift, where African companies are no longer seen as emerging players but as global influencers in technology, finance, and innovation.
Moniepoint: Building Financial Infrastructure for the Underserved
Moniepoint enters the TIME100 list for the first time this year, listed under the “Disruptors” category. The company has become a major player in financial inclusion by serving more than 10 million customers and processing over 1 billion transactions every month.
With a strong presence across Nigeria’s small business landscape, Moniepoint helps merchants access banking, payments, and credit services that are often unavailable through traditional financial institutions. TIME praised the company’s ability to move both money and lives forward by enabling everyday people and small businesses to participate meaningfully in the formal economy.
Flutterwave: Expanding Africa’s Digital Economy
Flutterwave, a familiar name on the TIME100 list since 2021, has been included again in 2025 under the “Titans” category. Known for powering payments across 34 countries, Flutterwave is now extending its footprint to regions like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Bahrain.
More than just a payments processor, Flutterwave has evolved into a full-service digital commerce platform. It supports merchants, developers, and consumers through APIs and infrastructure that connect Africa’s fragmented economies. TIME highlighted the company’s efforts to enable cross-border transactions and build a unified payment system across the continent.
Nigeria’s Growing Influence on the Global Stage
The appearance of both Moniepoint and Flutterwave on the TIME100 list reflects years of innovation, strategic growth, and resilience within Nigeria’s tech sector. Despite regulatory hurdles and funding challenges, these companies have demonstrated that African solutions can scale and compete globally.
They are:
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Solving high-impact problems in financial access and trade
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Building continent-wide platforms with global potential
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Creating jobs and enabling digital entrepreneurship
Their work represents a broader trend of African companies taking control of their narratives and delivering real, measurable value.
A Signal to Global Stakeholders
For investors, policymakers, and development partners, TIME’s recognition of these Nigerian firms sends a strong signal. Africa is not just catching up; it is offering new models for digital inclusion and sustainable growth.
Moniepoint and Flutterwave are showing what is possible when innovation is rooted in local needs but executed with global ambition.
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