Ezra Olubi, born 12th November 1986 (age: 36 years), is a successful Nigerian entrepreneur, co-founder of Paystack, and a leading figure in the African fintech industry.
He is known for his remarkable business acumen and strategic thinking, which have helped him navigate the challenges of building a successful startup in Nigeria.
In this article, we will take a deep dive into the life of Ezra Olubi, exploring his early life, education, career, and achievements.
Early Life And Education
Ezra Olubi was born on the 12th of November 1986 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. He grew up in a middle-class family and attended Kings College, Lagos, for his secondary education.
After completing his secondary education, he studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, graduating with honors.
Ezra Olubi Career
After completing his studies, Ezra Olubi began his career as a software engineer at Parkway Projects, a Nigerian software development firm. He worked at Parkway Projects for a few years before leaving to co-found Paystack, a Nigerian fintech startup, in 2015.
He has worked with several companies, including Softcom Limited, Jobberman, Delivery Science Incorporation, and Alexander Haring Limited, before co-founding Paystack.
Business Management Consultants Limited
After graduating from Babcock University in 2006, Ezra Olubi started his career as an IT Administrator for Business Management Consultants Limited.
His primary responsibility was to provide technical support for custom-built sales performance reconciliation and rewards software. He also provided other general IT services.
North Ocean Logistics And Solutions Limited
From November 2006 to April 2007, Ezra Olubi worked as a Web Applications Developer for North Ocean Logistics.
During this period, he helped the company create cars-ng.com, which is now defunct.
Softcom Limited Nigeria
Between May 2007 to August 2010, Ezra Olubi worked for Softcom Limited as a website and applications developer. He was also responsible for leading and supervising a team of five developers.
At Softcom, he contributed to developing reloadng.com, softpurse.com, and other digital products.
In July 2008, Ezra Olubi was promoted to Head Developer of Softcom, a position he held until August 2010.
Softcom Imagio Limited
Between September 2010 to July 2012, Ezra Olubi worked for Softcom Imagio Limited as the Head of the product development team.
He played a significant role in the creation of Eyowo.com, a unified payment system aimed at reducing the barrier of entry for prospective eCommerce players in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
Jobberman Limited
From December 2012 to June 2013, Ezra Olubi served as the Chief Technology Officer at Jobberman Limited.
He was responsible for scaling operations for Jobberman, which included relocating from their initial server stack to a cloud-based architecture. This operation enabled Jobberman to process tens of millions of transactions daily.
Ezra Olubi also ensured that Jobberman was available and reachable, achieving an uptime of 99.9% for their applications.
He directed the rewriting of problematic sections of the code base written before Jobberman became a large website with many monthly visits.
Delivery Science Incorporation
Between March 2014 to September 2015, Ezra Olubi served as the Chief Technology Officer of Delivery Science Incorporation.
During this period, he oversaw the technology and innovation activities of the company and directed the team responsible for developing and managing all website and mobile applications.
Alexander Haring Limited
Since May 2012, Ezra Olubi has been the Director of Magic at Alexander Haring Limited. In this position, he provides technical advice to companies and directs the development team responsible for in-house projects.
Paystack
Paystack is the company that brought Ezra Olubi to the forefront of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. In October 2015, he co-founded Paystack with Shola Akinlade, one of his coursemates at Babcock University, who had the payment project idea that later became Paystack.
Paystack provides an online payment platform that enables businesses to accept payments from customers worldwide.
With his working experience and intelligence, Shola Akinlade requested Ezra Olubi’s help. He had worked for a payment company and received the “Programmer Of The Year” award twice at Babcock University.
Ezra Olubi’s contributions played a significant role in the success of Paystack, and the company garnered funding from several companies and individual investors.
In October 2020, Stripe, a global payments company, acquired Paystack for over $200 million, a major milestone for the African tech industry. This acquisition made Paystack the largest Nigerian fintech acquisition in history.
Apart from his work at Paystack, Ezra Olubi is also a co-founder of TechCircle, a Nigerian technology news platform, and Delivery Science, a Nigerian logistics company.
Achievements
Ezra Olubi has achieved remarkable success as an entrepreneur. His work at Paystack has been recognized globally, and he has received several awards and accolades for his contributions to the fintech industry.
In 2019, he listed on Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 lists, and in 2020, he was named one of the 100 most influential Africans by New African Magazine.
Personal Life
Ezra Olubi is a private individual, and little is known about his personal life. He is married to a woman named Oluchi, and the couple has a child together.
Who is Ezra Olubi?
Ezra Olubi is a Nigerian entrepreneur and co-founder of Paystack, a fintech startup that provides modern online and offline payment solutions to African businesses.
What Is Ezra Olubi’s Educational Background?
Ezra Olubi studied Computer Science at Babcock University in Nigeria and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree.
What Are Some Of The Companies Ezra Olubi Worked For Before Co-Founding Paystack?
Some of the companies that Ezra Olubi worked for before co-founding Paystack include Business Management Consultants Limited, North Ocean Logistics and Solutions Limited, Softcom Limited Nigeria, Softcom Imagio Limited, Jobberman Limited, and Delivery Science Incorporation.
What Was Ezra Olubi’s Role At Paystack?
As co-founder of Paystack, Ezra Olubi served as the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), overseeing the technology and innovation activities of the company.
What Is Paystack, And What Does It Do?
Paystack is a Nigerian fintech startup that provides online payment solutions for African businesses.
The company helps businesses accept online and offline payments through various payment channels, including debit/credit cards, bank transfers, and mobile payments.
What Was The Biggest Event In Paystack’s History?
The biggest event in Paystack’s history was its acquisition by Stripe for over $200 million in October 2020. This acquisition marked a significant milestone for Paystack and the fintech industry in Africa.
What Is Ezra Olubi Doing Now?
After the acquisition of Paystack by Stripe, Ezra Olubi left the company to pursue other interests. He serves as a board member and advisor to several technology companies in Nigeria and continues to play an active role in the tech industry.
What Is Paystack, And How Did Ezra Olubi Co-Found It?
Paystack is a fintech company that provides payment solutions to African businesses. Ezra Olubi co-founded Paystack in 2015 with Shola Akinlade, his coursemate at Babcock University.
Shola had the idea for a payment project and approached Ezra for his technical expertise. The co-founders gathered funding from several companies and individual investors to build Paystack into a successful company.
Conclusion
Ezra Olubi is a successful Nigerian entrepreneur and a leading figure in the African fintech industry.
His work at Paystack has helped revolutionize how African businesses accept payments, and his contributions to the tech industry have been recognized globally.
As Africa continues to grow and develop, entrepreneurs like Ezra Olubi will be at the forefront of this growth, driving innovation and creating jobs for millions across the continent.
