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Moniepoint co-founder and Group CEO Tosin Eniolorunda has been named among TIME100 Next 2026 honourees.
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He was recognised for his work in expanding access to financial services through financial technology infrastructure in Nigeria.
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Eniolorunda is the only African listed among the business, technology and artificial intelligence leaders featured in this year’s edition.
October 7, (THEWILL) – Moniepoint co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, has been named among the 100 emerging leaders featured in TIME100 Next 2026, the annual list published by TIME magazine.
Eniolorunda was recognised alongside individuals from business, technology, entertainment, sports and other fields identified by the publication as leaders whose influence is expected to shape the future.
According to Moniepoint, TIME’s recognition focused on Eniolorunda’s role in developing financial infrastructure to widen access to financial services in Nigeria.
He is the only African included among the business, technology and artificial intelligence leaders featured on this year’s list.
From Fintech Company To Unicorn
Eniolorunda co-founded Moniepoint in 2015 with Felix Ike, who serves as the company’s co-founder and Chief Technology Officer.
The company became a unicorn in 2024 after securing a funding round that valued it at more than $1bn. Moniepoint says its platforms currently serve more than 20 million businesses and individuals, while its agency banking network operates across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The company’s expansion has placed it among the Nigerian fintech firms operating across payments, business banking and financial services.
However, the TIME100 Next recognition is specifically for Eniolorunda rather than the company.
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Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, wrote the citation accompanying Eniolorunda’s inclusion on the list. Elumelu, who was himself named to the TIME100 list in 2020, described Eniolorunda as a young entrepreneur who built his career without the advantage of a privileged background.
Reacting to the recognition, Eniolorunda attributed the achievement to the Moniepoint team and the millions of people using the company’s platforms.
He also acknowledged Elumelu’s support for African entrepreneurship.
Other TIME Recognition
The latest recognition adds to a series of acknowledgements involving Moniepoint executives.
In September, Felix Ike was named to TIME’s inaugural Executives of the Year list under the Technology and Data category.
Moniepoint was also included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies list in 2025.
TIME launched TIME100 Next in 2019 as a companion to its annual TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people. The Next list focuses on individuals considered to be emerging figures in their respective fields.
Other personalities included in the 2026 edition are actor Joey King, basketball player Tyrese Maxey, tennis player Alexandra Eala and Kenyan social entrepreneur Wawira Njiru.
The TIME100 Next 2026 event is scheduled to take place on October 29 in New York.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
