Nigerian fintech executive Tosin Eniolorunda, co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint Inc., has been named among the 100 emerging leaders featured in TIME100 Next 2026.
The recognition places Eniolorunda among a group of individuals identified by TIME as helping shape the next generation of global leadership. TIME describes TIME100 Next as an annual list recognising rising figures across different fields and industries. (TIME)
Eniolorunda among African figures recognised
Eniolorunda is the Nigerian business and technology executive highlighted in the supplied report as the only African in the business, technology and artificial-intelligence categories of this year’s TIME100 Next selection.
The wider TIME100 Next list covers several fields, including business, technology, politics, science, sports, culture, advocacy and the arts.
TIME CEO Jessica Sibley said the 2026 honourees were pushing boundaries and creating new possibilities in their respective fields and communities.
The 2026 edition was released digitally on September 30, with the TIME100 Next event scheduled for October 29 in New York. (Time Media Kit)
From fintech founder to global recognition
Eniolorunda co-founded Moniepoint in 2015, alongside Felix Ike. The company, formerly known as TeamApt, has developed into a major financial technology platform serving businesses and individuals.
Moniepoint says it now serves 20 million businesses and individuals and describes itself as Nigeria’s largest merchant acquirer, with its platforms supporting payments, banking, credit and business-management services. (Moniepoint Inc.)
The company’s growth has also attracted significant international investment.
In October 2024, Moniepoint announced a $110 million Series C funding round, led by Development Partners International, with participation from Google’s Africa Investment Fund, Verod Capital and Lightrock. (Moniepoint Inc.)
Focus on financial infrastructure
Eniolorunda has consistently positioned Moniepoint’s work around improving financial access for African businesses.
More recently, he has advocated building credit services on top of Nigeria’s existing payments infrastructure, using transaction data to help businesses that have historically had difficulty accessing formal credit. (Moniepoint Inc.)
Moniepoint’s platform has expanded beyond payments into areas including business banking, credit, cross-border services and business-management tools. (Moniepoint Inc.)
Tony Elumelu writes Eniolorunda’s citation
Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, wrote Eniolorunda’s citation for the TIME100 Next recognition.
Elumelu, himself a previous TIME100 honouree, highlighted Eniolorunda’s background and his development as an African entrepreneur.
Eniolorunda, in responding to the recognition, credited the achievement to the Moniepoint team and the businesses and individuals using its services.
He said the recognition would reinforce the company’s commitment to developing financial infrastructure and serving its customers.
Another Moniepoint executive recognised by TIME
The recognition follows another major TIME acknowledgement for Moniepoint.
The company’s Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Felix Ike, was named to TIME’s inaugural Executives of the Year: Tech & Data list earlier in 2026.
TIME’s media calendar confirms the 2026 Executives of the Year: Tech & Data and TIME100 Next editions as part of its September/October 2026 publication schedule. (Time Media Kit)
Moniepoint was also included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies in 2025, according to the supplied report.
Other personalities on the TIME100 Next list
The 2026 TIME100 Next cohort includes personalities from a wide range of fields.
Among the names highlighted in the report are actor Joey King, NBA player Tyrese Maxey and Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala.
Kenyan education entrepreneur Wawira Njiru, founder of Food4Education, is also identified among the African figures on the wider list.
This distinction is important: describing Eniolorunda as the only African across the business, technology and AI groupings is different from saying he is the only African person on the entire TIME100 Next 2026 list.
