One of Africa’s emerging leaders in fintech and clean energy is redefining how technology can solve everyday challenges. Victor Daniyan, Founder and CEO of Nearpays and Yourrider Energies, is building innovative payment solutions and sustainable energy infrastructure designed for the realities of the African market. A Certified Management Consultant and Forbes 30 Under 30 (2024) nominee, his work reflects a strong commitment to financial inclusion, clean technology, and continuous improvement, positioning him as a bold voice shaping the continent’s digital and energy future. In this interview with CHISOM MICHAEL, he shares his entrepreneurial journey, the ideas behind Nearpays Soft POS, and how fintech and clean energy are driving inclusion and long-term impact across Africa.
You began your entrepreneurial journey quite early. What problem were you trying to solve at that stage of your life?
The core problem we were trying to solve was making it easy for individuals and businesses to accept card payments seamlessly. That was what led to the creation of Soft POS.
The mission has always been to simplify digital payments for everyone by using the best of technology, empowering businesses to grow and enabling individuals to take control of their finances with confidence.
Leadership often evolves through experience. Which lessons from your early years still guide how you lead today?
My early experiences taught me that leadership isn’t defined by big moments but by consistency. Being fair, prepared, and dependable even when it’s difficult still shapes how I lead today.
When progress slows or plans fail, how does the idea of continuous improvement shape your next move?
I learned early in life that continuous improvement is a fundamental requirement for any solution or product. Even with a solid product, users’ needs keep evolving, and new requirements and desires emerge. As a result, solutions must continuously evolve and go through required iterations to suit users’ needs.
Contactless and AI-led payments are central to Nearpays. What everyday financial frustration led you to build this solution?
Around 2020, I was running a small logistics business and partnered with a few e-commerce stores in Nigeria. My dispatch riders used POS terminals to receive payment at customers’ doorsteps for pay-on-delivery orders. However, there were many challenges, from low battery life on POS devices to frequent connectivity issues, and the difficulty of managing two devices: a phone for navigation and communication, and a bulky POS device for payments. These issues began to negatively affect the business.
I asked myself why dispatch riders couldn’t use a single device to handle both navigation and payments, without all the problems associated with POS devices at the time.
That led me to research and work on solving this internal problem. Today, that solution has evolved into Nearpays Soft POS, built on contactless payment technology.
Regarding artificial intelligence, I see it as a product enhancer, a platform that products can leverage to improve what has already been built. We have always used AI to make our products better, from improved security and enhanced customer service systems to product simplicity and speed optimisation.
We are also currently using AI for tax automation in Nearpays, helping users complete their tax filings and documentation correctly to avoid over-taxation.
Nearpays SoftPOS removes the need for physical POS terminals. What inspired the decision to build a smartphone-based payment solution, and how do you see this changing payment adoption for small and medium businesses?
The focus was on creating a more simplified way of accepting card payments that is both affordable and accessible, with key pillars being affordability and accessibility.
We removed the major barrier that required businesses to own an additional device—a physical POS machine—to accept card payments, even when they already had a smartphone. When receiving bank transfers, all that is required is a phone, so we questioned why accepting card payments should be any different.
This led us to simplify card payment acceptance by eliminating the cost of a POS machine, bringing it effectively to zero. As a result, SMEs can accept card payments more easily, while corporate organisations can scale faster through a software-based solution rather than relying on expensive hardware alternatives.
How does Nearpays SoftPOS ensure secure transactions while operating entirely on a smartphone without extra hardware?
Security at Nearpays is our core foundation, and we ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
We are PCI DSS–certified and fully compliant with global standards that require a secure environment for processing card transactions. We also work closely with Microsoft to maintain a highly secure infrastructure using Azure Sentinel, advanced firewall systems, and Microsoft Defender.
In addition, we leverage in-house artificial intelligence systems that prevent third-party applications from running simultaneously while the Nearpays SoftPOS app is active. We restrict data recording and enforce strict installation controls.
Furthermore, through our partnership with Visa, we ensure that all card information is fully protected, securely processed, and never stored in our database. If you’d like, I can further refine this for press publication, investor communications, or technical documentation.
Beyond industry language and policy debates, how do you personally define financial inclusion?
Financial inclusion means creating solutions for everyone by eliminating barriers related to location, socioeconomic status, language, age, and other limitations.
Moving into clean energy is a major commitment. What convinced you that electric mobility and energy infrastructure mattered to Africa’s future?
As I mentioned earlier, I previously ran a logistics business, which eventually led to my introduction to electric mobility.
A few years ago, we attempted to acquire a fleet of electric bikes due to constant fuel price increases, long fuel queues, and overall uncertainty, all of which were negatively impacting our operations. I also understood that electric bikes have fewer mechanical parts, making maintenance easier and more cost-effective in the long run.
However, an important question arose: where would we charge and maintain these bikes? At the time, there was almost no infrastructure for electric vehicles to thrive—especially two-wheelers, which have a smaller battery range compared to cars.
We realised someone needed to bridge that gap, so we began building infrastructure for electric mobility—not just for ourselves, but for others to leverage and easily transition to electric vehicles.
Along the way, we partnered with NNPC and have been scaling ever since. This is how we transitioned from being a logistics company focused on deliveries to building infrastructure that other logistics companies can leverage while transitioning to EVs. We currently have stations scattered across Nigeria.
Fintech and energy both face regulatory and cultural barriers. How do you navigate environments that are cautious about change?
Regulators have a responsibility to do their jobs, and fintech and energy are among the most regulated sectors. New requirements are constantly introduced, which keeps you on your toes. Staying compliant can be exhausting.
The key is building a knowledgeable relationship with regulators and structuring your business around models that allow for rapid iteration. Some regulations can be a major setback, but you must be able to adapt, remodel, and continue to thrive.
Cultural barriers often stem from uncertainty, lack of understanding, and questions about the product. These concerns usually ease over time as clarity improves.
Running two companies demands balance. How do you stay grounded when pressure begins to affect clarity?
As much as possible, I don’t allow myself to become overly pressured. I delegate effectively and avoid trying to do everything myself—that’s why I have a team and systems in place to reduce pressure.
I also listen to good music to keep my mind calm, focused, and clear. As they say, music is food for the soul and the mind.
Public recognition can shift expectations. How do you keep your attention on long-term impact rather than visibility?
My focus has always been on the game, and it still is. My energy is channelled toward the impact we create, which ultimately drives performance. Results are evidence of hard work.
I focus on outcomes, and I don’t allow distractions to divert my attention.
Many people will rely on the systems you are building. How does that responsibility influence the choices you make today?
It creates a strong user-first mindset and shapes how our solutions and products are built and developed. We actively leverage user feedback and input to guide product iteration and development.
