Tosin Eniolorunda, Co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint Inc, has been named to the 2026 TIME100 Next. This annual list by TIME recognises 100 of the world's most influential rising stars shaping the next generation of leadership across industries. Eniolorunda joins emerging leaders from business, technology, politics, science, sport, and culture. His inclusion acknowledges his efforts in building financial infrastructure that has expanded access to financial services across Nigeria.
Moniepoint, founded in 2015, has grown significantly under Eniolorunda's leadership. The company has become a unicorn since 2024 and serves more than 20 million businesses and individuals. It powers about eight in every ten in-person digital payment transactions in Nigeria with an agency banking network spanning all 774 local government areas. The company's blue POS terminal has become a familiar fixture of everyday commerce across the country.
Eniolorunda's citation was written by Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Elumelu, a 2020 TIME100 honouree, describes Eniolorunda as a young man who, like himself, "grew up without a silver spoon but still had the audacity to dream." He believes Eniolorunda's success will inspire other young Africans to pursue their goals.
Reacting to the recognition, Eniolorunda expressed gratitude to TIME and attributed the honour to the Moniepoint team and the millions of businesses and individuals who trust the company with their livelihoods. He emphasised that the recognition renews their commitment to building with greater rigour and care for the people they serve. Eniolorunda also thanked Tony Elumelu for his supportive words.
The recognition is part of a series of honours for Moniepoint from TIME. On 22 September 2026, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Felix Ike, was named to TIME's inaugural Executives of the Year list for Tech and Data. Last year, Moniepoint was also named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential Companies.
Other honourees on this year's list include actor Joey King, NBA star Tyrese Maxey, and Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala. Africa is also represented by Wawira Njiru, founder of the nonprofit Food4Education, who was profiled by comedian Trevor Noah. The full profile of Eniolorunda is available on TIME's website.
TIME will celebrate this year's honourees at the sixth annual TIME100 Next event in New York on 29 October. For African enterprises, the listing is a clear signal that companies built on the continent, for the continent, are commanding global attention. This recognition highlights the growing influence of African businesses and leaders on the global stage.
Key points
- Moniepoint CEO Tosin Eniolorunda named to 2026 TIME100 Next for expanding financial services access in Nigeria.
- Eniolorunda's inclusion recognises his role in building financial infrastructure in Nigeria.
- The recognition is part of a series of honours for Moniepoint from TIME, including listings for its executives and company.
