Flutterwave CEO Urges Young Nigerians to Solve Problems, Build with Resilience

Flutterwave Founder and CEO Olugbenga “GB” Agboola has urged young Nigerians to focus on solving real problems, developing resilience and executing ideas with discipline rather than measuring success primarily by financial returns. Agboola made the remarks during appearances at two major youth and business gatherings in Lagos, The Elevation Church’s Find Your Voice and Covenant Nation’s The Platform, where he spoke about entrepreneurship, career development, personal resilience and building businesses that can scale. At Find Your Voice, a career and leadership summit that attracts young professionals from across Africa, Pastor Godman Akinlabi hosted Agboola for a fireside chat titled, “Building the Rails: Scale, Trust, and the Long Game of African Enterprise.” Agboola used the session to trace his own path into entrepreneurship, saying he initially approached his career as a software engineer focused on solving problems.

“I didn’t start out as an entrepreneur; I was simply a software engineer trying to solve problems,” he said.

He attributed professional growth to a combination of curiosity, learning from others and the discipline to complete tasks.

“Curiosity is essential, but so is discipleship and apprenticeship. To achieve excellence, you need curiosity, the ability to follow through, and the determination to get things done,” Agboola said.

He also challenged young professionals to reconsider how they identify opportunities. Rather than beginning with questions about personal financial gain, Agboola said entrepreneurs and professionals should first identify problems that require practical solutions.

“Sustainable success begins when you stop asking, ‘What can I gain?’ and start asking, ‘What can I solve?’” he said.

He said problem-solving does not necessarily require launching a company. “Look around you, find an opportunity and solve it. It doesn't have to be starting your own company; it can be right where you currently work because intrapreneurship is just as valuable,” he added. The Flutterwave chief executive also spoke about dealing with uncertainty, particularly for people building businesses or advancing their careers in difficult conditions. He urged young professionals to develop internal support systems rather than allowing online commentary and external pressure to dictate their decisions.

“Building isn’t supposed to be easy, and easy wasn’t promised,” Agboola said.

He said faith, family and trusted friends had helped him navigate periods of uncertainty. “You have to be naturally resilient. I walk into some meetings completely uncertain; all I do is pray and go in,” he said. Agboola later appeared at Covenant Nation’s The Platform, hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade, where he addressed the theme, “Dream Big. Execute with Excellence.” The Platform is a widely broadcast Nigerian business conference that has featured international thought leaders and attracts audiences beyond Nigeria. At the event, Agboola focused on the gap between having an ambitious vision and building the systems required to deliver it. He argued that scale depends not simply on a large idea, but on trusted and reliable systems that can support sustained growth. “Dream beyond what you see around you, go and learn, and then execute with absolute excellence,” Agboola said. He also encouraged Nigerians to view their operating environment as a source of opportunity rather than an obstacle.

“Being a Nigerian should actually be an unfair advantage. Focus on your mission and execute for a long time,” he said.

His message at both events centred on persistence, learning and execution, with particular attention to the responsibilities that come with building companies capable of serving large markets. Agboola's engagement with young entrepreneurs also extends beyond speaking engagements. He founded Resilience17, a venture fund and startup studio focused on supporting technology entrepreneurship and economic growth across Africa. The platform invests in and supports founders seeking to build technology-driven businesses on the continent.