Folashade Femi-Lawal is a recognised digital banking, fintech, and payments expert with over 25 years of experience in financial services, telecommunications, and business consulting. She has helped transform the future of digital payments in Nigeria and across borders, leading major projects that have improved financial access for millions.
Folashade is currently the Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa at Mastercard, where she drives digital payment adoption and financial inclusion across the region. She also serves as Chairman of the Board at Mastercard Ghana and Director at the Institute of Directors, Nigeria.
Before this, she worked at First Bank of Nigeria, where she led Nigeria’s largest card base with over 11 million cards in circulation. She played an important role in launching digital banking products, growing the bank’s market share, and winning multiple industry awards, including the Best Digital Bank of Distinction in 2016 & 2017.
Folashade has had a major impact in important financial projects, such as managing a $2.2 million partnership between First Bank, UNICEF, and the Nigerian government to support 20,000 rural women in Northern Nigeria through digital payments. She also serves on the Board of Anglo Africa Investments Ltd. and is an Executive Committee Member of CEBIH (Committee of e-Business Industry Heads).
Her leadership and expertise have earned her several recognitions, like the LinkedIn Payment Influencer of 2024 (EMEA), Top 45 Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation (2024), Top Tech Career Women in Africa (2025), and Visionary Leader in Digital Transformation and Technology (2024).
Outside of her corporate success, Folashade is committed to mentoring and empowering women. She leads the Career Management Pillar at First Women Network and has helped women advance in their careers. She is also the Convener of PrayingMumsInc, a global community with over 5,000 members that offers support and mentorship to women.
From her early days at Airtel Nigeria, where she worked on major telecom projects, to leading fintech and digital banking growth in Africa, Folashade has consistently pushed boundaries. She continues to improve the future of digital payments, financial inclusion, and women’s empowerment across the continent.
Leave a Reply