By Kenneth Oboh

In Nigeria’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, few voices resonate with as much clarity and practical wisdom as Olamilekan Adetifa, a seasoned Product Manager in the fintech space, one of the country’s leading payment and business solution platforms.

Olamilekan Adetifa is a Product Manager in Fintech. He shares lessons on tech, product leadership, and career growth via LinkedIn and community engagements.

With years of experience building digital products that serve thousands of merchants and users across Africa, Adetifa has become a beacon for young professionals looking to transition into the tech industry. In this exclusive interview, he shares his journey and offers practical guidance for those hoping to make a meaningful entry into the sector.

Many people are trying to break into tech right now. Where do you think they should begin?

Adetifa: Start with what you already have. Too many people think tech means coding or building apps, but tech is broad. You might be good with people, writing, numbers, or organizing projects. There’s a space for that—product, marketing, design, customer support, data analysis. The first step is recognising how your existing skills can be useful in a digital environment.

What does being in tech really mean to you?

Adetifa: To me, being in tech is about using digital tools to solve real-world problems. It’s not about having ‘tech’ in your job title—it’s about thinking in systems, being data-driven, and building things that matter. Whether you’re a product manager, designer, developer, or content strategist, we’re all builders in some way.

A lot of professionals want to pivot into tech from unrelated industries. What skills are surprisingly transferable?

Adetifa: Plenty. If you’ve worked in customer service, you understand user pain points—great for product and UX. If you’ve done project management, that’s gold for operations or delivery roles. Teachers? Fantastic communicators. Journalists? Great at content and research. It’s all about repositioning what you already know in a new context.

For someone with zero experience in tech, how do they get their first opportunity?

Adetifa: Start small and show proof of work. Document your learning, write case studies, redesign an app flow, analyse fake data—whatever suits your path. Then put it out there. Internships, freelance gigs, community projects—these all count. The mistake many make is waiting until they’re “ready.” Truth is, you learn best by doing.

Are tech certifications and bootcamps really worth the hype?

Adetifa: They can help, especially for structure and networking. But they’re not magic wands. What matters more is how you apply what you learn. A bootcamp won’t get you hired on its own. Show initiative, build a portfolio, and combine theory with execution.

Tech can be intense. How do you personally avoid burnout?

Adetifa: Two things: setting boundaries and celebrating small wins. It’s easy to get caught in the rush of deadlines and product launches. But I’ve learned to pace myself. I also stay close to communities where we share not just work, but laughter and encouragement. Your health—mental and physical—has to come first.

Remote work has become the norm in tech. What are the pros and cons from your perspective?

Adetifa: The biggest advantage is flexibility and access—you can work from anywhere and collaborate globally. But the challenge is communication. You need to be intentional about updates, feedback, and culture. I also encourage young professionals to develop asynchronous work habits—writing things down, creating clarity, and managing time effectively.

What excites you about Nigeria’s tech ecosystem right now?

Adetifa: The sheer talent. From fintech to edtech to healthtech, we’re seeing young Nigerians build world-class solutions. And the best part? Many are self-taught. There’s a hunger to solve African problems with African ingenuity. With better infrastructure and policies, we’ll see even more scale and global competitiveness.

Imagine a young person reading this who feels stuck. What would you say to them?

Adetifa: You don’t need permission to start. The tech industry isn’t looking for perfect people—it’s looking for problem solvers. Stay curious. Stay consistent. Reach out. Ask for help. And most importantly, believe that you belong in the room—because you do.