Debola Aderemi

Debola is a consummate professional with over 20 years of experience driving innovation and game-changing strategies for leading global, international, and national organizations. She is widely recognized as a pioneer in financial technology and financial inclusion in Africa, having served as the Principal Lead in bringing PayPal to Nigeria via First Bank Nigeria, and as a senior lead in one of the first companies to pioneer mobile money payments in Nigeria.

Her track record includes establishing sustainable businesses within the fintech sector, specializing in expanding access for the unbanked and underbanked, while consistently delivering double-digit growth for the organizations she has led. With a background in technology and project management, Debola ensures that her achievements are repeatable, scalable, and sustainable, enabling her to build and lead high-performance teams that deliver results.

As Executive Chair of Crown Ventures Africa, Debola focuses on advancing trade, investment, and strategic partnerships across West Africa. She operates at the nexus of business, policy, and development, convening governments, investors, and private enterprises to unlock opportunities that drive economic transformation.

Her work centers around Trade & Market Access, Investment Partnerships, Business Ecosystem Development, and Public–Private Collaboration. Through these focus areas, Debola helps organizations and governments unlock opportunities that create lasting economic transformation and sustainable development.

Debola is based between the United States and Nigeria, working on symbiotic collaborations across continents in trade, business, and strategic development. Beyond the boardroom, she blends her commitment to sustainable business with her passion for sports and youth empowerment, believing that strategic sports development initiatives can create sustainable economic opportunities while investing in youth futures.

Her unique global perspective enables her to bridge markets, cultures, and opportunities, facilitating partnerships that benefit both African economies and international stakeholders.

Beyond the boardroom, Debola blends her commitment to sustainable business with her passion for sports and youth empowerment. She served on the Committee to Study the Rise of Jamaican Athletics, which examined how funneling young people into competitive sports reduced gang violence and drug use, while creating new industries, athletic clubs, and sponsorship ecosystems.

This model, she believes, can be replicated in Nigeria and across Africa to generate jobs, foster youth ownership in sports, and create new avenues of economic empowerment. Through strategic sports development initiatives, she envisions creating sustainable economic opportunities while investing in youth futures.

Ready to explore opportunities in Africa or discuss strategic partnerships? Crown Ventures Africa is here to guide your journey with expertise, integrity, and deep local knowledge.