Mitchell Elegbe Named Fintech Icon of the Year at Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2024
Lagos, Nigeria— Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Interswitch Group, has been honoured with the Fintech Icon of the Year Award at the Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2024. The prestigious ceremony, organised by Vanguard Media Limited, was held recently at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The award recognises Elegbe’s pioneering contributions to the Nigerian and African financial technology ecosystem, as well as his long-standing commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and financial inclusion across the continent.
Since founding Interswitch in 2002, Elegbe has steered the company from a local Nigerian startup into one of Africa’s leading fintech giants. Under his leadership, Interswitch has developed and scaled some of the continent’s most recognisable payment platforms, including Verve, Quickteller, and a robust suite of enterprise solutions used by businesses and governments alike.
Speaking after receiving the award, Elegbe expressed his appreciation to Vanguard Media Limited and dedicated the recognition to the Interswitch team.
“This recognition from Vanguard Media reflects the shared commitment of everyone at Interswitch to building a technology-driven company that delivers impact at scale and creates value for all stakeholders. I am honoured to receive this award and extend my appreciation to Vanguard Media. We remain focused on driving innovation that creates opportunities, solves real problems, and expands access to financial services across the continent.”
Elegbe’s leadership has not only advanced the business of payments but also helped shape the broader technology and entrepreneurship landscape in Africa. A graduate of Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the University of Benin and an alumnus of the IESE/Wharton/CEIBS Global CEO Programme, he is known for a people-first leadership style and a deep commitment to stakeholder value creation.
Over the years, he has received numerous accolades, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, CNBC/Forbes AABLA West Africa Award, African Banker Icon of the Year, and most recently, the 2023 EY West Africa Entrepreneur of the Year (Masters Category). He was also inducted into the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame.
Beyond the corporate space, Elegbe plays an active role in nurturing African entrepreneurship. He is a Bishop Desmond Tutu Fellow of the African Leadership Institute and serves on the board of Endeavour Nigeria, where he mentors young founders shaping the future of Africa’s tech economy.
This latest recognition further solidifies Mitchell Elegbe’s reputation as one of the most influential figures in Africa’s digital economy, whose work continues to inspire and pave the way for greater financial inclusion and innovation across the continent.
