Quick Fire 🔥 with Solomon Ayodele

Solomon Ayodele is Head of Innovation at WEMA Bank, overseeing Ventures, R&D, Programs, and Product Innovation. He led the establishment of IDEAX Labs, the bank’s first Innovation Labs since 1945. Beyond Finance & Technology, he advises several African startups and creates multi-generational social impact through Boys Quarters Africa, a leading transformational movement for boys. With expertise in Innovation & Strategy, his mission is to catalyse Africa’s future through his voice & the enabling power of technology. 

• Explain your job to a five year old?

Imagine the bank is a big, cool playground, and my job is to find new toys and games that everyone will love to play with. These toys and games help people save money, buy things, and have fun while using them. So, I make sure the playground is always exciting and useful for everyone!

• You claim to be an accidental tech bro, how did you get your first tech role? 

I never applied or got a Tech Role. 

I joined a Core Banking Project as a contract staff in 2014, whilst my role was mostly administrative [i.e buying Shawarma], but I was curious. I stayed late, learning to code and shadowing technical teams, just really eager to understand how people, processes, and technology intersected. This was how my accidental foray into tech began. Ultimately, the organisation offered me the sandbox to grow across different roles and I experimented with multiple gigs outside of my 9-5

• You’ve gone from being an accidental tech bro to being Head of Innovation at Wema Bank, what would you say was the most important ingredient in rising through the ranks?

I think I have not started rising. It is still day zero for me. However, I’ll unapologetically say God is the most important ingredient. 

I have also just been privileged to have worked with great bosses and leaders. Shout to people like Baba T, Adeoluwa Akomolafe, Ruby, TJ Bakare, Wole Adeniyi, and Mr. Moruf Oseni. There’s a way the world amplifies horrible bosses but having a great boss is beyond a breakthrough. I’ve worked and still work with many of them.

I also think I am a very stubborn hard worker. I am not always the best in the room but you’ll always find me burning the extra candle when the room is empty. I knew early in life that I have no one except God and the work of my hand.

• You operate at the intersection between people, processes, and technology, what does your day-to-day look like?

Well, I fight fire and I spend some more time explaining to stakeholders who want breakthrough ideas  that I am in no way related to Albert Einstein. I am just an Ekiti Man who grew up in Agege. LOL

My role is a Beyond-Tech-Innovation one. I manage the bank’s innovation ventures, including our newly built Incubation and Acceleration lab. I steer all innovation goals and efforts with organisational objectives, overseeing idea pipelines using frameworks like design thinking, and I manage innovative projects from ideation to execution. I also evaluate emerging technologies and lead prototyping for scalable, impactful solutions.

• You built the CoopHub – Digitised Cooperative Solution. What has been your biggest challenge in developing this product, and what was your most euphoric moment during the process?

We are the first commercial bank in Nigeria to build something like this. However, It is hard to say ‘I built’ the product. WEMA Bank/ALAT is a community of rockstars whose core value is partnership. While the refining and implementation of the product came from the Innovation team I lead, I think the most euphoric moment was seeing it come to life through ‘collaboration’ between the different product, business and engineering teams across the bank. Additionally, seeing a fresh Product Manager [Eseohe], grow under my wings to deliver such a solid product was the biggest deal.

• You have a passion for inspiring the next generation, how has that been like for you and what avenue have you used to demonstrate that?

By day, I’m a wannabe tech bro; by night, a social impact leader. In 2018, I founded Boys Quarters Africa, and we’ve engaged over 500k+ boys and men across 5 African countries to promote healthy masculinity. I’ve partnered with the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mobilise over 10,000 men as allies in ending gender-based violence. I also run Out of Office, a budding community supporting young professionals. 

Finally, I share some ‘aspire to perspire’ videos across my social media platforms too. Beyond all of this, it’s been a really exciting journey of being able to give back and do purposeful work. 

• What do you do outside of your job?
   

I ride my Bicycle. Analyse VDM’s analysis and sit/argue with my suya guy at night.

I serve as the Ministry Director for Media and Information Systems, alongside my Pastor & Mentor, Damilola Oluwatoyinbo, at KINGS [Kingdom Influencers in Nations, Generations and System]. We are a global community of Kingdom Influencers touching and transforming individuals and communities with the love and light of Jesus Christ.

Asides this, I run a BoyChild Transformation Movement, where I educate, empower & advocate for a new tribe of boys who will deliberately and purposefully transition from boyhood to manhood.

Beyond all of these activities, my overarching objective is to catalyse the future of Africa, through my voice and the enabling power of technology.