Babatunde Esanju is a senior software engineer, open-source contributor, and technology entrepreneur. In this interview with Gbenga Bada, he talks about his career and other issues. Excerpts:
Your career spans multiple industries, such as LegalTech, FinTech and CareTech. What drives your passion for exploring different sectors, and how do you see technology bridging gaps across these fields?
I have always been fascinated by how technology can solve real, everyday problems. That curiosity has taken me from LegalTech to FinTech and now CareTech. In law, my goal was to ease processes for lawyers and banks. In finance, I wanted ordinary people to access tools like remittances and investments. In care, my focus is on enabling carers to spend more time with people rather than paperwork. What ties these industries together for me is simple: people struggling with inefficiency, and technology helping to close that gap.
At LawPavilion, you enhanced case management systems for major banks. Can you share some insights into the challenges you faced and how you overcame them to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in case processing time?
The biggest challenge was fragmented information. A single case often involved paper files, countless emails, and disconnected systems. Professionals were wasting time chasing documents instead of resolving cases. We built a platform that consolidated everything, automated repetitive tasks, and delivered real-time updates. Naturally, there was initial resistance to change, so I personally led training sessions and highlighted small wins. Once users experienced the time savings firsthand, adoption followed; and that’s how we achieved a 40 per cent reduction in processing time.
Your work on the Loan Management Portal at LSETF was said to have increased productivity. What specific features or innovations contributed to this success, and how do you think such platforms can be scaled for broader impact?
At LSETF, manual processes were slowing everything down. Loan officers were buried in spreadsheets, which delayed funds for entrepreneurs. We built a digital portal to handle applications, credit scoring, and repayments automatically. Productivity rose by a wide margin because staff could focus on decision-making rather than paperwork. The bigger vision is scaling platforms like this across Africa to give small businesses faster, easier access to funding.
As the Chief Technical Officer of Gen Financial Limited, you led the creation of Wyrr and GenCapita. What inspired these platforms, and how do you see them contributing to financial inclusion in Africa?
Wyrr was personal. I had family and friends abroad losing significant amounts to remittance fees just to support loved ones at home. That frustration inspired me to create a cheaper, faster way to transfer money. GenCapita came from another gap I observed. Young professionals wanted to invest globally but lacked access. By opening that door, we gave everyday Africans the same opportunities as investors in London or New York. Both projects were ultimately about financial inclusion and dignity.
At QOOP, you are said to have designed a Buy Now, Pay Later platform that increased revenue. What lessons did you learn from that project, and how do you think BNPL solutions can be optimised for different markets?
The biggest lesson was that BNPL is less about the tech and more about trust. We created a transparent system; no hidden fees, flexible repayment schedules, and fair risk scoring. That trust drove adoption and revenue growth up. I also learnt how local context shapes success. In Nigeria, repayment systems tied to salaries or cooperatives worked best. In the UK, the focus was on regulation and transparency. Financial products only succeed when they respect cultural and market realities.
As co-founder and CTO of Aisiki, you built a logistics and agriculture-tech platform that greatly reduced food waste. Can you tell us more about the challenges you faced in developing this platform and its impact on the agricultural supply chain?
The problem we wanted to solve was heartbreaking: farmers losing tons of produce, because there was no efficient system connecting them to buyers or transport. We built a platform that matched farmers with buyers and optimised delivery routes. The challenge was low digital literacy among farmers, so we kept the app mobile-first, simple, and available in local languages. Seeing food waste drop by 90 per cent and farmers earn more was one of the proudest moments of my career. It wasn’t just about technology, but transforming lives.
You’re leading development on Caresyntra, a care management platform. How do you think technology can improve care services, and what specific features are you focusing on to modernise compliance and communication?
Caresyntra has shown me how much carers carry; from compliance paperwork to scheduling and patient updates, all while striving to provide quality care. We built digital records, automated compliance checks, and tools for seamless communication between managers, carers, and families. One feature I’m particularly proud of is real-time updates: when a nurse logs a medication, families see it instantly. For me, it’s about using technology to restore dignity and efficiency in care.
At TixTrack, you are said to have built enterprise-grade ticketing systems. What are some of the key technical challenges you’ve encountered, and how have you addressed them to ensure scalability and performance?
Ticketing is high-pressure because thousands of people can try to buy tickets in seconds. Without the right systems, everything can collapse. At TixTrack, we implemented distributed caching, asynchronous messaging, and scalable cloud infrastructure. Fraud prevention was also critical, so we built strong validation layers. Looking back, I’m proud not just of the technical solutions, but of the fact that millions now enjoy a smooth, stress-free ticket-buying experience.
Your open-source project, PayBridge.SDK, simplifies payment integration for developers. What inspired you to create it, and how do you see it benefiting the developer community?
It came from my frustration as a developer. Every time I integrated a new payment gateway, I found myself repeating the same tedious steps. I thought, “There has to be a better way.” So I built PayBridge—a single SDK offering a consistent API that saves weeks of work. Making it open-source was important to me because I wanted others to benefit as well. It’s about freeing developers to focus on building real value instead of reinventing the wheel.
Through your technical blog, tundehub.dev, you share insights on microservices, cloud computing, and more. What motivates you to contribute to the developer community, and how do you think knowledge sharing can drive innovation?
I started the platform because I’ve learnt so much from blogs and open resources myself. Sharing my experiences felt like a way to give back. Writing also sharpens my own thinking. If I can explain microservices or cloud architecture simply, it means I truly understand it. Knowledge sharing saves others from repeating the same mistakes, and that’s how innovation spreads more quickly.
With TechNaija FM, you’re amplifying voices in fintech, edtech, and digital transformation. What goals do you have for this platform, and how do you see it contributing to the tech ecosystem in Africa and the UK?
It began as a passion project to spotlight African innovators who don’t always get recognition. Over time, it has grown into a bridge between Africa and the UK, where I’m based. My goal is to evolve it beyond a podcast into a hub for networking, mentorship, and collaboration. The most rewarding part is hearing young people say, “I listened to your show and now I believe I can do this too.” That’s impact.
Your work has touched many. What do you believe is the most impactful aspect of your career, and how do you measure the success of your projects?For me, impact isn’t just about numbers; it’s about stories. It’s the farmer who earned more because his produce reached buyers in time, the young professional who invested for the first time through GenCapita, the fan who bought a ticket stress-free because the system didn’t crash. Metrics matter, but it’s those human outcomes that stay with me. That’s how I measure success.As someone with expertise in FinTech, open source, and community building, what do you see as the most pressing challenges in these fields, and how do you think they can be addressed through technology and collaboration?
In FinTech, the biggest challenge is trust. People need confidence their money is safe. In open source, it’s sustainability. Too many projects rely on unpaid volunteers. And in communities, inclusivity remains a gap. The solutions lie in collaboration: regulators working closely with startups, companies funding open-source maintainers, and communities intentionally creating space for diverse voices. None of us can solve these challenges alone.
You’ve worked on several projects that aim to drive financial inclusion and empower communities. What role do you think technology plays in bridging socioeconomic gaps, and how can it be leveraged more effectively?
Technology is one of the strongest equalisers we have. Mobile banking, for example, gave millions of unbanked Africans access to financial services. GenCapita opened global investment opportunities for those previously excluded. But I’ve also seen that simply copying Western models rarely works. The real breakthroughs come when solutions are designed around local culture, income levels, and habits.
Looking to the future, what are your aspirations for your career and the impact you want to make through your work in technology and innovation?
I want to keep building technology that makes life easier and fairer. In the near term, I’m focused on scaling Caresyntra to improve efficiency and humanity in care services. Long term, I hope to expand open-source projects like PayBridge to support developers and grow TechNaija FM into a global platform for African and UK innovators. At the core, my aspiration is simple: to create solutions that outlive me and continue empowering people.
