One of Africa’s emerging leaders in fintech and clean energy is redefining how technology can solve everyday challenges. Victor Daniyan, founder and CEO of Nearpays and Yourrider Energies, is building innovative payment solutions and sustainable energy infrastructure designed for the realities of African markets. A certified management consultant and a Forbes 30 Under 2024 nominee, his work reflects a strong commitment to financial inclusion, clean technology, and continuous improvement, establishing him as a bold voice shaping the continent’s digital and energy future. In this interview with CHISOM MICHAEL, we discuss his entrepreneurial journey, the idea behind Nearpays Soft POS, and how fintech and clean energy are driving inclusivity and long-term impact across Africa.
You started your entrepreneurial journey quite early. What problem were you trying to solve at that stage in your life?
The core problem we were trying to solve was to make it easy for individuals and businesses to seamlessly accept card payments. That led to the birth of Soft POS.
Our mission has always been to leverage the best technology to simplify digital payments, help businesses grow and empower individuals to manage their finances with confidence.
Leadership often evolves through experience. What lessons did you learn from your childhood that still apply to you today?
My early experiences taught me that leadership is not defined by big moments, but by consistency. Being fair, prepared, and reliable, even in difficult times, has shaped the way I live my life today.
When progress slows or plans fail, how does the idea of continuous improvement shape your next actions?
I learned early in life that continuous improvement is a fundamental requirement for any solution or product. Even with a robust product, user needs continue to evolve, creating new demands and demands. As a result, solutions must continually evolve and go through the necessary iterations to meet user needs.
At the heart of Nearpays is contactless and AI-driven payments. What everyday financial frustration led you to build this solution?
Around 2020, I was running a small logistics business and partnered with some e-commerce stores in Nigeria. My dispatcher used a POS terminal to accept payment at the customer’s doorstep for cash on delivery orders. However, there were many challenges, including poor battery life for POS devices, frequent connectivity issues, and the difficulty of managing two devices: a phone for navigation and communication, and a bulky POS device for payments. These issues began to negatively impact business.
With all the problems associated with POS devices at the time, I asked myself why ride-hailing riders couldn’t handle both navigation and payment with one device.
This led me to research and work towards solving this internal problem. Now, that solution has evolved into Nearpays Soft POS, built on contactless payment technology.
When it comes to artificial intelligence, I think of it as a product enhancer, a platform that products can leverage to improve what is already built. We’ve always used AI to make our products better, from improving security and enhancing our customer service systems to optimizing the simplicity and speed of our products.
We are also currently using AI in Nearpays’ tax automation to help users correctly fill out tax returns and documents and avoid over-taxation.
Nearpays SoftPOS eliminates the need for a physical POS terminal. What led to your decision to build a smartphone-based payment solution, and how do you see this changing adoption of payments in small and medium-sized businesses?
The focus was to create a simpler way to accept card payments that was affordable and accessible, with affordability and accessibility as key pillars.
We removed a major barrier for businesses to need to own an additional device (a physical POS machine) to accept card payments, even if they already have a smartphone. All I need is a phone when accepting bank transfers, but I was wondering why accepting card payments needs to be different.
This allowed us to simplify the acceptance of card payments by reducing the cost of POS machines to virtually zero. As a result, small businesses can more easily accept card payments, while enterprise organizations can scale more quickly through software-based solutions rather than relying on expensive hardware alternatives.
How does Nearpays SoftPOS ensure secure transactions while running entirely on your smartphone without any additional hardware?
Security at Nearpays is our core foundation, ensuring that nothing is compromised.
We are PCI DSS certified and fully compliant with global standards that require a secure environment for processing card transactions. We also work closely with Microsoft to maintain a highly secure infrastructure using Azure Sentinel, advanced firewall systems, and Microsoft Defender.
Additionally, we leverage an in-house artificial intelligence system that prevents third-party applications from running at the same time while the Nearpays SoftPOS app is active. Limit data recording and implement strict installation controls.
Additionally, through our partnership with Visa, all card information is completely protected, processed securely, and never stored in our database. If you wish, you can further refine this for press publications, investor communications, or technical documentation.
Beyond industry language and policy discussions, how do you personally define financial inclusion?
Financial inclusion means creating solutions for everyone by eliminating barriers related to location, socio-economic status, language, age, and other limitations.
The transition to clean energy is a major undertaking. What convinced you that electric mobility and energy infrastructure are important to Africa’s future?
As I mentioned earlier, I used to run a logistics business, which led to the introduction of electric mobility.
A few years ago, we tried owning an e-bike fleet as the constant rise in fuel prices, long lines for fuel, and overall uncertainty were all negatively impacting our operations. We also realized that electric bikes have fewer mechanical parts, making them easier to maintain and more cost-effective in the long run.
But an important question arose. Where will these bikes be charged and maintained? At the time, there was little infrastructure to popularize electric vehicles, especially two-wheeled vehicles, which have shorter battery life than cars.
We recognized that someone needed to fill that gap and started building the infrastructure for electric mobility, not only for ourselves, but also to help others take advantage of and easily transition to electric vehicles.
Along the way, we partnered with NNPC and have since scaled up. In this way, we transitioned from being a delivery-focused logistics company to building an infrastructure that other logistics companies can leverage during the transition to EVs. We currently have stations dotted all over Nigeria.
Fintech and energy both face regulatory and cultural barriers. How do you navigate an environment that is wary of change?
Regulators have a responsibility to do their job, and fintech and energy are among the most regulated sectors. New requirements are introduced all the time, so you need to stay on your toes. Staying compliant can be a challenge.
The key is to build knowledgeable relationships with regulators and build your business around a model that allows you to iterate quickly. While some regulations may be a major setback, we must be able to adapt, remodel, and continue to grow.
Cultural barriers often arise from uncertainty, lack of understanding, and questions about the product. These concerns usually diminish as clarity improves over time.
Running two companies requires balance. How do you stay grounded when pressure starts to affect clarity?
I try not to put too much pressure on myself as much as possible. I delegate effectively and avoid trying to do everything myself. That’s why we have teams and systems in place to take the pressure off.
I also listen to good music to keep my mind calm, focused, and lucid. As it is often said, music is food for the soul and soul.
Public perception can change expectations. How do you continue to focus on long-term impact rather than visibility?
My focus has always been on the game and it still is. My energy is channeled into the impact we create, which ultimately improves our performance. Results are proof of effort.
I am results focused and don’t allow distractions to distract me.
Many people will depend on the system you are building. How does that responsibility influence your choices today?
It creates a strong user-first mindset and shapes how we build and develop our solutions and products. We actively use user feedback and input to guide product iteration and development.
