Fluent in over 20 programming languages, software engineer and entrepreneur Fara Ashiru Jituboh’s knack for solving problems was the genesis of Okra, a fintech company that is causing waves in Nigeria. Launched just before the pandemic strongarmed the world into slowing down, Okra raised a whopping $1M in pre-seed funding in 2020, an infrequent occurrence for an African woman-led company.
Fara Ashiru Jituboh was born in Nigeria on March 28, 1991, yet, grew up in the United States of America. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
With ten years of experience in scaling products, she has worked with companies such as health-tech company Dorsata, design application Canva and health insurance company Sana Benefits, to name a few. She has also worked with BMW, JP Morgan Chase, Fidelity Investments, and Daimler Mercedes Benz.
During a visit to Nigeria, Jituboh noticed a lack of financial apps that worked in Nigeria and linked to Nigerian banks, unlike in the US, and decided to take it upon herself to remedy that. Okra was conceptualized as a response to Jituboh’s passion for solving everyday problems and her desire to make a difference in her home country. Upon her permanent return to Nigeria and before establishing Okra, Jituboh founded Shixels Studio in 2014, which focused on assisting businesses with bettering their presence online by creating website designs and apps.
Okra was founded alongside David Peterside in 2019 but officially launched in 2020 and has since raised $4,5M in funding. As one of the first startups of its kind to gain mainstream attention, the company garnered $3,5M in its seed round of investment. The Nigerian-based company is an API (Application Programming Interface) ‘super connector’ that links customers, applications, and banks through a secure portal that allows for exchanging financial information and payments.
Jituboh told TechCrunch that Okra is establishing an ‘open finance infrastructure that enables developers and businesses to offer digital-first experiences and financial products.’
She doubles as both the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer. She believes that it is beneficial for a business like Okra to align the visions for the product and technology aspect of operations and the vision for the company as a whole. She recommends striking a balance between the two.
Jituboh has become a formidable force in the male-dominated fintech scene and exemplifies how creating a business that solves a problem is a sure proof way to succeed in one’s lane. Her hands-on approach with Okra is one of the admirable things about her, and in a time where black women in tech are not slated to succeed, her prosperity is inspiring.
