Quick Fire 🔥 with Solomon Ayodele

Posted by By its9ja March 7, 2025

Solomon Ayodele is the Head of Innovation at WEMA Bank, responsible for overseeing Ventures, R&D, Programs, and Product Innovation. He played a key role in establishing IDEAX Labs, the bank’s first Innovation Labs since 1945. Apart from Finance & Technology, Solomon advises various African startups and contributes to multi-generational social impact through Boys Quarters Africa, a prominent transformational movement for boys. With his expertise in Innovation & Strategy, his goal is to drive Africa’s future through his voice & the empowering force of technology. 

  • Describe your job to a five-year-old?

Picture the bank as a big, fun playground, and my job is to discover new toys and games that everyone will enjoy playing with. These toys and games help people save money, make purchases, and have fun while using them. So, I ensure that the playground is always exciting and beneficial for everyone!

  • You mention being an accidental tech enthusiast, how did you initially get involved in tech?

I didn’t actively pursue a Tech Role.

Back in 2014, I joined a Core Banking Project as a contract staff. While my duties were mainly administrative [like buying Shawarma], I was curious. I stayed back after hours, learning to code and shadowing technical teams, eager to understand how people, processes, and technology intersected. This marked the beginning of my unplanned journey into the tech world. Over time, the organization provided me with opportunities to explore various roles, and I ventured into multiple projects outside of my regular job.

  • From starting as an accidental tech enthusiast to becoming the Head of Innovation at Wema Bank, what do you believe has been crucial to your career progression?

Although I don’t consider myself as having reached a significant milestone yet. For me, it’s still the beginning. However, I firmly believe that God has been the most critical factor.

I’ve been fortunate to work with exceptional bosses and leaders. I owe a shoutout to individuals like Baba T, Adeoluwa Akomolafe, Ruby, TJ Bakare, Wole Adeniyi, and Mr. Moruf Oseni. While the world often emphasizes terrible bosses, having a great boss is truly invaluable. I’ve had the privilege of working with and learning from many incredible leaders.

Additionally, I attribute my progress to being a persistent hard worker. I may not always be the most skilled person in the room, but you’ll always find me putting in the extra effort when others have left. I realized early on that I have no one but God and the work of my hands.

  • You operate at the intersection of people, processes, and technology, could you describe a typical day in your role?

My days involve addressing challenges and explaining to stakeholders seeking groundbreaking ideas that I am not related to Albert Einstein in any way. I’m simply a guy from Ekiti who grew up in Agege. LOL

My role goes beyond just technology and innovation. I oversee the bank’s innovation ventures, including our recently established Incubation and Acceleration lab. I align all innovation efforts with the organization’s goals, manage idea pipelines using methodologies like design thinking, and supervise innovative projects from concept to implementation. I also assess emerging technologies and lead the prototyping of scalable, impactful solutions.

  • You developed the CoopHub – Digitised Cooperative Solution. What was the most challenging aspect of creating this product, and what was the most satisfying moment during the process?

We are the first commercial bank in Nigeria to introduce a product like this. However, it’s hard for me to claim sole credit for building the product. WEMA Bank/ALAT is a team of exceptional individuals who value collaboration. Although the Innovation team I lead was involved in refining and implementing the product, the most gratifying moment was witnessing its realization through collaboration among the various product, business, and engineering teams within the bank. Moreover, seeing a new Product Manager [Eseohe] grow under my guidance to deliver such a remarkable product was a significant achievement.

  • You have a passion for inspiring the next generation, how has this journey been for you and what platforms have you used to showcase this?

By day, I’m an