By Business & Leadership Desk | December 2025
Celebrated fintech leader and digital transformation advocate, Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, has marked her 55th birthday with a powerful message of reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to leadership and impact.
In a heartfelt public message shared on her birthday, Dr. Femi-Lawal described turning 55 as entering a new season of clarity and purpose.
“Stepping into 55 feels like stepping into a beautifully lit room — one filled with wisdom, clarity, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude,” she said.
According to her, age has not diminished her voice but strengthened it.
“Age does not silence your voice; it amplifies it. It deepens it. It gives it texture and meaning,” she stated. “The storms you survive, the victories you celebrate, and the lessons you learn become the richness behind the words you speak.”
Dr. Femi-Lawal, who has received multiple recognitions including Fintech CEO of the Year 2025, Payment Influencer of 2024 (EMEA), and one of the 45 Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation, emphasized that personal growth carries responsibility toward others.
“Your story is not just yours. It can shorten someone’s journey,” she noted. “Your lessons can guide someone who feels lost. Your experience can ignite confidence in a younger woman who is afraid to speak.”
She added that maturity brings responsibility.
“At 55, I don’t take that lightly,” she said.
Speaking on timing and leadership, Dr. Femi-Lawal stressed that impact is determined by readiness, not age.
“Timing is divine. You do not speak ‘late’; you speak when your voice has matured enough to make impact,” she stated. “Today, I move forward more deliberately, more intentionally, and more confidently.”
Beyond achievement, she expressed deep gratitude for her support system.
“I am grateful for my family — my husband, my children, and loved ones whose love anchors me. I am grateful for friends who have become family. I am grateful for colleagues, mentors, and communities whose prayers, counsel, and support colour my life.”
She concluded her message with a declaration of purpose as she enters what she described as her Year of Jubilee:
“Here’s to 55 — a year of deeper purpose, intentional impact, grace multiplied, and the courage to speak, serve, build, and become all that God has designed.”
The celebration has been widely praised as an inspirational moment for women in leadership, faith-driven professionals, and the global fintech community.
Observers say the milestone reflects the journey of a leader whose influence continues to shape digital transformation across Africa and beyond.
