A recent crisis involving Paystack, one of Africa’s leading fintech companies, has triggered widespread conversation about organisational culture, governance, and leadership accountability across the continent’s tech ecosystem. The incident, which saw the swift suspension of a company co-founder following allegations of misconduct, has been widely cited as a defining moment for the fast-growing sector.
Senior Brand, Marketing, and Strategic Communications Leader Omojola Seun-Ojerinde shared insights on the situation, describing it as both a trending crisis and a revealing test of institutional values. According to her, the unfolding events offered a real-time case study in how companies respond when their core principles are challenged—especially when the individual involved holds significant influence.
Seun-Ojerinde noted that Paystack’s immediate response set an important tone, emphasizing that decisive action during a crisis is not merely a public relations strategy but a critical governance requirement. The company’s swift move sent a clear message, she said: values matter, culture is non-negotiable, and no leader is above accountability.
The communications expert stressed that crises do not create reputational issues but expose pre-existing weaknesses within organisations. In sectors like African tech and fintech—where growth often outpaces internal structures—she warned that strong products and heavy funding cannot compensate for fragile governance or personality-driven cultures.
Seun-Ojerinde outlined key steps that organisations, including Paystack, must prioritize moving forward: transparent communication, stronger codes of conduct, internal culture and governance audits, leadership integrity, and long-term consistency in upholding organisational values.
She concluded that while crises are inevitable, only institutions anchored in strong values emerge with their credibility intact.
