Country Manager - Nigeria

Nala is building payments for the next billion. Africa’s payments infrastructure is 1% built. Your job is to change that.

This is a rare opportunity to own Nigeria for Rafiki, our B2B payments product, and drive our strategy to make Rafiki the dominant payout partner in our most important market. You’ll operate with full autonomy but collaborate closely with leadership to execute at a high level.

Your goal: own Nigeria’s P&L. Build strong partnerships, secure the best FX rates, drive regulatory approvals, and make Rafiki a household name. You’ll unlock our pending Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) license and establish the trust we need to win in Nigeria.

We’ve raised Series A and are scaling fast. This is your chance to make a lasting mark.

• Deep expertise in Nigerian fintech, payments, and banking.
• Experience securing regulatory approvals with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
• Proven ability to build high-value partnerships with banks, regulators, and fintechs.
• Strong execution skills; thrive in fast-paced, high-accountability environments.
• Ability to break down complex challenges, solve problems, and drive strategy.
• Business-level fluency in English.

What You’ll Own

• Sourcing FX – Find the best way to source FX rates. Study how competitors do it. Talk to experts. The goal is simple: Rafiki must get the best rates, regardless of any compliance or TPV constraints.
• Securing the Best Commercials – Ensure Rafiki secures the best possible commercials from partners. This means either acquiring new partners or renegotiating existing terms. The country manager must have a deep understanding of market dynamics to benchmark effectively.
• Secure Partners – Partners span FX, payouts, credit lines, and banking. The goal is twofold: competitiveness and resilience. We need a deep, credible pool of partners to secure the best deals while ensuring continuity. If one partner fails or we face restrictions, we must have alternatives ready.
• Networking & Relationships – A key to execution as a country manager is building deep, strategic relationships—with regulators, partners, and industry experts, including traders, founders, and business leaders. Strong connections open doors, provide market insights, and create leverage to get things done.
• Compliance – Ensure full compliance with local laws and the requirements of both existing and pending licenses. Staying ahead of regulatory expectations is critical to maintaining operations and securing future growth.
• Brand Building – Build and protect the Rafiki brand. This means increasing visibility—sponsoring events, speaking at industry forums, and securing media coverage. Just as important, ensure the brand remains untarnished by any association with illegal or questionable activities or partners.
• Growth – Ensure the corridor is growing. This requires a combination of securing competitive FX rates and collaborating with clients like Nala to run campaigns that drive volume. Growth should be intentional, leveraging both pricing advantages and strategic marketing efforts with clients.
• Licenses & LONOs – Obtain all necessary licenses and Letters of No Objection to ensure Rafiki operates legally and without disruption. Regulatory approval is non-negotiable for sustained growth and market presence.
• Credit Lines – Engage financial institutions and partners to secure credit lines, ensuring liquidity and flexibility for Rafiki’s operations. Strong credit relationships enhance our ability to scale and remain competitive.

We’re building at a relentless pace. If you’re excited by high stakes, high impact, and high autonomy—this is the role for you.