Moniepoint co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, has emerged as the only African among business, technology and artificial intelligence leaders named to the 2026 TIME100 Next, placing the Nigerian fintech entrepreneur among a global class of rising leaders shaping the next generation of influence.
The annual TIME list recognises 100 individuals whose work is helping to define the future across business, technology, politics, science, sport and culture.
Eniolorunda’s selection highlights the growing global attention around financial infrastructure developed in Africa to address the continent’s distinctive access and payments challenges.
Founded in 2015 and attaining unicorn status in 2024, Moniepoint has expanded its reach to more than 20 million businesses and individuals.
The company says its infrastructure powers about eight in every 10 in-person digital payment transactions in Nigeria, supported by an agency banking network covering all 774 local government areas.
Its blue point-of-sale (POS) terminals have consequently become a familiar feature of everyday commerce across Nigeria, reflecting the scale at which the company has embedded digital financial services in the country’s business ecosystem.
TIME Chief Executive Officer, Jessica Sibley, said the 2026 honourees are “pushing boundaries, creating new possibilities, and advancing their fields and communities around the world.”
The selection followed what TIME described as a months-long editorial process involving its teams around the world to identify individuals representing stories and developments shaping the global future.
Among the themes considered were access to education, the artificial intelligence revolution, immigration and emerging models of political leadership.
TIME launched the TIME100 Next in 2019 on the premise that influence increasingly emerges early and from outside traditional centres of power and established institutions. The 2026 class comprises exactly 100 individuals, with the youngest honouree being 15-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Eniolorunda’s inclusion was accompanied by a tribute from Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, who was himself named a TIME100 honouree in 2020.
In his citation, Elumelu described Eniolorunda as a young man who, like himself, “grew up without a silver spoon but still had the audacity to dream,” adding that his success could demonstrate to other young Africans that they, too, can succeed.
Reacting to the recognition, Eniolorunda attributed the honour to the wider Moniepoint team and the millions of businesses and individuals using the company’s services.
“I am grateful to TIME for this recognition, which belongs first to the Moniepoint team, whose discipline and sacrifice built this company, and to the millions of businesses and individuals across the continent who trust us with their livelihoods every day.
“Our mission has always been to deliver financial happiness, and this honour renews our commitment to building with even greater rigour and care for the people we serve,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to Elumelu, describing their shared outlook on the role of African enterprise in the continent’s future.
“I am also deeply thankful to Mr Elumelu for his generous words and his continued commitment to championing African enterprise. We both share a belief that Africa’s future will be shaped by its own people, and that, given access to the right tools and opportunities, Africans have everything it takes to transform this continent,” Eniolorunda added.
The TIME100 Next recognition further extends Moniepoint’s recent run of recognition from the global media organisation.
On September 22, 2026, Moniepoint Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Felix Ike, was named to TIME’s inaugural Executives of the Year list for Tech and Data. The company was also named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies in 2025.
Other members of the 2026 TIME100 Next include actor Joey King, profiled by Oscar winner Nicole Kidman; NBA star Tyrese Maxey, profiled by four-time NBA champion LeBron James; and Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala, profiled by Olympic gold medallist Rafael Nadal.
Africa also features through Kenya’s Wawira Njiru, founder of nonprofit organisation Food4Education, whose profile was written by comedian Trevor Noah.
TIME is scheduled to celebrate the 2026 honourees at the sixth annual TIME100 Next event in New York on October 29.
Eniolorunda’s inclusion places a spotlight not only on an individual entrepreneur but also on the growing visibility of African-built technology companies seeking to develop solutions for the continent while operating at global scale.