Glad Akhison, founder and CEO of Boldswitch, is building technology aimed at making financial transactions in Africa seamless, secure, and accessible.
Across the landscape of Africa’s fintech industry, few innovators combine technical mastery with a deep philosophical passion for innovation, but Glad Akhison is changing the narrative.
With Boldswitch, he is on a mission to make financial transactions seamless, secure, and profoundly human. His company’s latest product, FacePay, lets users make payments simply by taking a photo of their face: with no account numbers, QR codes, or verbal exchanges required.
“FacePay is designed to make giving feel natural and human again,” Akhison said. “It removes the awkwardness of asking for account details and makes spontaneous generosity effortless.”
It’s the kind of bold innovation that signals Akhison’s belief that payment experiences should be as intuitive as human interaction itself.
A Passion Forged in Technology and Finance
Akhison’s fascination with money runs deeper than the mechanics of exchange; he sees it as a force that shapes human relationships, opportunities, and communities.
“For me, the interest in payments goes beyond business. It’s personal, societal, and foundational,” he said in a recent post on Medium. “Money, in all its evolving forms; from shells to coins to paper to digital tokens — has always been a representation of value. But it’s the act of exchanging value every day that keeps societies moving.”
That perspective is matched by over 15 years of experience as a software developer and an academic journey that includes a Master’s degree in Financial Technology from the University of Aberdeen and a BA in Business Administration and Management from the University of Hertfordshire.
His formal training in civil engineering at Lagos State Polytechnic further reflects a mind inclined toward solving complex structural problems, whether in construction or in the financial systems that power everyday life.
Before founding Boldswitch, he worked as a frontend engineer in Norway for ACT Corporative, developed software for Fireflies.ai in the United States, and led blockchain initiatives in the United Arab Emirates through crypto exchange venture, Oyola.io.
At each step, Akhison honed his ability to merge technical precision with strategic business thinking, a combination that now drives Boldswitch’s innovations.
Leading the Charge for Africa’s Fintech Future
Since launching Boldswitch in June 2022, Akhison has positioned the company at the forefront of Africa’s payment technology revolution.
Boldswitch is reimagining the way Africans make payments. From Scan & Pay to FacePay, the company’s tools eliminate failed transfers, and hidden fees, making it easier for individuals and businesses to pay bills, send money, and operate with confidence.
According to industry experts, this is more than fintech innovation; it’s a bold step toward genuine financial freedom for all.
“We’re building a smarter, faster, and more reliable way to handle everyday payments,” the company said. “This isn’t just fintech, it’s a bold shift toward true financial freedom for everyone.”
With FacePay, users can make payments simply by taking a photo of their face, with no account numbers, QR codes, or conversations required. According to the company, the innovation is now live on the Boldswitch app.
By eliminating the awkwardness of asking for bank details and making payments possible in a single snap, experts say Akhison is reimagining how money moves in social contexts.
Akhison’s Vision
His vision extends well beyond tipping. Akhison sees a future where technology systems replace outdated financial processes, ensuring accessibility even for those historically excluded from banking systems.
“I believe that in the coming years, Africa will witness a wave of innovation in payments, and fintech will be at the heart of that movement,” he said.
“Many regions remain underserved. Cash is still dominant. Cross-border payments are expensive and slow. Merchants and informal businesses are largely left out of digital finance,” he added. “This is why I’m building in fintech. Not because it’s trendy, but because payments are fundamental infrastructure.”
As a leader, he remains committed to creating tools that serve not only Africa’s growing digital economy but also set global standards for payment innovation.
