Ezra Olubi (born 12 November 1986) is a Nigerian entrepreneur, software developer and co-founder of Paystack, a leading African fintech company. He served as the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and played a key role in building the payment infrastructure that powers thousands of businesses across Africa.
Paystack was founded in 2015 and later accepted into the Y Combinator accelerator in 2016, before being acquired by U.S. payments giant Stripe in a deal reported to be worth over $200 million in 2020.
Beyond technology, Ezra is widely recognised for his androgynous fashion style and his visibility in Nigeria’s startup scene. In recent times, however, he has also faced serious sexual misconduct allegations, which led to his suspension as Paystack’s CTO in November 2025.
This Ezra Olubi biography covers his age, early life, education, career journey, Paystack story, personal life, net worth estimates and the latest controversy.
Profile Summary of Ezra Olubi
Full Name: Ezra Olubi
Date of Birth: 12 November 1986
Age: 39 years old (in 2025)
Place of Birth: Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian
Education: B.Sc. in Computer Engineering / Computer Science, Babcock University, Ogun State (graduated 2006)
Profession: Entrepreneur, software developer, CTO, mobile app developer
Known For: Co-founding Paystack, LGBTIQ advocacy, androgynous style, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honour
Company: Paystack (acquired by Stripe in 2020)
Marital Status: Not publicly disclosed
Sexual Orientation: Described in multiple sources as heterosexual, despite public speculation based on his appearance.
Early Life and Education
Birth and family background
Ezra Olubi was born on 12 November 1986 in Ibadan, Oyo State, in south-west Nigeria.
He grew up in Ibadan and, as a child, reportedly dreamt of becoming a pilot before life steered him towards computers and software.
First encounter with computers and programming
Accounts of his early life mention that his passion for technology began when a family acquaintance moved into their home with a computer, exposing him to computing at a young age and eventually leading him into programming.
Babcock University
Ezra attended Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, where he studied Computer Engineering / Computer Science and graduated in 2006.
At Babcock, he met Shola Akinlade, who would later become his co-founder at Paystack. The two participated in software exhibitions and worked on projects together, building the partnership that eventually led to the creation of Paystack.
Career Journey Before Paystack
Before gaining international fame through Paystack, Ezra spent almost a decade building experience in software development and engineering leadership in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
Public profiles and features describe him working as: Nairametrics
Software developer / programmer
Web and applications developer
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in different startups
These roles had him working on websites, enterprise tools and payment platforms, and they gave him hands-on experience in:
Backend and frontend development
Building and managing engineering teams
Designing reliable systems for real-world businesses
This combination of deep technical skills and leadership experience made him a strong fit for the CTO role he would later take at Paystack.
Founding Paystack and the Stripe Acquisition
The birth of Paystack
In 2015, Ezra Olubi and his former university coursemate Shola Akinlade co-founded Paystack, a Nigerian fintech company designed to help African businesses accept online and offline payments easily. Wikipedia
Shola became the CEO
Ezra became the CTO and co-founder Paystack
Paystack’s mission was to build reliable payment infrastructure for African merchants, developers and enterprises.
Y Combinator and early success
In 2016, Paystack became the first Nigerian startup accepted into Y Combinator, the influential Silicon Valley accelerator. youtube.com
Through Y Combinator, Paystack:
Received early-stage funding
Gained access to experienced mentors and global investors
Refined its product and positioning for scale
The company launched publicly later that year and quickly grew into a major player in Nigerian and African digital payments.
Impact and growth in African fintech
By 2020, Paystack was reportedly serving over 60,000 businesses and processing a large share of Nigeria’s online payments.
The platform became essential for:
E-commerce stores
SMEs and startups
Large corporates and global brands operating in Africa
Paystack’s developer-friendly APIs and documentation made it popular among African developers building new apps and services.
Stripe acquires Paystack
In October 2020, U.S. payments company Stripe announced that it was acquiring Paystack in a deal valued at over $200 million, making it one of the largest startup exits in Africa at the time.
The acquisition:
Turned Paystack into a wholly-owned Stripe subsidiary
Kept Paystack’s brand and team, including Ezra, operating with some independence
Cemented Ezra and Shola’s reputation as leading figures in Africa’s tech industry
For many young African founders, Paystack’s journey became a case study in how to build, scale and exit a startup from Africa.
Awards and Recognition – Including OON
Ezra’s impact on Nigeria’s tech and fintech landscape has earned him high-level recognition.
In October 2022, he received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) from then-President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognition of his contributions to technology and business in Nigeria through Paystack. Nairametrics
This award placed him among prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various fields, including business, science, technology, arts and public service.
Personal Life, Fashion and Public Image
Private life
Details about Ezra Olubi’s personal life, such as his family and relationships, are not widely public. Most sources focus more on his career, public appearances and social media presence.
While some people assume he is gay because of his style, profiles and interviews consistently describe him as a heterosexual male. Wikipedia
Androgynous fashion style
Ezra is famous on social media for his androgynous fashion sense. He often appears in:
Bold outfits that combine masculine and feminine elements
Nail polish and sometimes lipstick
Looks that challenge traditional expectations of how Nigerian men “should” dress Wikipedia
A particularly viral moment happened on 10 April 2021 when he posted a photo of himself dressed for a friend’s wedding with the caption:
“My friend invited me to her wedding party and all I heard was ‘Ezra, get dressed!’” Wikipedia
The tweet triggered massive reactions on Twitter and other platforms, sparking conversations about:
Masculinity and self-expression in Nigeria
LGBTQ+ assumptions and stereotypes
Freedom of appearance versus cultural and religious norms
Because of this, many media outlets describe him as an LGBTIQ advocate or ally, especially in terms of visibility and human rights. Wikitia+1
Suspension, Sexual Misconduct Allegations and Twitter Controversy
Important: The information in this section is based on news reports as of November 2025. Allegations mentioned here have not been tested in a court of law, and this article does not assert guilt.
Paystack suspension
In November 2025, Paystack confirmed that it had suspended co-founder and CTO Ezra Olubi following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. Techpoint Africa
The company told Techpoint Africa and other outlets that it takes such matters seriously and that Ezra would remain suspended pending the outcome of a formal investigation. Techpoint Africa
Allegations on social media and resurfaced tweets
The situation began when a former partner posted detailed allegations online, accusing him of: premiumtimesng.com
Manipulative behaviour
Emotional and psychological abuse
Misconduct in personal and workplace relationships
Following this, several old tweets from around 2009–2013, allegedly from his account, resurfaced. Media reports say these tweets contained: premiumtimesng.com
Disturbing jokes or comments about minors
References to bestiality and other troubling themes
These posts triggered widespread outrage on Nigerian social media and led to strong calls for deeper investigation.
Public reactions and calls for investigation
Human rights advocates and many members of the Nigerian online community have called on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to investigate the allegations formally. premiumtimesng.com
As of mid-November 2025:
There is no public court judgment related to the allegations
Paystack has announced a formal internal process
Public debates and discussions are ongoing
Because the matter is still developing, any responsible biography (including this one on Biostory) must treat these as allegations, not proven facts.
Important disclaimer for readers
Disclaimer:
The allegations against Ezra Olubi are, at the time of writing, unproven in court. The information summarised here is based on reports from reputable news outlets and is presented for informational purposes only. This biography does not claim that he is guilty of any crime. Readers are encouraged to follow credible news sources for updates.You should leave that paragraph exactly (or very close) in the article – it protects you and positions Biostory as serious and fair.
Ezra Olubi’s Net Worth (Estimated)
There is no official public figure for Ezra Olubi’s net worth.
However, given that:
He co-founded Paystack
Paystack was acquired by Stripe for over $200 million in 2020 Wikipedia
Many online sources speculate that his net worth runs into several millions of dollars. These estimates usually assume that he held a meaningful equity stake at the time of the acquisition.
Because the exact details of:
His shareholding in Paystack
Other investments, assets and liabilities
are not public, all “Ezra Olubi net worth” figures online should be treated as rough estimates, not verified numbers.
You can safely write on Biostory:
“Ezra Olubi’s exact net worth is not publicly known. However, as co-founder and former CTO of Paystack, which Stripe acquired for over $200 million, it is reasonable to assume that his wealth runs into several millions of dollars, according to various media estimates.”
Why Ezra Olubi’s Story Matters
Whether people view him as a trailblazing tech founder, a style icon, a controversial figure – or some mix of all three – Ezra Olubi has had a major impact on Nigeria’s tech space:
He co-founded one of Africa’s most successful fintech startups
His work helped make online payments easier for tens of thousands of African businesses Wikipedia
His visibility challenges traditional norms around appearance and identity
The allegations against him have opened up broader conversations about power, consent and accountability in the tech ecosystem
His biography is still being written. Future developments – including the outcome of investigations, his personal responses and how the public remembers his tech contributions – will influence how history ultimately views him.
Final Thoughts
Ezra Olubi’s biography is a mix of remarkable achievements and serious controversy.
On the positive side:
He helped build an African fintech success story in Paystack
He gained global recognition when Paystack joined Y Combinator and later when Stripe acquired the company
He received the OON national honour in 2022 for his contributions to technology in Nigeria Nairametrics
On the other side, his name is now closely associated with:
Sexual misconduct allegations involving a subordinate
Resurfaced old tweets that many people found deeply disturbing
As things stand, his story remains unfinished. For now, Ezra Olubi will likely be remembered both as a key figure in African fintech and as someone whose legacy is clouded by unresolved allegations.
This Biostory article will be updated as new verified information becomes available from credible sources.
3. FAQ
Q1. Who is Ezra Olubi?
Ezra Olubi is a Nigerian entrepreneur and software developer best known as the co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Paystack, a fintech company that helps African businesses accept payments. Paystack was acquired by Stripe in 2020 for over $200 million. WikipediaQ2. How old is Ezra Olubi?
Ezra Olubi was born on 12 November 1986 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, which makes him 39 years old in 2025. WikipediaQ3. Where is Ezra Olubi from?
He is from Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State in south-west Nigeria. WikipediaQ4. What did Ezra Olubi study?
He studied Computer Engineering / Computer Science at Babcock University in Ogun State, Nigeria, and graduated in 2006. WikipediaQ5. What is Ezra Olubi known for?
He is known for co-founding Paystack, his work in African fintech, his androgynous fashion style, LGBTIQ advocacy and receiving the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). NairametricsQ6. Why was Ezra Olubi suspended from Paystack?
In November 2025, Paystack suspended Ezra Olubi following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate and public outrage over resurfaced disturbing tweets from his old Twitter account. He remains suspended pending the outcome of a formal investigation. Techpoint AfricaQ7. What is Ezra Olubi’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly known. However, because Paystack was acquired by Stripe for over $200 million, many observers believe he is worth several millions of dollars, although these figures are only estimates and not officially confirmed.