Ope Adeoye, CEO of Nigerian fintech firm OnePipe, has described Nigeria’s late payment culture as a systemic crisis undermining small businesses and the broader economy. In a compelling interview, Adeoye explained how unstructured payment processes, cultural norms, and cash flow instability are costing Nigerian entrepreneurs time, trust, and growth opportunities.
Speaking candidly about the challenges facing thousands of small business owners, from school administrators and caterers to cooperative managers and gig workers, Adeoye emphasized that late payments are more than an inconvenience; they are a financial and emotional burden.
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“Every hour spent chasing a payment is an hour lost from doing productive work,” he said. “It affects not just cash flow, but morale and future planning.”
The OnePipe CEO highlighted how late payments cascade into broader economic disruption. When one player in the value chain delays payment, it impacts salaries, inventory purchases, supplier trust, and credit access. Amid inflation and rising operational costs, the margin for delay is narrower than ever.
To address this, OnePipe developed PaywithAccount, a digital mandate tool that allows Nigerian businesses and cooperatives to collect payments directly from customers’ bank accounts—on schedule and with consent.
“We’re seeing businesses regain time, improve their cash flow, and enhance their credibility just by introducing a bit of structure,” Adeoye said.
He explained that PaywithAccount, unlike complex banking tools, is built for the Nigerian context—lightweight, mobile-friendly, and easy to deploy for cooperatives, small businesses, and freelancers.
The solution is seeing increasing adoption, especially among cooperatives, which form the financial backbone for many Nigerians. Adeoye said the tool empowers them to digitize operations without losing their communal essence.
While critics may view automated payment mandates as intrusive, Adeoye stressed that PaywithAccount is fully user-authorized and transparent, designed to reduce awkward reminders, build trust, and foster professional client relationships.
Looking ahead, Adeoye called for a cultural shift in how late payments are viewed in Nigeria. “We say we’re a nation of entrepreneurs—let’s start acting like one. That means structure, systems, and seriousness.”
He urged small businesses to take the first step toward financial discipline by trying digital collection tools, even with just one client, to see the difference structure can make.
FULL INTERVIEW EXCERPTS: Every Hour Spent Chasing a Payment Is Lost Revenue — OnePipe CEO Ope Adeoye
Q: Why is late payment such a big issue in Nigeria?
Ope Adeoye: It’s partly cultural and partly systemic. In Nigeria, business often happens through relationships—verbal commitments, trust, informal records. That’s a beautiful thing in some ways. But when it comes to payments, it creates gray areas. People think they’re doing you a favor by paying. There’s no urgency. And the problem is, you’ve already done the work—you’ve delivered the service, paid your staff, bought fuel, and now you’re waiting endlessly for the money.
Q: And that waiting comes with real cost, right?
Absolutely. Every hour spent chasing a payment is an hour lost from doing productive work. You’re calling, texting, sending WhatsApp reminders, following up again. It’s exhausting. It affects your cash flow, your energy, and even your relationships.
Q: Is this a new problem or has it worsened?
It’s not new, but the impact has gotten worse because of economic pressures. Small delays can trigger a chain of unpaid bills, salaries, and failed deliveries. The digital economy has raised expectations, but the infrastructure hasn’t kept up.
Q: What’s driving the shift toward tools like PaywithAccount?
People are tired of chaos. PaywithAccount brings structure. It allows businesses to create digital payment mandates—think of it like a localized standing order. It’s simple and secure. Small businesses or cooperatives can use it right away.
Q: What’s the adoption been like?
Very encouraging. Cooperatives report collecting 90% of dues on time. Service providers love the transparency. It improves customer relationships and gives back time for business growth.
Q: Are there concerns about it being intrusive?
It’s user-authorized and revocable. Most clients appreciate it—it removes awkward reminders. Everyone knows what to expect. That clarity builds peace of mind.
Q: Why is this resonating now?
People want to grow with dignity. They’re tired of the hustle-without-progress cycle. Structure helps them operate more seriously—and gain the respect that comes with that.
Q: Why is this especially important for cooperatives?
Cooperatives help people save, get loans, fund education. But many are still manual. PaywithAccount lets them operate like micro-financial institutions. It brings efficiency and trust to grassroots finance.
Q: What’s your vision for how this changes business culture?
Let’s stop normalizing late payments. It’s a business risk. Structure helps SMEs plan, grow, and employ more people. That’s real economic development.
Q: Final thoughts for hesitant business owners?
Start small. Try it with one client. You’ll see the difference. You don’t need to be big to be professional. Build systems now—it’s what sustains you long-term.
