“I didn’t grow up poor. My father was a pilot who later founded an aviation consulting firm,” says Mr Eazi, born Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade. It is a reminder that his story does not follow the familiar script of hardship to stardom. Instead, it is one of curiosity, risk taking, and relentless reinvention, traits that have turned him into one of Africa’s most dynamic entrepreneurs.

After completing his early education in Nigeria, Eazi moved to Ghana where he studied Mechanical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). His years at KNUST would prove to be a turning point. Beyond the classroom, he immersed himself in business, running a concierge service for fellow students and promoting campus parties under the banner “Swagger Entertainment.” These ventures sharpened his instinct for opportunity and gave him his first taste of entrepreneurship.

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By the time he returned to Nigeria at the age of 23, Eazi had already built a business mindset. He joined Schlumberger as a mechanical engineer, but the corporate path could not contain his ambitions. “Music makes up just 20% of my earnings,” he often says, pointing to the fact that his entrepreneurial life began long before the world recognized his sound. From e commerce and food distribution to soft drink importation and even gold trading, Eazi tried his hand at almost everything, gaining both profit and perspective along the way.

This experience shaped the way he approached his creative career. Rather than depending entirely on record labels, he set up his own imprint, Banku Music, which allowed him to control his releases, build a brand identity, and retain independence. That decision not only safeguarded his artistry but also positioned him to scale in ways many of his peers could not.

Now at 34, Mr Eazi’s portfolio extends across 18 African countries, and his ventures span industries as diverse as music, fintech, venture capital, and gaming. His most celebrated initiative is emPawa Africa, a talent incubation program that invests in emerging African artists. Through the landmark emPawa100 project, dozens of young musicians were given $3,000 grants alongside mentorship, distribution support, and global exposure. Artists like Joeboy have risen from its platform to international acclaim, proving the model’s impact.

In fintech, his company PawaPay is redefining digital transactions, already processing billions across the continent. With Africa’s mobile payments market expanding rapidly, PawaPay is at the center of a financial revolution. Alongside this, his investment vehicle Zagadat Capital has placed him firmly in the world of venture capital, backing tech startups and participating in multi million dollar deals, including exits worth over a billion dollars. Most recently, he launched ChopLife, a sports betting and gaming brand that signals his entry into the booming leisure and iGaming sector.

These ventures are not isolated plays. They are part of a broader vision. Mr Eazi has often described his ambition as building the “Disney of Africa,” an ecosystem where music, technology, entertainment, and finance converge to create cultural and economic power. It is a bold vision, but one that reflects his belief that African talent and creativity deserve the infrastructure and investment to compete globally.

Behind the headlines, his personal life also intertwines with his business pursuits. Alongside his wife, Temi Otedola, Eazi is shaping a new model of creative entrepreneurship, one that blends artistry, media, and enterprise into a unified platform for impact. Together, they represent a new generation of African power couples, balancing global visibility with local influence.

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For Mr Eazi, the journey has always been about more than personal success. By incubating artists, building payment systems, investing in startups, and expanding into gaming, he is helping to build the scaffolding of Africa’s future industries. His story demonstrates that for African entrepreneurs, versatility is not just an advantage, it is a necessity.

“I’m more than music, I’m a businessman first,” he declares. And with every venture, deal, and innovation, Mr Eazi proves that his legacy will not just be written in songs but inscribed in boardrooms and balance sheets across Africa.