In the early days of Femi Akin-Laguda at Uber Nigeria, the mobility industry was in a state of flux. Ride-hailing had transformed transportation in Lagos and Abuja, but challenges, from regulation to infrastructure to driver welfare, continued to test the model’s sustainability. In a market where innovation must coexist with complexity, Akin-Laguda emerged as the steady hand leading Uber into a new chapter rooted in local understanding, global standards, and human-centered leadership.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Celebrating Saudat Salami at 50: The Woman Who Turned $50 into a Movement
Akin-Laguda’s approach reflects a quiet confidence. Rather than chasing headlines or hype, he has focused on building systems that work for riders, for drivers, and for cities. His leadership style blends precision with empathy, balancing Uber’s global innovation engine with the unique realities of Nigerian cities.
He believes that leadership in Africa’s digital economy requires more than ambition; it requires listening, adapting, and building with context. His mantra is simple: “Technology must solve real local problems, not just impress global audiences.”
Femi’s story is not one of overnight disruption, but of steady transformation. Under his leadership, Uber Nigeria has evolved from being just a ride-hailing platform into an enabler of opportunity, connecting thousands of drivers to income, helping small businesses move goods, and making daily transport safer and more predictable for millions.
At the heart of his leadership is a strong commitment to localization. He has consistently advocated for policies and solutions that reflect Nigeria’s unique transport ecosystem. From introducing safety features tailored to local realities to piloting innovative payment systems like cash options and in-app wallets, Femi has ensured Uber’s model remains accessible in a cash-heavy economy.
But beyond innovation, what truly sets Akin-Laguda apart is his focus on partnership. He believes that transforming mobility requires more than just tech, it takes collaboration between private sector players, government agencies, and city planners. By engaging regulators, transport unions, and state authorities, he has helped Uber move from being seen as a disruptor to a stakeholder, one invested in the success of Nigeria’s broader transportation goals.
His leadership has also expanded beyond business metrics. In a country where youth unemployment and underemployment remain pressing issues, Akin-Laguda has championed Uber’s role in economic empowerment. Through digital skills training, driver engagement programs, and financial inclusion partnerships, Uber has become a platform where innovation meets opportunity.
Under his watch, Uber has rolled out features like safety check-ins, real-time ride tracking, and emergency assistance options, all designed with a deep understanding of local safety concerns. He has made Uber not only a transport app, but a symbol of reliability in cities where trust and transparency often determine user behavior.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Lagos Bets on Agri-Tech to Secure Food Systems, Economic Growth
As urban mobility evolves, Akin-Laguda’s focus is shifting toward sustainability. With Lagos exploring cleaner energy transitions and smart city solutions, he envisions Uber as part of a greener, more efficient transport future, from electric vehicles to shared mobility systems that reduce congestion and emissions.
What makes his leadership truly stand out is its measured humility. In a world where CEOs often dominate headlines, Femi leads from the front quietly, championing data-driven decision-making, empowering his teams, and prioritizing long-term impact over short-term attention.
His story is one of vision meeting context, global technology meeting African pragmatism. In transforming Uber Nigeria, Femi Akin-Laguda has done more than expand a business; he has redefined what it means to lead in Africa’s digital economy, where innovation must be inclusive, sustainable, and deeply attuned to the people it serves.
Femi Akin-Laguda’s leadership journey is a testament to the fact that the future of technology in Africa won’t just be written by coders and investors, but by leaders who understand the pulse of the streets, the resilience of local economies, and the promise of collaboration
