On Wednesday, Fara Ashiru Jituboh, co-founder and former CEO of Nigerian fintech startup Okra, announced her departure to join UK-based Kernel as Head of Engineering. This move marks a significant shift for Ashiru, who led Okra through rapid growth and innovation in open finance since its founding in 2019.
From Okra’s rise to its quiet closure
Fara Ashiru co-founded Okra with David Peterside in 2019 to build APIs that enable secure bank account connections for third-party apps across Africa. Under her leadership as CEO and CTO, Okra expanded its engineering team to 40 and raised over $16.5 million from top investors like Susa Ventures and TLcom Capital.
The company integrated with central Nigerian banks and fintech platforms such as Renmoney and Bamboo, pioneering open finance solutions on the continent.
However, Okra faced mounting challenges in 2025. The startup quietly shut down operations in May 2025 after discontinuing key open-finance products like balance, income, and transaction APIs used to assess creditworthiness.
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Ashiru revealed the decision to wind down Okra was difficult, but reflected on the impactful technology and partnerships they built over five years.
Ashiru’s new role at Kernel and what it means
Joining Kernel, a UK startup focused on building custom AI agents for revenue operations, Ashiru will lead engineering efforts to replicate her successes at Okra but with a leaner team. Her five-plus years of experience in payment APIs and revenue growth will be critical as Kernel aims to scale its AI-driven solutions.
Ashiru’s transition comes amid a challenging period for African fintech startups, but her move to Kernel signals confidence in applying her expertise globally. The startup has yet to announce a successor to lead Okra following her exit, leaving the company’s future uncertain.
This development highlights the dynamic nature of fintech leadership and the growing opportunities for African tech talent on the international stage.