?? Celebrating 5 Years of Growth, Creativity & Impact at Kuda ??

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 5 years already. As I look back on my incredible journey at Kuda, I’m reminded of how much the company has evolved and how much I’ve grown alongside it. Being one of the first 20 employees gave me a unique opportunity to help shape what Kuda has become today. From designing our earliest branding materials to collaborating on large-scale campaigns and strategic initiatives, it’s been an experience of immense learning, challenges, and growth.

When I first joined Kuda, my focus was on building out the brand’s visual identity. As the brand designer responsible for curating and scaling Kuda’s look and feel, I’ve seen our brand design systems evolve into something truly distinctive—something that resonates with millions.

Some of the key highlights include designing assets for:

• The ‘Break Free with Kuda’ campaign, leveraging major influencers and engaging visuals.
• The ‘Kuda is Love’ Valentine’s campaign, where our creative efforts contributed to generating over 67,000 engagements, gaining 5,000 new followers on Twitter alone, and was featured as an official Twitter case study for its impact.
• Kuda's first set of outdoor advertisements, creating a visually striking presence that laid the groundwork for our brand's identity in the market.

But my journey didn’t stop at design.?

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to move deeper into brand strategy, marketing, and campaign management, collaborating with teams across the board to create impactful, meaningful work, and guiding the Kuda brand’s strategic direction as the custodian of the brand.?

I’ve been privileged to play a pivotal role in shaping Kuda’s positioning as more than just a fintech utility, but as a lifestyle brand that connects with people on a deeper level.

These are some highlights of my time at Kuda so far:

• Managing the ‘Cash is Hard, Kuda is Easy’ campaign, developed in response to Nigeria’s cash crunch, which saw a 15% increase in cashless payments and a 20% boost in brand awareness, where I handled campaign management, creative development, and execution.
• Overseeing creative and multimedia content development for all brand and marketing initiatives, including content series such as the Kuda Business Spotlight and others launching soon, showcasing our brand’s alignment with diverse customer interests.
• Brand strategy leadership on key marketing and business initiatives, driving significant improvements in customer engagement, brand recognition, and market positioning, while ensuring alignment with Kuda’s long-term strategic objectives.

One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been the opportunity to contribute to Kuda’s CSR initiatives, helping to align the brand with causes that matter. Some projects that stand out include:

• Partnering with Wecyclers Corporation on World Earth Day to promote sustainability and address non-biodegradable waste management.
• Supporting girl child empowerment and gender equality causes through brand partnerships with Epe Girls High School, Africa Agility Foundation , and Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) .

These initiatives remind me of the real-world impact that a brand can have beyond financial services.

As Kuda has expanded, including its recent venture into new markets like the UK, I’ve been grateful to play a role in supporting the brand’s global growth. Ensuring that Kuda’s brand identity and perception stay consistent while adapting to new markets has been both challenging and rewarding. It’s been exciting to watch the brand take shape and continue pushing boundaries.

Whether it’s through handling event sponsorships such as Femme Fest, Okrika Trade Fair, Amapiano District, amongst others, or overseeing strategic brand placements in notable African films like Brotherhood and Obara'm, I’m proud of my contributions to our brand’s expansion and evolution, amplifying the Kuda brand’s visibility and establishing a strong cultural connection with our audience, helping establish Kuda as a household name in Africa.

Looking back, what I’m most proud of isn’t just the campaigns, designs, or initiatives themselves but the collaborative effort that has gone into making them happen. I’ve had the pleasure of working with an incredibly talented team who helped bring our ideas to life, and my achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people like Ore F. Oluwasegun A. Korede Onayinka Olatunbosun Bello David Olubusuyi Samuel Adeniyi, arpa, ACIM Basit Amoo Maxwell Elemi Godwin Olatunde Clinton Arinze Onyebuchi Nosakhare Oyegun Derek Kanu Tunde Kabir Mason Caroline Toluwani Odukoya Tosin D. Oyetade Christiane C. and Ileri Akinkugbe .

As I reflect on these 5 years, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunities, the challenges, and the people who’ve been part of this journey.

Here’s to more years of creativity, growth, and impact, as Kuda continues to redefine the banking experience and make financial services accessible, affordable, and rewarding to Africans.