In a bold step that would later influence how fintechs manage market volatility, Oyindamola Ogunruku, then Risk Analyst at Paydayhubonline in Nigeria, introduced a new framework for adaptive risk scorecards designed to respond dynamically to changing credit and market conditions.
The innovation allowed fintech lenders to assess creditworthiness using real-time indicators such as transaction behavior and market movements, rather than relying solely on static historical data. The system was hailed as one of the first locally developed tools to address the persistent challenges of high default risk in Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital lending sector.
Industry observers at the time noted that Ogunruku’s work marked a turning point for fintech risk management in West Africa. By building flexibility into scorecards, her model helped institutions maintain resilience during periods of high inflation and sharp currency fluctuations. The approach also offered a template for fintechs in other African markets facing similar economic uncertainties.
“This model isn’t just about risk control; it’s about giving fintechs the confidence to extend credit sustainably in environments where volatility is the norm,” Ogunruku remarked in 2018, shortly after the launch.
