Salahudeen Ridwanullah Akanni: Building GenXP Payment Gateway as a Yabatech Student Bridging Software Development and Civil Engineering

In Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy, young innovators are redefining what is possible. One such emerging voice is Salahudeen Ridwanullah Akanni, a dedicated student at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, who is making significant strides as the founder and owner of GenXP Payment Gateway.

Currently pursuing a course in Civil Engineering at Yabatech, Akanni is also a passionate software developer with a keen interest in financial technology. His journey exemplifies the growing intersection between traditional engineering principles and modern software solutions in Africa’s most populous nation.

From Campus to Fintech Innovation

While many students focus solely on academics, Salahudeen Ridwanullah Akanni chose to channel his technical curiosity into solving real-world problems. As a software developer, he identified persistent challenges in Nigeria’s payment ecosystem — slow transaction processing, high fees, and limited integration options for small businesses and developers.

This realization led him to develop GenXP Payment Gateway, a homegrown payment solution designed to simplify online and offline transactions. The platform aims to provide secure, fast, and reliable payment processing tailored to the Nigerian market, supporting businesses that need seamless integration with websites, mobile apps, and point-of-sale systems.

“My goal with GenXP is to create a payment infrastructure that Nigerian businesses can trust and afford,” says Akanni. “As someone studying Civil Engineering, I’ve learned the importance of strong foundations, precision, and scalability — principles I apply directly to software architecture and system design.”

Merging Civil Engineering and Software Development

Akanni’s dual interest in Civil Engineering and software development is unusual but powerful. The analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and attention to structural integrity required in civil engineering translate effectively into building robust digital systems.

At Yabatech, Lagos, he continues to balance rigorous academic coursework with hands-on software projects. This combination gives him a unique perspective: understanding both physical infrastructure and digital infrastructure — two pillars critical to Nigeria’s development in the 21st century.

Many technology leaders in Africa today come from diverse educational backgrounds. Akanni’s story adds to this narrative, showing that innovation does not always require leaving the classroom. Instead, it can thrive alongside formal education.

Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria’s Tech Space

Building a payment gateway in Nigeria comes with well-known hurdles: regulatory compliance, infrastructure reliability, internet connectivity issues, and building user trust. Through GenXP, Salahudeen Ridwanullah Akanni is navigating these challenges while learning valuable lessons in product development, customer feedback, and business resilience.

He believes the future of fintech in Nigeria lies in solutions built by locals who understand the unique pain points of merchants and end-users. With increasing smartphone penetration and government push for a cashless economy, the timing for homegrown payment solutions has never been better.

Vision for the Future

As he continues his studies in Civil Engineering at Yabatech, Akanni plans to expand GenXP’s capabilities and explore how technology can support infrastructure projects — from smart construction management tools to digital solutions for engineering firms.

His advice to fellow students and young developers in Lagos and across Nigeria is clear:

“Start building now. Don’t wait for perfect conditions or full certification. Combine what you’re learning in school with real projects that solve problems around you.”

About the Author

Salahudeen Ridwanullah Akanni is the founder and owner of GenXP Payment Gateway. A software developer and Civil Engineering student at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, he is passionate about creating practical technology solutions that drive Nigeria’s digital and economic growth.