Software engineer and tech founder, Babatunde Esanju, has said that the next phase of Africa’s digital evolution will not be defined by flashy apps or new platforms, but by something more fundamental—trust.
Speaking from his experience across fintech, remittance, insurance, investment technology and care platforms, Esanju said Africa’s digital ecosystem is already deeply embedded in everyday life. From payments and savings to transport and healthcare, technology has become part of daily routines. But, he argues, the emotional relationship users have with these platforms is still fragile.
According to him, the modern digital user is no longer impressed by speed alone. Convenience, he said, now shares space with a deeper expectation: reassurance.
“People do not only want fast platforms. They want platforms they can trust. They want to know their money is safe, their personal data is protected, and that somebody will take responsibility when something goes wrong,” he said.
For many users, he explained, digital life in Africa is shaped by both adoption and caution. While millions rely on apps for financial transactions, shopping, mobility and communication, past experiences, such as failed transfers, weak customer service, missing records and unresolved disputes, continue to influence how freely people engage with technology.
He added, “In many cases, people are not rejecting technology. They are being careful. Once people lose trust, it becomes difficult to bring them back.”
Esanju believes this dynamic is shaping a new direction for product design; one where reliability becomes as important as user experience or aesthetics. In his view, trust should not be treated as a post-launch fix, but as part of the lifestyle experience a product offers from the beginning.
He described this as especially important in sectors that touch sensitive parts of everyday life.
“In fintech, it means you can track your money. In healthcare, it means records are accurate and protected. In care technology, it means families can see that proper support is being delivered,” he said. “In every case, it’s about confidence in the system.”
Esanju also warned that rapid digital expansion without trust could create a disconnect between adoption and satisfaction—where users participate in digital platforms but remain emotionally detached from them.
In his view, this is where artificial intelligence enters the conversation, not as a replacement for human systems, but as a support tool that still depends on strong foundations.
“AI is powerful, but it is not magic,” he said. “If the data is poor, the result will be poor. Human judgment still matters.”
Beyond technology, Esanju points to a cultural layer that shapes how digital platforms are experienced in Africa. He notes that informal financial behaviour, family-based support systems, identity complexity and low-trust environments all influence how users interact with products.
Because of this, he argued, African tech design must reflect local realities rather than imported assumptions.
“We cannot always copy what works elsewhere and expect it to work the same way here,” he said.
He also called for closer collaboration between founders, regulators, financial institutions, healthcare providers and policymakers, noting that trust cannot be built by software alone.
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