Draft:Adewale Opaleye

Adewale Opaleye
Born	Adewale Adeshina Opaleye Ibadan, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, CEO
Known for	Founding Alerzo Limited

Adewale Opaleye (born Adewale Adeshina Opaleye) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and technology innovator who founded and is the Group CEO of Alerzo Limited, a leading technology service provider transforming Nigeria's informal retail sector. He founded the company in 2018 with $4k he earned from coding video games, and through Alerzo, Adewale addresses supply chain inefficiencies by connecting retailers directly with manufacturers, offering logistics support, and promoting financial inclusion for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)​

Adewale is committed to empowering MSMEs, particularly women, through technology-driven solutions.

Early Life and Education

Adewale was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, where he grew up and witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by small-scale retailers, particularly his mother, who worked tirelessly to provide for her family through her small retail business. This early exposure became a driving force in his entrepreneurial journey and shaped his vision for Alerzo.

He pursued a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the South China University of Technology. His studies in China exposed him to how technology can be leveraged to empower small businesses; inspired by these, he resolved to adapt these technological advancements to address the challenges of informal retail in Nigeria and other African markets.

Career

Adewale founded Alerzo Limited in 2018 with the vision of leveraging technology to transform Nigeria's informal retail sector. With its headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, Alerzo offers informal retailers easier access to goods and services by directly connecting them with manufacturers, providing logistics support through same-day delivery, and offering financial tools.

Under his leadership, Alerzo expanded rapidly, serving over 200,000 businesses across Nigeria and operating multiple warehouses. The company is recognised for driving efficiency and innovation in the retail ecosystem.

Awards and Recognition

In 2021, Adewale was awarded the Fintech Personality Leadership Prize at the African Prize for Leadership Excellence awards. The award recognised his contributions to driving innovation in Nigeria's retail and technology ecosystems. ​

• Under him, Alerzo secured over $20 million in funding from global investors like Nosara Capital and FJ Labs, highlighting the company's unique value proposition in transforming Nigeria's retail ecosystem.​
• His leadership has positioned Alerzo as a leading player in Nigeria's retail-tech landscape, earning accolades for its impact on informal retail.
• Alerzo serves over 200,000 businesses across multiple Nigerian states.
• Alerzo has been celebrated for its social impact, particularly its work supporting women entrepreneurs, who constitute over 80% of its customer base.