The whooping amount incurred on the importation of smart cards in Nigeria became a concern to a then young banker identified as Mrs Kofo Akinugbe.
The innovative prowess of Mrs Akinugbe was displayed through her diverse technological companies. She’s the founder of Interface Technologies Limited, a security management and biometrics company, in 1998, SecureID Limited in 2005 and SecureCard Manufacturing in 2012. Her group of companies owns Nigeria’s first SIM card production plant, in operation since December 2016.
Mrs Akinugbe studied Mathematics at the University of Lagos. After her compulsory one year service (NYSC) she got employed at International Merchant Bank, a Nigerian affiliate of the First National Bank of Chicago, and later working for Chartered Bank. She worked with the baking industry for twelve years before quitting her job. She spent nine years working on Interface Technologies Limited before the establishment of Secured ID.
Records have it that, Mrs Akinugbe is one among the 100 lionesses of Africa. Her company has statics of 200million card production. Secured ID has the authorisation of by VISA, Verve, and Mastercard.
She presently exports smart cards to 21 African countries.
For her outstanding business, she was awarded Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship Mature Business Award in 2012.
While Prof. Yemi Osinbajo served as acting president in May 2017, Mrs Akinugbe was appointed on board of Nigerian Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council.
