Kelvin Akukwe’s secret sauce for driving growth with Ridima and Koyn

When Kelvin Akukwe talks about his work, he does so with the calm conviction of someone who has lived through the turbulence of Nigeria’s crypto scene and decided to build through it. 

As Director of Growth at Ridima and Director of Marketing at Koyn, Akukwe is not just pushing two of West Africa’s fastest-growing Web3 startups; he’s rewriting the playbook for trust, transparency, and adoption in a market still scarred by scams and scepticism.

Akukwe’s path into blockchain wasn’t linear. Trained as a cybersecurity engineer and digital marketer, he describes himself as “a dynamic individual in Web2” who was driven by curiosity and a problem-solving mindset. But when he encountered crypto’s persistent issues, especially peer-to-peer scams, he saw more than a technical puzzle. 

“Solving these systemic problems wasn’t just an ambition,” he says. “It was a mission.”

When Akukwe joined Ridima (formerly Redeemer and founded by Akinwumi Damilola), it was a modest gift card trading platform. By listening closely to user feedback, the team expanded it into what many now refer to as a one-stop digital platform.

Today, Ridima lets users trade crypto, redeem gift cards, and pay bills seamlessly. The company recently listed Solana, continuing its march toward becoming an all-in-one hub for digital assets.

The growth has been striking: over 400,000 Nigerians now trust the platform, with more than $400 million in transaction volume processed since launch. But Akukwe insists that speed and service, not just features, set Ridima apart. 

“Nigerians holding crypto want to convert to naira instantly. That’s what we solve,” he explains.

Ridima has also turned growth into culture. In 2023, it launched the viral Ridima Olympics campaign across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X.

Why Koyn stands alone

Akukwe also drives the growth at Koyn, another ambitious Nigerian blockchain project. Yet, many wonder why it exists as a separate entity.

The separation, he insists, is strategic. “Koyn is where you just trade your cryptocurrency. Ridima is the broader super app. Both brands complement each other but have distinct directions.”

“For Ridima and Koyn, we have different goals and focus,” he clarifies. “Ridima is evolving into a one-stop super app for all things digital, from gift cards to e-commerce. But Koyn is purely focused on digital assets. That’s why you don’t see gift cards there.”

Partnerships have fuelled much of Ridima’s growth. “That full introduction into the crypto landscape helped us increase transaction volume.” Beyond that, Ridima has leaned heavily on grassroots strategies. 

“We have a campus tour going on in eight states of the federation. We’ve done outreaches in Ibadan and Port Harcourt, and we’re expanding further. We also set up an ambassadorship programme called the R-Squad to empower students. These students are the leaders of tomorrow, and involving them early is key.”

The combination of corporate partnerships and community engagement has positioned Ridima not just as a platform but as a movement. 

Akukwe adds with conviction, “Next year, everybody should expect great things.”

Tackling scams and building trust

One recurrent issue with Akukwe is trust. In Nigeria’s crypto space, scams and fraud remain pervasive. “The major problem is P2P scams,” he admits. “That was the bone of our youth.”

For Ridima and Koyn, solving this challenge meant rethinking how people interact with crypto. “You can convert your crypto to naira in seconds. You don’t have to wait for a vendor. Just type in the wallet address, and boom, in seconds you receive your money in your wallet and withdraw it to your bank account,” Akukwe says.

Seamlessness, coupled with transparency, has been a game-changer. 

“We have the highest level of security and a team of cybersecurity experts on standby. We are licensed by the Nigeria Data Protection Agency, and every day we keep evolving with new strategies to fight fraud,” he explains.

But technology is only part of the answer. Customer service, Akukwe insists, is just as vital. 

“When users reach out to us with problems, we solve them in split seconds. It’s all about seamless service, good operations, and amazing customer support.”

For Akukwe, user feedback is the heartbeat of innovation. “The feedback we’re getting is always about instant payouts and fast customer service,” he says. “That’s what we live for, making life easy for our users.”

The Ridima team uses these insights to improve constantly. “On a scale of 10,000 transactions, maybe two have issues,” he notes. “We’re working daily to reduce even that. Our vision is to build the all-in-one super digital app for Nigerians and Africans at large.”

That vision is already extending beyond borders. “We live in Nigeria and Ghana. Next year we’ll launch in Kenya, South Africa, and other African countries,” Akukwe reveals.

“In the next two years, the plan is for Ridima to evolve into an exchange. We also plan to introduce AI integrations and multi-chain support”, he added.