Oye Akideinde joins Airtel Nigeria as General Manager, Digital Products & Innovation

By Zion Rufus

In a significant move within the telecommunications industry, Airtel Nigeria has appointed Oye Akideinde as the General Manager of Digital Products & Innovation. With over 23 years of experience in various sectors including entertainment, technology, and digital, Akideinde brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success to his new role.

As the General Manager of Digital Products & Innovation, Akideinde will play a crucial role in shaping Airtel Nigeria’s digital strategy. His responsibilities will include conceptualizing, developing, and implementing innovative digital initiatives while ensuring a strong and well-positioned product portfolio.

Akideinde’s career has been marked by numerous accomplishments and a diverse range of experiences. He has excelled in entertainment, consumer goods, eBusiness, finance, media, music, and digital sectors. His skills encompass technology, project management, strategy, marketing, product development, and business expansion.

Before joining Airtel Nigeria, Akideinde held significant positions in renowned organizations within the entertainment and technology sectors. He served as the GM Music Services for the MTN Group and later as the Head for Music at Simfy Africa following its acquisition by MTN. In these roles, he oversaw market launches and operations in 22 active markets, contributing to the establishment of Africa’s largest sustainable music ecosystem.

At Boomplay Music, Akideinde served as the Director of West Africa, where he led operations, music and content strategies, business development, marketing, and artist partnerships. Under his guidance, Boomplay Music cultivated strong relationships with African artists, resulting in the platform having the richest local content catalog in its target markets. He also played a key role in driving the platform’s expansion across Africa, achieving an impressive Monthly Active User (MAU) count of 55 million.

Prior to his work at Boomplay Music, Akideinde was the Head of Business Development at Spinlet, a pioneering digital service provider in Africa. During his tenure, he secured partnerships with major brands such as Etisalat, Samsung, Tecno, Google, and Nokia, contributing to Spinlet’s rapid user base growth, surpassing one million subscribers.

Before venturing into the digital space, Akideinde co-founded 360nobs Limited, a technology-driven media firm that owns the popular entertainment website 360nobs.com. As Head of Business Development, he played a pivotal role in expanding the platform’s reach, catering to millions of unique visitors monthly. Additionally, he successfully managed renowned acts such as Waje and Immaculate Dache through the company’s talent management arm.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Akideinde is widely recognized as a key stakeholder and influencer in the African digital and entertainment industry. He serves as a board advisor for several start-ups and holds non-executive director roles in MerryGo Kids, an edutainment platform, and Continued Entertainment, a technology-driven platform offering content distribution and entertainment projects.

His contributions have earned him recognition from prominent media outlets, and he has participated in global music and digital workshops, sharing his insights on emerging trends in Africa. His influence also extends to prestigious music award academies such as The Recording Academy’s New York Chapter and the Headies.

Alongside his professional achievements, Akideinde is an avid collector with a passion for diverse forms of art, including comic books, African art, and vinyl records. He has also showcased his talent as a writer with two published novels.