The Pan African United Development Network (PAUDEN) stands firmly committed to promoting ethical leadership, community security, and the empowerment of African youth. As an organization dedicated to fostering positive societal values across the continent, we are deeply concerned by recent revelations surrounding Ezra Olubi, co-founder and former CTO of Paystack, who was awarded the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
This national honor was intended to recognize contributions to Nigeria’s tech sector, but emerging evidence of inappropriate conduct casts a shadow over its validity.
Recent developments have brought to light disturbing old tweets from Olubi, dating back to 2009–2013, containing sexually explicit and inappropriate content, including references to minors and other unethical themes.These posts resurfaced amid allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate, leading to his suspension by Paystack and the initiation of a formal investigation. Such actions are incompatible with the standards expected of national honorees, who should exemplify integrity and serve as role models for Africa’s youth.
PAUDEN believes that national honors must uphold the highest moral and ethical benchmarks. Allowing this award to stand undermines public trust in Nigeria’s recognition system and sends a harmful message to young Africans striving for excellence. We call on the current Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, to immediately review and revoke Olubi’s OON award.
This step is essential to reinforce accountability and protect community values.
We invite stakeholders, including CSR partners and youth networks, to support this demand.
Stay connected with PAUDEN’s efforts at www.pauden.org for updates on our Pan-African initiatives.