Oluseun Onigbinde: Championing Public Data Transparency in Nigeria – Chief Original Gangstar 

In a world where information is power, there is a need for information that empowers citizens to hold their leaders accountable and demand the transparency they deserve. Well, there is a remarkable entrepreneur who has taken up the responsibility to provide Nigerian citizens with this information and data to achieve fiscal transparency.

In this issue of Chief Original Gangstar, our COG is Oluseun Onigbinde, the Co-Founder of BudgIT and CEO of Kwerty. Oluseun Onigbinde is not your average entrepreneur. He’s a data-driven powerhouse on a mission to transform how Nigerians understand and engage with government spending. You might know him as the brains behind BudgIT, a game-changing platform that brings public finance information and data transparency to the masses. But there’s more to this visionary leader than meets the eye. Despite facing criticism and challenges, Onigbinde remains firm in his commitment to accountability and citizen empowerment. In this issue, we will dive into the story of the man who is revolutionising the way we see public data. 

Onigbinde was born on September 18, 1985, in Osogbo, Osun State, and grew up in Masifa, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, and excelled academically at Loyola College, Ibadan. His stellar performance in the West African Examinations Council’s exam earned him nine distinctions, setting the stage for his future endeavours.

He went ahead to earn a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He later completed an executive program in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. His thirst for knowledge led him to pursue a Master of International Policy and Practice at The George Washington University.

But it wasn’t just academia that fueled Onigbinde’s passion. During his professional journey, he explored various industries, from banking to civic technology. During his time at First Bank of Nigeria, he realised the power of data in driving change. That revelation planted the seed for what would later become BudgIT.

In 2011, Onigbinde, alongside Joseph Agunbiade, founded BudgIT during a hackathon at the Co-Creation Hub. Their goal was to make government spending easier to understand and empower Nigerians with accessible, actionable data. BudgIT quickly gained traction, attracting investments from the likes of the Omidyar Network and the Gates Foundation.

Under Onigbinde’s leadership, BudgIT became a household name, reaching over 20 million citizens and partnering with key stakeholders, including the National Assembly and the Kaduna State Government. Through innovative projects like Tracka and Civic Hive, BudgIT continues to push the boundaries of civic technology, monitoring public projects and incubating civic tech startups.

Despite reaching these organisational milestones, Onigbinde’s impact extends beyond BudgIT. As a board member of organisations like ONE Africa and Citizens’ Gavel, he’s at the forefront of shaping policies and fostering civic engagement. His numerous accolades, including the Ashoka Fellowship and the Obama Foundation Scholars Program, speak volumes about his influence on the global stage.

Despite facing backlash for his outspoken criticism of the government, Onigbinde remains undeterred in his mission. He lives by the mantra, “A just, transparent, and fair society where every citizen has equal access to information.” Through BudgIT and his advocacy work, he’s turning that vision into reality, one data point at a time. So, the next time you hear about BudgIT, remember the man behind the movement—a true champion of open government and civic empowerment.