From A POS Agent To Data Professional: How PalmPay Became Part Of Hakeem’s Growth

For many young Nigerians, the path to building a career does not always begin with a traditional 9 to 5. With youth unemployment at nearly 80 million young people, according to the 2025 State of The Nigerian Youth Report, entrepreneurship and self-employment are increasingly providing young people with opportunities to earn, gain experience, and build skills for the future.

For Hakeem, that opportunity started five years ago as a PalmPay POS Agent in Ilorin, Kwara State. His initial goal was to run a business that served his community while creating an income for himself. But the experience soon became much more than that. Through daily transactions, Hakeem developed practical skills in customer service, cash management, and problem-solving. His POS business became a platform not only to earn, but to learn.

In a LinkedIn post shared by Hakeem, he stated: “Over the years, I’ve helped customers with cash withdrawals, transfers, bill payments, airtime and data purchases, and countless everyday transactions. Through it all, PalmPay has been the platform I relied on every day.

What has kept me here isn’t just the technology; it’s the trust. When people walk up to my POS stand, they expect transactions to be fast, secure, and reliable. Being able to deliver that consistently has helped me build lasting relationships with customers in my community.”

Harnessing Opportunities To Fuel His Ambitions

Hakeem understood that building a future meant continuing to invest in himself. While running his business, he earned an HND in Accounting, giving him a stronger foundation in financial management and business. He further went on to complete a training in Data Science and AI-powered Business Analysis, developing more practical skills.

On the surface, these may seem like very different skills, but for Hakeem, they are all…