About

A career that follows the money families send home.

After more than twenty years building the corridors that carry money between Africa and its diaspora, now carrying its culture the same way.

Head-and-shoulders portrait of Richard Meseko smiling, in glasses and a suit.
Lomé, 2020
Biography

In brief

Richard Meseko’s career has followed the money that families send home. After his early years in Lagos and Niamey, he spent five years at Ecobank in Côte d’Ivoire, where he managed the launch of Rapidtransfer, later the group’s flagship remittance product. He built Travelex Money Transfer’s agent network in Africa from 3 to 34 countries, set up Ecobank’s operations in Congo Brazzaville, and from 2011 to 2019 established WorldRemit in Canada, taking it from its first transaction to a profitable multi-million-dollar business. Back at Ecobank, he ran Rapidtransfer group-wide from Lomé, opening its first corridor outside Africa, then led global sales for Africa Rapidtransfer in Paris. Nigerian and Canadian, he holds an MBA from the Université du Québec à Montréal and has lived in eight countries. Now based in Paris, he is moving from banking to focus fully on his cultural projects: a band that documents traditional music, the pan flute, and stories such as The Reflections of the Prince, now being adapted for the screen.

Based in Paris, Richard is moving from banking to focus fully on his cultural projects.

Career

Eight countries, one corridor

  1. 2025–ParisDMA GlobalResearch ManagerRemittance price research, market studies and diagnostic reports across North America and Africa, for a development consultancy.Source: CV
  2. 2021–2025ParisAfrica Rapidtransfer, Ecobank InternationalHead of Global SalesGrew the platform from 16 to 25 send countries and 34 receive countries in a year, built 12,000 customers from zero in two years, and opened Ethiopia, the first corridor outside Ecobank’s footprint.Source: CV
  3. 2019–2021LoméEcobank Transnational IncorporatedGroup Manager, RapidtransferRan the group’s flagship remittance product and opened its first corridor outside Africa, to China, with WorldFirst (Alipay).Source: CV
  4. 2011–2019MontréalWorldRemitCountry Director, CanadaSet up the first North American subsidiary and took it from its first transaction to a profitable multi-million-dollar business in four years; prepared the US launch.Source: CV; Manyatta Network (2015)
  5. 2009–2010Washington DCArias, Microfinance International CorporationAfrican Network ManagerBrought regional banks in Africa onto the remittance platform, starting with Bank of Africa.Source: CV
  6. 2007–2008BrazzavilleEcobank CongoHead of Operations and TechnologySet up the full operational structure of the new subsidiary.Source: CV
  7. 2005–2007AccraTravelex / Coinstar Money TransferAfrica Regional ManagerBuilt the agent network in Africa from 3 to 34 countries and made the region the most profitable arm of the business.Source: CV
  8. 2004–2005AbidjanVersus BankHead of OperationsSet up the operations of a new private bank.Source: CV
  9. 1998–2003AbidjanEcobank Côte d’IvoireHead of Money Transfer and International TradeManaged the launch of Rapidtransfer, later the group’s flagship remittance product. Best Employee Award, 2002.Source: CV
  10. 1994–1998NiameyIRED, Development Innovations and NetworkCommunication Officer and translatorWrote funding proposals for rural development rooted in local culture.Source: CV
  11. 1992–1994LagosManufacturers Merchant BankCorporate Finance departmentSource: CV

From Richard’s CV (2026) and the public record.

Education

Study

  • 2012Commission scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île, MontréalProfessional specialisation in entrepreneurshipSource: CV
  • 2004Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)MBASource: CV
  • 1994Nigerian Institute of Journalism, LagosPostgraduate diploma in public relationsSource: CV
  • 1990Kwara State Polytechnic, IlorinHigher National Diploma in administrationSource: CV
Languages and places

Two working languages, eight countries

English and French.

He also speaks Yoruba, and some Hausa.

  • 01Lagos, Nigeria
  • 02Niamey, Niger
  • 03Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • 04Accra, Ghana
  • 05Brazzaville, Congo
  • 06Montréal, Canada
  • 07Lomé, Togo
  • 08Paris, France

Based in Paris, France.

Beyond the title

Work, culture, life

  • Portrait of Richard Meseko in a suit and purple tie against a white wall.

    At work

    Payments, financial inclusion and the diaspora corridor: conferences, boards and the press.

  • Richard Meseko playing the pan flute in a suit.

    In culture

    Music, the pan flute and the heritage of the royal household of Alasorin.

  • Richard Meseko cycling on a city street.

    At home

    Family, cycling, swimming and travel: the person behind the title.

Heritage

Where he comes from

Born in Nigeria, a prince of the royal household of Alasorin.

He believes financial inclusion is the first step to cultural inclusion, and carries Africa’s music and stories to its next generation.

Culture

Sound business principles come from the broader principles of life.
His working principle, from a 2015 interview (paraphrased)