In a country where financial exclusion remains one of the biggest obstacles, Abdulateef Hussein is quietly building one of Nigeria’s most expansive and impactful financial ecosystems.
As the founder and CEO of BAS Group, a financial startup, Hussein is spearheading a new model of inclusive finance, one that combines capital market sophistication with digital accessibility, SME credibility, and grassroots relevance.
In a sector crowded with promises, what makes Hussein different is not just his ambition, but how methodically he’s executing it.
Hussein’s Journey Through Nigeria’s Financial System
With a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Cyprus, Hussein returned to Nigeria determined to make a mark on the financial services industry.
His career has seen him work at different companies. He worked at Blackbit Limited as an Investment Banking Analyst, and worked at GlobalView Capital Limited, where he led a ₦7.79 billion debt and equity raise for a telecommunications company.
Hussein had also worked at AxeCapital Nigeria Limited, where he fine-tuned his advisory experience, at Mutual Trust Microfinance Bank, and Egwafin Microfinance Bank.
All of this would prepare him for the founding of BAS Group in 2020.
The Birth of BAS Group
Hussein’s signature achievement is BAS Group, a financial powerhouse comprising several subsidiaries built to serve one central mission: to enable capital access for Nigeria’s underserved enterprises.
Under his leadership, the group has expanded into BAS Capital, BAS Finance, BAS Wealth, BAS Insurance, and BAS Technology. Together, these entities form one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive financial ecosystems.
According to Hussein, BAS Finance was launched with three core lending products: payroll lending, car-for-cash loans, which allow customers to borrow against the value of their vehicles and collateral-backed SME loans.
“We decided to explore the invoice-discounting aspect so we can rely on the credibility of anchors like Dangote and Rite Foods. Once invoices are verified, we give a discount on the back of that and still play in the SME lending space,” Hussein told TechCabal.
The Zuvy Acquisition: Expanding Credit Beyond Collateral
Recently, BAS Group has just acquired a majority stake in Zuvy Technologies, a Lagos-based startup enabling vendors to access working capital through invoice discounting, an essential product in Nigeria’s credit-starved SME sector.
Announcing the deal, Hussein, founder welcomed Zuvy Technologies into the BAS Group family.
“By combining Zuvy’s platform with our infrastructure, we’re accelerating toward a future where more African businesses can thrive with confidence and cash flow certainty,” he said.
Zuvy’s infrastructure will now power a key part of BAS’s disbursement and repayment operations, offering SMEs faster access to funds without the friction of traditional underwriting.
Holistic Approach: Beyond Lending, Toward Financial Infrastructure
While many fintechs specialise in isolated credit products, Hussein’s approach is different. By bundling lending with health insurance, business support, and investment advisory, BAS Group becomes more than a financial service, it becomes a growth partner.
According to his LinkedIn, Hussein’s areas of expertise reflect this broader strategy:
- Microfinance
- Insurance
- Equity and Debt Capital Raise
- Business Planning
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Corporate Restructuring
- Institutional and SME Advisory Services
“I have spent the past years of my career developing skills in Consulting, Investment Banking, Microfinance & Insurance. My goal is to help companies create value by planning, setting up, managing and supporting them for growth through strategic alliances,” he said on his LinkedIn page.
From structuring commercial papers to recapitalising insurance brokerages and building microfinance infrastructure, Hussein operates at the intersection of capital strategy and social impact.
A Scholar of Transformation
Beyond the boardroom, Hussein continues to invest in his own education. He holds an MBA from Lagos Business School, one of Africa’s most prestigious business institutions.
He also completed Executive Education in Digital Transformation Strategies at Cambridge Judge Business School, equipping himself with global insights into the future of financial systems.
What Sets Hussein Apart
Hussein is not the loudest voice in Nigeria’s fintech space, but he may be one of the most impactful. He operates with a long-game mentality, focusing not on short-term funding rounds, but on infrastructure that outlives the hype cycles.
As Nigeria’s economy tightens and liquidity remains elusive for SMEs, Hussein’s model of lending, backed by credibility, embedded insurance, and a deep understanding of enterprise risk offers a viable blueprint for growth.
Whether through invoice discounting, collateral-free loans, or enterprise health coverage, BAS Group is positioning itself as the financial infrastructure layer for Nigeria’s small businesses.
And at the heart of that effort is a man who sees finance not just as numbers, but as nation-building.
