Oyewole Oyelayo Joledo holds a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ilorin, where his research focused on demand models for agricultural products in rural households. Before that, his undergraduate training also included studies at the University of Ilorin, reflecting a deep grounding in Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
Beyond academia, Joledo has worked in the public sector: he served as a scientific officer at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA), contributing to initiatives for agricultural technology adoption among rural communities in Nigeria.
These experiences—rooted in development, policy, and community engagement—helped shape his path toward social entrepreneurship and the founding of RescueTap, a platform intended to enhance emergency response and public safety.
In a country where insecurity and delayed emergency response remain serious concerns, Joledo envisioned a technology-assisted remedy. RescueTap enables users in distress to trigger alerts and connect quickly with responders, leveraging location services and community-based networks to reduce the life-threatening delays common in many Nigerian settings.
Joledo’s background in development and his work with biotechnology exposed him to the complexities of deploying solutions in resource-constrained settings. He recognized that solving problems like food security and innovation adoption required tools that were both technical and socially grounded—a mindset he has carried into the safety-tech space.
Stakes and Challenges
The stakes are high. In Nigeria, official emergency services often struggle with funding, logistics, and infrastructure. In many places, public trust is low, and citizens depend on informal networks or personal effort when crises arise. By entering this space, Joledo is not only building a startup—he is wading into deeply entrenched structural challenges.
For Joledo, the challenges are personal as much as professional: securing investment for safety-tech, convincing governments to partner, and persuading users to trust a nascent platform with their lives. Profitability in such a sector is not guaranteed; success will depend on demonstrating real impact, navigating regulation, and sustaining operations long-term.
At a live investor pitch in London, RescueTap drew attention not just for its technical features, but for the clarity of vision behind them. Investors remarked on the platform’s potential to fill gaps where institutional systems often fail.
While still early in its growth, RescueTap has already been shown to link people in emergencies to timely aid—with the simplicity of the app and speed of alerts consistently cited by early users.
Globally, safety-tech and emergency response apps exist, but few combine local understanding, grassroots community trust, and scalable technology the way RescueTap aims to—and Joledo’s Nigerian roots give his solution a contextual advantage.
Why it Matters
Joledo’s story carries significance beyond Nigeria. African tech has long been dominated by fintech, e-commerce, and social media. His venture signals a shift: startups now see safety, health, and public welfare as fertile ground for innovation.
If RescueTap succeeds, it could influence how African societies think about citizen-centered tech—not just as convenience tools, but as essential infrastructure. That demands a recalibration in support: from governments, investors, even citizens themselves.
Joledo’s ambitions extend beyond Nigeria. With safety challenges common across many African cities, RescueTap’s model holds potential for scale. But scaling will require sensitivity: regulatory alignment, partnerships with emergency providers, and local trust-building in each new region.
He approaches growth cautiously, aware that overpromising early can undermine credibility. His mission is clear: translate his vision into tools that people can depend on.
“In a society where help often arrives too late, technology must close the gap,” Joledo asserts. RescueTap is his attempt to do just that—not as an idealistic project, but as a lifeline.
Talking Points
For decades, Nigerians have looked to the state for safety. But Joledo’s RescueTap tells us something uncomfortable: when the state falters, private innovation steps in. Should citizens really depend on startups for their survival? Or does this highlight the extent of government failure in securing lives?
Africa’s startup scene is full of fintechs chasing payment processing and “seamless transactions.” RescueTap breaks that mold. It shows that tech can be more than about moving money—it can save lives. But here’s the controversy: will investors who are obsessed with “scalable profits” stick around for an app that saves people but doesn’t guarantee quick returns?
Everyone wants to talk about Africa’s booming digital economy, the unicorns, the funding rounds. But who cares about your digital wallet when you can’t guarantee safety on the street? Joledo’s work forces us to admit a hard truth: digital economies cannot thrive without secure physical environments. Maybe safety tech, not just fintech, should be Africa’s next frontier.
