Ayodeji Adewunmi, the notable tech pioneer and former CEO of Jobberman, has taken on a new significant role as co-CEO of the ridesharing platform, Gokada. This development comes barely two months after his resignation from Jobberman and is reportedly linked to a new $5.3 million funding round for Gokada from Rise Capital, a venture capital firm where Mr. Adewunmi serves as Managing Director.

Mr. Adewunmi is a prominent figure in the Nigerian startup ecosystem, having co-founded Jobberman in 2009 while still in university. Under his leadership, Jobberman grew to become Nigeria’s largest recruitment website, demonstrating remarkable resilience in an industry that saw many competitors, such as Careers24, decline or withdraw.

Gokada, however, presents a different and currently turbulent challenge. The bike-hailing startup has been grappling with a multitude of negative issues in recent months, including regulatory hurdles that led to the seizure of some of its bikes and allegations of mismanagement against its former CEO. These internal challenges culminated in the ouster of the previous CEO in March, who was subsequently replaced by Fahim Saleh in April.

Fahim Saleh brings substantial experience in the ridesharing business, notably from Pathao, a highly successful ridesharing startup in Bangladesh. His appointment was initially expected to stabilize Gokada and guide it towards a new era of growth. With the new funding and Mr. Adewunmi's arrival, the leadership structure at Gokada will now involve joint control between the two executives.

Under this new arrangement, Fahim Saleh will focus on product development, technology, and marketing. Ayodeji Adewunmi, on the other hand, will be responsible for leading the company through its financial, operational, staff, and critical regulatory concerns. This is a demanding role, especially given Gokada's current struggles. However, Mr. Adewunmi’s decade-long experience leading Jobberman in a highly competitive industry suggests he is well-suited for the task, with his immediate priority being to address the regulatory issues that pose a significant threat to Gokada’s future.