Junior Abiringwo

Abiringwo Junior joined Open Dreams in 2019, and it changed the course of his life. The opportunities that came with being part of the community opened doors that, in his own words, would never have been possible otherwise. That experience shapes how he thinks about his work today: when an organization invests in a young person, the return is a life changed and a community strengthened. As Head of Finance, he now helps make sure Open Dreams can keep doing that for others.

Junior is a graduate of Ashesi University, where he earned a BSc in Business Administration as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar. The scholarship gave him a rigorous education, and it came with a charge to use that education in service of others. He deepened his technical foundation by becoming a Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certified professional, a credential that reflects strong skills in financial modeling, forecasting, budgeting and valuation.

As Head of Finance, Junior oversees the financial health and integrity of Open Dreams. He brings the discipline of financial analysis to the organization’s budgeting, reporting and planning, so that resources are managed responsibly and directed where they create the most impact. He believes strong financial stewardship is a form of trust-keeping with the donors, partners and communities who make the work possible.

Junior is also the co-founder of Blupay, a fintech venture that lets people send dollars, pounds and euros home, or move money between African countries, in a single WhatsApp chat. Blupay tackles a problem many Africans know well: sending money across borders is often slow, costly and complicated. By building the service around a tool people already use every day, Junior and his co-founders are working to make it as simple as sending a message.

For Junior, success is something to be shared. The knowledge, skills and opportunities he has gained are not meant to stay with him, and returning to Open Dreams as a leader is his way of passing them on. He is committed to helping the next generation of Open Dreams members get the same chance he was given.