MasterCard Announces Partnership with NowNow on Cybersecurity 

Omolabake Fasogbon

MasterCard Trust Centre has announced plans to partner with Nigerian fintech startup, NowNow to tighten cybersecurity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

According to the organisation, the partnership will address the security needs of SMEs by providing them with free resources to educate and improve their cybersecurity ecosystem.

It stated further that the partnership will make the MasterCard Trust Centre more accessible to its partner SMEs.

Announcing the partnership, Executive Vice President, Product Optimization and Customer Advancement, Cyber and Intelligence at MasterCard, Paul Trueman, decried the surge in cybercrimes in recent times, which according to Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, cost the country up to $500,000,000 yearly.

He said, “As we bring the next billion people into the digital economy, it is vital that business owners feel as secure and safe from cybercrime as possible. Our partnership with NowNow is key to achieving this. Whether large or small, businesses deserve the peace of mind to operate knowing that they are being kept safe.”

Commenting, CEO of NowNow, Sahir Berry reiterated the firm’s commitment to financial and digital inclusion for customers in rural and urban communities, using simplified branchless banking initiatives.

“We are excited to partner with the MasterCard Trust Centre to help our customers improve the security of their cyber ecosystem, and better protect themselves from cyber criminals”, he said.

MasterCard stated that it develops partnerships with external businesses such as NowNow, non-profit organisations, and governments to bring its Trust Centre to its partners- SME communities.