Nigeria Fintech Week Opens Today, Promises Tech Innovation, Diversification  

Emma Okonji

The sixth edition of the Nigeria Fintech Week opens today in Lagos, with a renewed promise to use emerging technology solutions to further drive technology innovation, resilience and diversification in the financial technology space.

Organised by Fintech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR), in partnership with Jackson, Etti & Edu; MainOne; and infobip, the three days event, which begins today at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, will feature Financial Technology (Fintech) solution providers as well as core technology solution providers that will discuss new trends in the financial service sector. They will also discuss how technology solutions will further enhance financial transactions and financial inclusion.    

Speaking yesterday in Lagos at a cocktail organised by FinTechNGR to herald the 2023 Nigeria Fintech Week, the COO of FinTechNGR, Dr. Babatunde Obrimah, said this year’s Fintech Week would focus on Resilience, Innovation and Diversification.

According to him, “There is need for resilience in the areas of governance, structure, compliance, and risk management. In the area of Innovation, experts will share their views on the importance of technology innovation and the need for organisations to embrace technology innovation for business growth and continuity. We will also focus on industry diversification that will meet the growing needs of consumers. Day one will focus on resilience, day two will focus on innovation, and day three will focus on diversification.”

He identified some of the challenges that the forum would address in the areas of payment and financial transactions, to include: online fraud, incomplete financial transactions, debiting without remitting, among others.

Obrimah assured that the 2023 Fintech Week would be more practical oriented, especially with the introduction of Hall of Fame, where ten selected Africans that have shaped the Fintech industry, would be recognised for their contributions to the growth of the industry, with lots of prizes to be won.       

Vice President, FintechNGR, Dr. Stanley Jacob said this year’s programme was carefully planned to present new opportunities that would foster business and economic growth, through innovation, resilience and diversification. According to him, the forum will be combining financial technology with core technology in addressing identified challenges in the Fintech space.

 Partner at Jackson, Etti & Edu, Mr. Adekunle Soyibo, expressed satisfaction with the operations of FinTechNGR, which he said, motivated the company to partner with the organisers of Nigeria Fintech Week.

As an award winning full-service law firm that is focused on innovation, Soyibo said Jackson, Etti & Edu would remain dedicated to serving the continued growth of private and public sector economic development in the region. He assured that Jackson, Etti & Edu would continue to support the Fintech space in Nigeria, and help grow the sector together.

Head, Enterprise and Regional Business at MainOne, Mrs.Olubunmi Ogun, said MainOne, an Equinix Company, remained excited to partner the organisers of Fintech Week. She talked about the future of technology and companies like MainOne that are driving technology development in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. She also talked about MainOne’s infrastructure like the submarine cable that is offering data and internet connectivity, which she said had contributed to technology development in Nigeria. 

Regional Manager at infobip, Mr. Olatayo Ladipo-Ajai, who also expressed infobip’s desire to partner with FintechNGR for the 2023 Nigeria Fintech Week, said as a technology company offering technology services in the last 12 years in Nigeria, the company had always support technology growth in Nigeria through its service offerings, which all Nigerians must have used in one way or the other. 

“A lot of Fintech solution providers use our service and a lot of e-commerce platforms, including the banks use our service and we are proud to support the 2023 Nigeria Fintech Week,” Ladipo-Ajai said.