The Theme for this year’s Nigeria Fintech Week is “Surviving with FinTech Innovation, What are the Sustaining Factors?” The Conference started with Masterclasses on Monday 28th October 2019 and continued on Tuesday with the Main Conference at Landmark Event Centre with delegates from various banks and Fintech start-ups.
Dr. Babatunde Obrimah, COO, Fintech Association of Nigeria, gave an introductory speech of the event and thanked all the sponsors for their commitment to the event and even participants who registered online for it.
Dr. Segun Aina (ofr), President, Fintech Association of Nigeria Said in his welcome speech “It is reassuring to note the growth and sustenance of the most significant and most impactful Nigeria fintech gathering which started in April 2017 as a one day 1st National Fintech Conference. This was followed by the two days 2nd National Fintech Conference in January 2018 and subsequently the 3rd National Fintech Conference in December 2018 which was integrated into the week-long maiden Africa Fintech Festival held in Lagos. In response to stakeholders’ demand, the platform has metamorphosed into the Nigeria Fintech Week with the 2 days 4th National Fintech Conference being a prominent part of the week’s event. He then welcomed all the participants, sponsors and exhibitors to the grand main conference of the NFW and employed everyone to get engaged in the event.
Mr. Patrick Akinwutan, CEO, Ecobank Nigeria, gave the keynote address. During his address, he promised that “Ecobank Nigeria will not charge a single kobo for USSD transactions carried out by our customers.”
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by Hon. Hakeem Commissioner for Science and Technology, in his speech he said Technology is defining every aspect of human lives, Fintech is the new technology and innovation. He commended the Fintech Association of Nigeria and said we have fertile ground for Fintech here in Lagos State.
Mary Uduk Ag DG, Securities & Exchange Commission SEC Nigeria, Spoke on the Future of fintech in the Nigeria Market ecosystem. Fintech has changed the world of finance. Tech & data are propelling change more than ever before. The SEC in collaboration with Innovation and technology has brought about global Change. Nigeria is transiting, our economy is embracing fintech. Fintech startups are flooding the market with smart innovations and we don’t want to stop them. Going forward, I am confident that together, we can surmount the challenges inherent and seize the potentials of FinTech to transform people’s lives for the better.
Mary Uduk explained that fintech roadmap document would broaden the robust conversation and engagements within the ecosystem to strengthen financial inclusion, it will encourage responsible use of new technologies and digital finance in the capital market, influence increased international participation and cooperation, and also provide investors with more choices in the Nigerian Capital Market.
After Uduk Speech, the Fintech Adoption Roadmap policy for Nigeria Capital Market report was officially launched by her and other committee members.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Dr Uche Olowu, Christine Kelly and Sopnendu Mohanty. Dr Uche Olowu during his message said that: Banking is no longer where you go, it’s what you do and there should be a collaboration between the traditional form of banking and the Fintech firms.
A tech pitch from Raven was another agenda at the event. Raven is a biometric POS for financial transactions and was developed by Mvoula Nigeria Ltd. Raven helps to simplify banking transactions and it involves a low tech platform for its customers.
This is just the beginning of the Nigeria Fintech Week and a lot of innovative ideas have been dished out by the various speakers and the panel sessions that occurred with more to come as the week continues.
Fintech has a bright future in Africa and most especially in Nigeria and collaboration will make that future a reality.
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