The Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR), the umbrella body of Financial Technology operators in the country, has had high-level engagements with top regulators and lawmakers with a view to strengthening collaboration to boost the growth of the sector.
The delegation, led by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of FintechNGR and President, Africa Fintech Network (AFN), Dr Segun Aina, included CEO, Zest Payments Limited and President of FintechNGR, Dr Stanley Jacob; CEO, Credit Registry Limited and Vice President, FintechNGR, Dr Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun; Transformation and Innovation Executive and Treasurer of FintechNGR, Oluwaseun Adesanya, and a fellow of AFN, Omotola Olatujayan.
The delegation engaged with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Finance and Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT.
At the meeting with the Governor of the CBN, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, discussions focused on leveraging fintech innovations to bridge the financial inclusion gap.
Cardoso highlighted the rapid growth of fintechs in Nigeria and emphasised the importance of developing regulatory frameworks that ensure sustainability and inclusivity within the ecosystem.
Director of the Payments System Supervision Department, CBN, Dr Rakiya Opemi Yusuf, reaffirmed the apex bank’s commitment to policies that promote product innovation, compliance and financial system stability.
Jacob emphasised the need for sustained engagement between regulators and fintechs to further deepen financial inclusion.
During an interactive session with the Commissioner for Insurance, NAICOM, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, parties explored opportunities for collaboration between fintechs and the insurance sector. They agreed to jointly identify gaps in the insurance ecosystem and leverage digitally capable players to close those gaps through innovative technology solutions.
During the meeting with Abiru, the FintechNGR team highlighted the need for fintech expansion beyond payments into Health-tech, Insur-tech, Edu-tech, Agric-tech, and other verticals.
The delegation also commended the SAIL Innovation Lab, a hub established by Senator Abiru, as a launchpad for young changemakers providing digital skills and opportunities to tech enthusiasts and young entrepreneurs.
The engagements concluded with a session with Senator Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT, who reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to forward-looking legislation that drives Nigeria’s digital economy transformation.
Salisu emphasised the role of strong policies in enabling fintech growth, ensuring data protection, and enhancing cybersecurity, while also welcoming continued collaboration with innovators to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital space.
Ahead of the Nigeria Fintech Week 2025, the association has secured participation from major sponsors, including First Bank, Sumsub, Huawei, Mastercard, PAPSS, Zenith, Rwanda Finance, Network International and more.
The 2025 Fintech Week is expected to see players from fintech to agri-tech, lifestyle, entertainment, healthtech, compliance, AI, and investors’ forum.
The event, according to the organisers, will showcase how fintech is not limited to just the finance sector; it’s the orchestrator of how economies live, move, trade and connect.
The theme is ‘The Fintech Ecosystem Symphony: Orchestrating Nigeria’s Digital Future’ and is scheduled for October 7 to 9, 2025.
