The Virtual Asset Service Providers Association has announced a new Pan-African leadership team, marking a major step in its mission to deepen trust, regulatory clarity, and responsible innovation across Africa’s fast-evolving virtual asset ecosystem.
The leadership transition comes as Africa’s digital asset market gains momentum, with increasing institutional interest in blockchain technology, stablecoins, tokenisation, cross-border payments, and financial inclusion solutions.
VASPA, founded in 2024 and headquartered in Nigeria, said the new continental leadership structure is designed to strengthen engagement with regulators, policymakers, investors, and innovators across Africa.
The Board of Trustees
The Executive Council – April 2026-March 2028
- Franklin Peters – Executive Chair; CEO, Boundlesspay (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Muthoni Njogu – Executive Vice Chair (Operations & Governance); Managing Partner, Njogu & Associates (Kenya) – Linkedin
- Rume Ophi – Programs & Communications Lead; Crypto Analyst & Founder of the Cryptopreacher Academy (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Beverley Agbakoba-Onyejianya – Learning and Development Lead; Partner, OAL (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Epanty Mbanda – Regional Director (Central Africa); Managing Partner, 4M Legal & Tax (Cameroun) – Linkedin
- Peter Nortey – Regional Director (West Africa); CEO, Fiatsend (Ghana) – Linkedin
- Favour Uche – Assistant Lead, Policy & Regulatory Affairs; Star Associate, Infusion Lawyers (Nigeria) – Linkedin
The Secretariat
- Siita Sofo Hissan – Secretary-General; President, AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF) (Ghana) – Linkedin
- Gabriel Eze – Assistant Secretary-General; Lead Associate, Infusion Lawyers (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Prince Nwafuru – Head, Code of Conduct & Discipline; Managing Partner, The Law Suite (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Stephen Azubuike – Legal Adviser; Partner, Infusion Lawyers (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Japhet Johnson – Technical Operations Officer; CTO/Co-Founder, Bekonta (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Eeman Yusuf – Membership Manager; Law Graduate & Community Manager (Nigeria) – LinkedIn
- Matthew Oduola – Secretariat Associate; Co-Founder & Content Lead, Web3 Institute and Law Undergraduate, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State (Nigeria) – Linkedin
(Supported by David Akintunde, Web Developer & Manager; and Obo Okata, Graphics Designer) – Nigeria
The Board of Advisers
- Adedeji Owonibi, Senior Partner, A&D Forensics (Nigeria) – LinkedIn
- Dr. Souhayel Tayeb, Senior Financial Regulation & Policy Leader (Tunisia) – Linkedin
- Lasbery Chioma Oludimu, Vice President, Global Operations, Yellow Card Financial Inc. and Managing Director, Yellow Card Nigeria (Nigeria) – Linkedin
- Richard Odongo, Senior Associate, Coulson Harney LLP (Bowmans) (Kenya) – Linkedin
Techeconomy gathered that additional appointments across Africa ongoing, including for the roles of Policy & Regulatory Affairs Lead, Funding & Partnerships Lead, Regional Director (East Africa), Regional Director (North Africa), and Regional Director (South Africa).
Commenting on the leadership appointment, Franklin Peters said:
“Africa stands at a defining moment in the evolution of digital assets. The decisions we make today around standards, regulation, and collaboration will shape how our continent participates in the global financial system for decades to come”.
Driving Africa’s Digital Finance Agenda
According to the association, the newly constituted leadership team will focus on advancing balanced and innovation-friendly regulation, promoting consumer protection and market trust, supporting anti-fraud and compliance frameworks, encouraging cross-border interoperability across African markets, deepening education and capacity building in virtual assets, and strengthening Africa’s role in the global digital finance economy.
VASPA described the new appointments as part of a broader strategy to move Africa from being a passive technology consumer to an active builder of next-generation financial systems.
A Strategic Moment for Africa
The announcement comes at a time when African governments and regulators are increasingly evaluating frameworks for digital assets, while startups and fintech operators explore blockchain-based solutions for remittances, payments, trade finance, and identity systems.
VASPA said the continent requires coordinated leadership to unlock these opportunities while managing associated risks.
Building Trust Across Borders
The association noted that trust remains one of the most critical growth drivers for Africa’s virtual asset market.
Through its expanded leadership structure, VASPA plans to intensify advocacy for:
- AML/CFT best practices
- Responsible licensing frameworks
- User education
- Institutional participation
- Regional policy harmonisation
Continental Collaboration
VASPA said the Pan-African leadership team reflects its growing membership base of individual, corporate, and institutional stakeholders across Africa.
The body added that stronger collaboration among ecosystem players will be essential to ensure Africa captures value from the next wave of digital finance innovation.
