Stakeholders at the Payment Forum Nigeria 2026 have emphasised the need for robust and reliable payment infrastructure to drive financial inclusion, particularly among small businesses, merchants, and agents.
Speaking at the PAFON 3.0, Dennis Ajalie, CEO of TeamApt, a subsidiary of Moniepoint Inc., represented by David Ijaolat, said payment systems must be “reliable, reachable, and relevant” to support inclusive economic growth.
Ajalie explained that the company operates as a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payments infrastructure provider, offering services across switching, non-bank acquiring, Payment Terminal Service Provision (PTSP), and super-agent frameworks.
He said these capabilities enable the company to deliver financial services through gateways, point-of-sale (POS) devices, and agent networks across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Ajalie described the switching layer as the “traffic controller” of digital transactions, responsible for routing payments between financial institutions and verifying approvals within seconds, often without users recognising the complexity behind the process.
He illustrated the growing dependence on digital payments with a real-life example of a roadside fruit vendor managing multiple POS devices and operating several micro-outlets, underscoring how even small-scale businesses are now integrated into the digital financial ecosystem.
According to him, small and medium enterprises contribute about 48 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and account for roughly 84 per cent of employment, yet nearly 95 per cent fail within five years.
He said this highlights the urgent need for stronger financial infrastructure and support systems to improve business sustainability.
“The next wave of financial inclusion will be driven organically by merchants themselves, as they encourage customers to adopt digital payments,” he said.
To achieve this, Ijaola identified three critical pillars, reliability, reach, and relevance.
He explained that reliability must include features such as instant transaction reversals and strong security frameworks, while reach involves expanding access through agent networks and multiple service channels.
Relevance, he added, requires designing financial products that align with users’ behaviour, literacy levels, and everyday realities.
On innovation, Ijaola pointed to the underutilisation of direct debit systems in Nigeria, noting that they account for less than one per cent of transactions despite their potential to automate recurring payments.
He told participants at the PAFON 3.0 that TeamApt’s direct debit solution, integrated into its POS terminals and Monnify payment gateway, is already being used for micro-pension contributions, insurance premiums, and loan repayments, thereby extending structured financial services to underserved communities.
He also highlighted opportunities in cross-border payments and artificial intelligence-driven platforms, including messaging applications, where transactions could become as simple as sending a text message.
In his remarks, Peter Oluka, co-convener of Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON), described the forum as a platform for shaping a more inclusive and equitable digital payments ecosystem.
Oluka stressed that financial inclusion must go beyond access to address affordability, security, and usability, particularly for underserved populations such as rural women, gig workers, and small business owners.
He called for stronger collaboration among regulators, financial institutions, and fintech companies to improve infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity, and embed financial services into everyday platforms.
According to Ajalie, such coordinated efforts are essential to unlocking the next phase of Nigeria’s economic growth and digital transformation.
