According to the company, the campaign reinforces its leadership position and the ease of making transactions which starts with the push of a button.

In a statement, the firm said, “As the pioneer financial technology company in Nigeria, Unified Payments remains at the forefront of enabling businesses and individuals to leverage its shared technology infrastructure, emphasising enterprise alliances. The “It Starts Here” campaign embodies the company’s vision of fostering innovation and progress, inspiring stakeholders, including customers, shareholders, and employees, to embrace opportunities driven by cutting-edge technology.

“The campaign is built on the philosophy that every significant achievement begins with a small yet pivotal action – be it a decision, a spark, or a moment of readiness.

For Unified Payments, this transformative moment is the seamless connection it provides for businesses, fintechs, and consumers, empowering them to achieve more.”

Speaking on the campaign launch, group managing director/CEO, Unified Payments, Dr. Agada Apochi, said, “At Unified Payments, we are proud to unlock possibilities through pioneering payment solutions. Whether it is the first phase of building a business or scaling to new heights, we offer the infrastructure, processing power, secure transactions, and speedy resolutions that businesses need to succeed. Our focus is on innovation and trust, ensuring that every transaction propels our customers closer to their goals.”

He added, “Every milestone, whether in business or life, starts with a single step, and Unified Payments is the partner powering that step with efficiency and reliability.”

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“The Payment Industry Legend Award” is a testament to Dr. Apochi’s exceptional achievements and leadership in transforming the payment landscape.

CeBIH, known for its commitment to recognizing excellence, selected Dr. Apochi for his unparalleled contributions that have significantly shaped and advanced the financial technology landscape in Nigeria.

Under Apochi’s visionary guidance, Unified Payments has achieved remarkable milestones, including  pioneering the issuance and acceptance of EMV Chip+PIN cards in Nigeria, which led to a reduction of card fraud in Nigeria by over 95%, enabled Nigerian banks to issue first-ever payment cards to Naira account holders for use globally.

Introduced the first-ever acceptance of foreign cards at ATMs, a joint acquiring company for Nigerian banks.

The company was also the first, EMV third party processor in Nigeria, first processor in Sub-Saharan Africa to process payment or withdrawal with just phone number.

First Nigerian principal member of a global payment scheme. Unified Payments also pioneered multi-bank mobile application and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) and the use of telephone numbers as digital account numbers.

Just to mention a few among several feats achieved by Apochi over the years.

His strategic vision and commitment to excellence have not only propelled Unified Payments to new heights but have also positively impacted the broader financial technology industry in Nigeria.

Unified Payments, under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Apochi, has played a pivotal role in shaping the financial technology sector in Nigeria.

The company’s initiatives, such as the launch of the Payattitude multi-bank App, Payattitude USSD Code *569#, Pay-with-phone-number, Payarena, and Hope PSBank, a digital bank with focus on financial inclusion have not only set benchmarks for excellence but have also contributed significantly to the growth and development of electronic transactions and payments in the country.

Dr. Agada Apochi, receiving the award had this to say;

“I am deeply honored to receive the ‘”Payment Industry Legend Award” from CeBIH. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Unified Payments team. Be assured that we remain committed to driving innovation and excellence in the financial technology space.”

Celestina Appeal, Chairman, Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads (CeBIH) added,

“CeBIH is proud to honor Dr. Agada Apochi for his exemplary contribution to the payment industry. His visionary leadership has set a standard of excellence that inspires the entire e-business community in Nigeria and Africa.

Unified Payment Services Limited is Nigeria’s premier financial technology service provider, with a group of companies in Financial Technology, Payment Scheme (Payattitude) Banking (Hope PSBank), Digital Commerce, Value Added Service, Payment Solutions (Payarena) and Software Solutions (TM30).

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Distinguished guests, industry leaders, and technological visionaries congregated at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, for conversation about how emerging technologies are reshaping economies and offering unprecedented opportunities for progress and societal enhancement.

The Digital Agenda Forum 2023 was also a platform to celebrate innovators and technology enthusiasts across various fields of endeavour.

The event had in attendance leading tech innovators from the nation’s IT space, like Tony Emaekpore, President, Association of telecoms Companies of Nigeria, President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr Agada Apochi, group managing director, Unified Payments, Amos Emmanuel,, Founder, Innovationbed Africa, Femi Kalejaiye, Managing Director, Opolo, Wale Owoeye, Managing Director, Cedarview Communications, Ndidi Rita Amuchienwa, Partner Strategy Executive for EMEA, Intel and Harsh Gujarati founder C2S Innovation among others.

Dr. Agada Apochi, GMD of Unified Payments, was honoured with the prestigious “Financial Technology ICON of the Year award”, recognizing his significant contributions to the advancement of financial technology in Nigeria.

He has over 30 years of professional experience in banking and financial technology.  He is a Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Fellow, International Academy of Cards & Payments, Fellow, Institute of Credit Administration, Certified International Cards & Payments Professional (CICPP), Certified Associate of Capability Maturity Model Institute, Chartered Mediator and Conciliator, Barrister and Solicitor.

Tony Emoekpere was recognised with the “Outstanding Contribution to Telecom Development Award” for his long standing consistency in the nation’s Telecommunication Industry. He is a C-Level Executive and accredited Project Manager with over 23 years’ experience in Telecommunications Management, ICT Service Provisioning, Infrastructure Design, Implementation, and Maintenance.

He is a graduate in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, member of the International Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and member of the Project Management Institute.

Hajia Thaibat Adeniran was awarded with “Outstanding Contribution to Insurance Tech” for her exceptional contributions to the advancement of insurance technology.

“Blockchain Influencer of the Year” was bestowed upon Oluseyi Akindeinde Founder Hyperspace Technologies for his profound impact in shaping the blockchain landscape. With over two decades of expertise in the technology and information security sectors, he recently dedicated a significant portion of his professional journey to understanding and addressing the security challenges within Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Financial Transaction Systems (FTS).

He has had the privilege to share the findings of his comprehensive research work at an array of esteemed conferences and with prestigious organisations such as the NSA, CBN, ISSAN, CCIBN, CIBN, EFCC, NSE, EPPAN, and the executive councils and senior management of numerous financial institutions across Nigeria.

The awards underscore the dedication and innovation of these individuals in driving Nigeria towards a future where technology plays a transformative role in societal progress.

In his welcome address, Don Pedro Aganbi, Country Partner of Technology Africa, expressed gratitude amidst the gathering of thought leaders and innovators. He emphasized the transformative power of emerging technologies such as AI, Cloud, Blockchain, 5G, IoT, digital payments, Metaverse, Renewable Energy, robotics, and big data analytics.

“With a commitment to steer our nation toward sustainable development through strategic integration of these transformative tools, we aim to unlock the full potential of technology for the benefit of all Nigerians,” stated Don Pedro Aganbi.

The Digital Agenda Forum 2023 encapsulated a collective commitment to innovation, collaboration, and progress. It brought together luminaries and pioneers to chart a course that transcends barriers and fosters inclusivity in harnessing the potential of technology for the betterment of Nigeria.

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Established in 1997, Unified Payments has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation, excellence, growth, and customer satisfaction throughout its remarkable journey.

Over the past 26 years, Unified Payments has transformed the landscape of the payment industry by providing cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses and individuals to transact seamlessly, securely, and conveniently. With a strong emphasis on technology, user experience, and reliability, Unified Payments has earned a reputation as a trailblazer in the Fintech and payment space.

A statement signed by Dr. Agada Apochi, the Managing Director, said the company has made significant progress by setting the records for many firsts in the e-payment sector.

Among many firsts, Unified Payments pioneered the issuance and acceptance of EMV Chip+PIN cards in Nigeria, which led to a reduction of card fraud in Nigeria by over 95%, enabled Nigerian banks to issue first-ever payment cards to Naira account holders for use globally; introduced the first-ever acceptance of foreign cards at ATMs, a joint acquiring company for Nigerian banks.

The company was also the first, EMV third party processor in Nigeria, first processor in Sub-Saharan Africa to process payment or withdrawal with just phone number. First Nigerian principal member of a global payment scheme. Unified Payment also pioneered multi-bank mobile application and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) and the use of telephone numbers as digital account numbers.

According to Apochi, “At Unified Payments (UP), “we are very proud of what we have built; thanks to our esteemed customers and the dedicated staff at Unified Payments.

“Our journey over the past 26 years has been a testament to the grit, dedication, and vision of our entire team. We are not resting on our oars. Our resolve to continue to drive innovation, simplified payments solutions and delivering unparalleled value to our customers remains unwavering.

“Our strategy has been defined by cross-enterprise alliances, working with different stakeholders including our competitors to create a bigger market thereby increasing the opportunities for different stakeholders. We remain committed to our customers’ needs and adapting to the market demands to ensure Nigerians continue to enjoy seamless payment solutions using our platforms”

Unified Payments has consistently led the way in leveraging technology to provide secure, seamless, and efficient payment experiences. With a diverse range of offerings, including Acquiring, Issuer processing, Acquirer processing, Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP), Switching, Interbank transfer services, Settlement services, Agency Banking, Online payment gateways, Card services, Value Added Services (VAS) and Solutions, Verification services, Pay with Just Phone Number services, Bespoke services, etc., Unified Payments is dedicated to continuously shape the future of payments.

Unified Payment Services Limited is a group of companies with services including Financial Technology, Payment Scheme, Banking, Digital Commerce, Value Added Service, Payment Solutions, and Software Solutions.

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