Speaking in a recent interview, Seun Lawal, the co-founder of CardForte, highlighted the strategic importance of building local capacity in card production and issuance.

He noted that CardForte was established five years ago to address significant gaps in access to reliable, high-quality card manufacturing services, particularly for fintechs, microfinance banks, and other emerging financial institutions.

According to Lawal, many smaller players in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem have historically been underserved, as global manufacturers tend to prioritize high-volume clients. This imbalance, he said, has contributed to over-reliance on foreign suppliers, resulting in capital flight and increased pressure on foreign exchange.

“CardForte was built on the conviction that Nigeria can develop and sustain world-class card manufacturing capabilities locally,” Lawal said. “Our focus has been on delivering speed, flexibility, and true partnership to institutions that require responsive and reliable service.”

Since its inception, CardForte has expanded beyond its core offering to contribute to broader industry development, including skills transfer, job creation, and infrastructure growth. The company positions itself as a key player in advancing local capacity and strengthening resilience within Nigeria’s financial services sector.

Lawal reaffirmed that CardForte is addressing a critical need in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving payments landscape, driven by the rise of fintechs and increased demand for secure, efficient, and locally supported card solutions.

Despite its progress, the company noted that operating in Nigeria presents ongoing challenges, including foreign exchange volatility, power supply constraints, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory uncertainties. Lawal emphasized that disciplined growth and operational adaptability have been essential to navigating these conditions.

He also underscored the broader economic benefits of supporting indigenous manufacturers, including reduced import dependence, improved service delivery timelines, enhanced data sovereignty, and the retention of value within the local economy.

To further strengthen the sector, Lawal advocated for targeted policy interventions, including the introduction of a Right of First Refusal framework for qualified local manufacturers.

He said such measures would help protect strategic capabilities and encourage sustained investment in domestic production.

The company also highlighted the need to address perception challenges facing local firms, noting that indigenous businesses often face higher scrutiny despite meeting global standards.

Looking ahead, CardForte is increasing its focus on sustainability and innovation. The company has introduced eco-friendly card solutions and recently achieved certification on the Verve network for sustainable card products, marking a milestone in environmentally responsible manufacturing.

As part of its growth strategy, CardForte is also exploring advanced product offerings, including local metal card manufacturing, aimed at expanding its capabilities and serving premium market segments.

Lawal stated that the company’s long-term vision extends beyond card production to include secure identity solutions, trusted access systems, and broader payment enablement infrastructure.

“Our goal is to remain commercially strong, operationally disciplined, and strategically relevant to Nigeria’s financial ecosystem,” he said.

It is a story of commitment, local innovation, and belief in homegrown capacity.

As CardForté celebrates its fifth anniversary, its impact is being measured not merely by numbers or technological deployments, but by the lives it has transformed and the expertise it has cultivated within Nigeria.

From a young engineer in Ikeja gaining hands-on experience building secure digital systems, to local professionals mastering smart card production technologies once dominated by foreign firms, CardForté’s journey reflects a deliberate investment in people as much as in infrastructure.

For decades, Nigeria’s digital backbone, from secure identification systems to biometric verification platforms, has largely depended on imported technology and foreign expertise. When these systems faltered, solutions often required external intervention, creating delays, costs, and dependency.

Recognizing this gap, co-founder Seun Lawal said the company was built on a vision that goes beyond profit.

“It’s about making sure the light stays on here,” Lawal stated. “When a young professional masters smart card production or secure digital infrastructure on home soil, they don’t just earn a paycheck, they become a lighthouse. They teach others, they innovate, and they prove that ‘Made in Nigeria’ is not just a label, but a standard of excellence.”

Over the past five years, CardForté has positioned itself as more than a technology provider, it has become a training ground for specialized digital skills, fostering a new generation of Nigerian experts capable of designing, managing, and maintaining critical systems locally.

Tunde Aka-Bashorun, the co-founder,  emphasized that the company’s work ultimately centers on people and trust.

“Trust is the currency of the digital age,” Aka-Bashorun explained. “When a grandmother in a rural community can verify her identity at a clinic in seconds, or a student receives a secure ID that opens doors to their future, that is not just technology, it is inclusion in its most practical form.”

By localizing production and expertise, CardForté has also improved responsiveness and reliability in service delivery. Issues that once required international support can now be resolved swiftly within Nigeria, strengthening confidence in digital systems and creating what the company describes as a “social contract” between developers and users.

Beyond its human impact, the company’s approach carries significant economic implications. By retaining technical skills and building local supply chains, CardForté contributes to reducing capital flight and ensuring that the financial benefits of Nigeria’s digital transformation remain within the country.

This, in turn, supports local economies, funding education, creating jobs, and empowering startups that depend on secure digital infrastructure.

Rather than pursuing rapid visibility through consumer-facing applications, CardForté has focused on the less visible but essential layer of development, infrastructure.

The company’s legacy, five years on, is reflected in a growing workforce of confident Nigerian professionals who now see themselves as architects of the nation’s digital future.

As Nigeria accelerates its transition into a digitally driven economy, CardForté’s story underscores a critical truth, while technology can be imported, sustainable expertise must be built at home.

In that effort, the company stands as a testament to what is possible when innovation is rooted in local talent, and when human capacity is placed at the center of national development.

Launched to meet the pressing need for a card scheme tailored to African markets, Verve has grown into a trusted household name, with over 85 million cards issued and presence in several African countries with an expanding consumer appeal across Africa.

Verve’s story began with a challenge; existing international card solutions struggled to meet the needs of Africa’s diverse and dynamic markets. Issues like regulatory complexity, limited infrastructure, and inconsistent connectivity posed serious barriers.

Verve responded with purpose-built solutions engineered to perform where others couldn’t, delivering stability, security, and interoperability for consumers and institutions alike.

From its roots in Nigeria, Verve has steadily expanded its reach and impact. Today, the Verve network powers millions of transactions daily across ATMs, POS terminals, web, retail outlets, online and offline platforms, while remaining grounded in its commitment to local relevance and innovation.

Now with a network of over 350 members, Verve has earned deep trust across the banking and fintech sectors. Its continued growth underscores a broader narrative: Africa is not just adopting digital payments, it’s shaping them.

Furthermore, strategic partnerships with companies like Manipal and Cardforte have enabled the production of eco-friendly Verve cards, allowing Verve to align with global sustainability goals without compromising on durability or security.

Driving Innovation and Regional Integration: Verve’s Expanding Footprint

Verve continues to evolve with the changing expectations of today’s consumers. Recognizing the growing demand for speed and convenience, the brand introduced contactless payment solution, allowing cardholders to tap-to-pay for quicker, more secure and convenient transactions.

Over 30 million Verve Contactless cards have been issued, and the contactless cards are accepted in about ninety percent terminals across Nigeria.

This feature underscores Verve’s commitment to enhancing user experience through innovation rooted in local relevance.

Breaking Barriers to Cross-Border Payments

One of Verve’s most strategic advancements in recent years is its focus on enabling seamless cross-border payments within Africa.

Through a landmark partnership with GIM-UEMOA, the regional switch for the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Verve became the first Nigerian and African card scheme integrated into a major regional payment network. This integration connects over 130 million people across eight West African countries.

With this breakthrough, Verve cardholders can now perform transactions including withdrawals from ATMs, and more, across the UEMOA region.

This dual strength, regional relevance and collaborations with global brands such as Google, Spotify, Temu, AliExpress, Uber, Facebook Ad, Netflix, amongst others, sets the card apart as a uniquely African success story in the digital payments space, with a future focused on deeper financial inclusion and continental interoperability