Themed “Unlocking Africa’s Finance Story,” the Africa Credit Expo 2025, which took place at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, was organised by CreditRegistry with Afreximbank as founding sponsor. 

The one-day forum drew government officials, international development banks, fintech founders, credit bureaus and SMEs from across the continent. It combined policy announcements, new partnerships and practical showcases aimed at expanding credit access while protecting consumers.

Three clear priorities

Reiterating that practicality has become indispensable in the finance space, speakers emphasised a short list of priorities that should guide immediate action. These include:

• Build verifiable financial identity and integrate alternative data so lenders can underwrite millions without collateral. 
• Pair access with education; financial literacy must scale if credit is to be used responsibly. 
• Make cross-border infrastructure real: interoperable IDs, payment rails and trade platforms that recognise credit records across countries. 

“We want to empower people to own the pond, because that way they’ll feed their generations,” Dr Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, MD/CEO, CreditRegistry, said as she laid out ACE’s consumer education and ‘Black Friday on Credit’ initiatives aimed at rewarding disciplined borrowers.

Mastercard’s West Africa Chief, Dr Folashade Femi Lawal, spelt out the scale Mastercard is targeting and the firm’s partnership role: “We empower economies. We power businesses. We empower the people to the last mile, and we build sustainable economy where every player in the value chain, where they prosper.” 

Representing the Central Bank of Nigeria, Fidelis Odia urged collaboration and stressed the regulator’s priorities: “Access to credit is not merely a financial transaction, it is a catalyst that empowers entrepreneurs fortified small and medium enterprises, first in essential job creation, accessory for the long term viability and resilience of our economy.”

Tunde Lemo of the CBN struck a note on self-reliance: “We shouldn’t look in the west or in the northern hemisphere for this to happen, because capital and all the opportunities are here in Africa,”  he said, highlighting that the continent’s capital and demand exist if systems are fixed.

Afreximbank’s MANSA initiative, represented by Mrs Maureen Mba, made the case that trade finance and digital identity are two halves of the same story: build trade rails and you create markets that justify credit at scale. “Africa’s greatest contact resource is not its minerals, it is the entrepreneurial potential.”

Announcements and partnerships

CreditRegistry leveraged ACE 2025 to convert several policy conversations into formal commitments. The event included the signing of two memoranda of understanding: one with Afreximbank’s MANSA Digital Initiative and another with the University of Lagos, agreements intended to drive SME verification, export readiness and consumer education at scale.

Secretary to the State Government, Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin representing Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, revealed directives to support microfinance institutions and local credit initiatives that can be scaled nationally, the kind of sub-national experimentation speakers said will matter.

Keynote takeaways from investors and practitioners

Kyari Abba Bukar, co-founder of Trans Sahara Investment Corporation, and other keynote speakers explained that Africa’s entrepreneurial energy is abundant but credit systems lack the trust signals lenders need.

Their prescription focused on three levers, data, guarantees and product design, to crowd private capital into SMEs and women-led businesses.

They emphasised that innovation is not only technological. It must include new ways of assessing risk (open banking, alternative data), credit guarantee instruments to absorb first losses and skills training so borrowers can use finance productively.

Highlights from Panel session

At Africa Credit Expo 2025, the panel, moderated by Ogbo Awoke Ogbo, focused on smart credit reporting and the practical use of credit scores (CreditRegistry’s “SmartScore”) by lenders and fintechs. 

Key practical points included:

• CreditRegistry’s SmartScore range and what the bands mean for access and pricing (100–999 scale; higher bands enable negotiation of interest rates). 
• The power and limits of alternative data (telco records, digital footprints) used by digital lenders to onboard customers without prior formal credit history. 
• Lenders must combine scores with affordability analysis, a high score is not a sole green light; product design must reflect capacity to repay. 
• Need for consumer education so people understand what affects their score (loan enquiries, repayment behaviour) and how to improve it. 
• Cybersecurity and data integrity were flagged as prerequisites: more data without protection is a risk, not an asset. 

Africa Credit Expo 2025 showed growth in the sector, with public officials, development banks and private players switching from talk to deliverables; MoUs, state directives, product pilots. 

It also outlined the three imminent needs:

1. Operational interoperability: IDs, payments and credit data must travel across borders and systems. 
2. Demand-side capacity: push financial literacy and SME support so loans create sustainable businesses, not short-term liabilities. 
3. A visible pipeline of bankable projects guarantees that patient capital can be deployed quickly. 

If those steps are taken, the potential results repeated across the day, to turn Africa’s entrepreneurial energy into measurable growth, moves from aspiration to plan. “The future of African credit is not a prediction; it is a prototype we must build.”

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The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Africa Credit Expo (ACE) 2025 by Dr Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, MD/CEO of CreditRegistry, and Mrs Maureen Mba, head of the MANSA Digital Initiative at Afreximbank.

The agreement links Nigeria’s pioneering credit bureau with MANSA, Afreximbank’s flagship due diligence platform under the Africa Trade Gateway, a digital ecosystem created to unlock intra-African trade.

MANSA acts as a single trusted source of KYC and compliance data for businesses, banks and SMEs, helping firms prove their credibility in both regional and global markets. 

During the signing, Mrs Mba noted MANSA’s purpose: “deepen cross-border trust and equip African businesses with the credibility and confidence that they need to thrive in global trade.”

Both institutions say the collaboration will help African businesses gain visibility and credibility in regional and global markets. They describe the partnership as a joint initiative aimed at closing long-standing gaps in identity, verification and financial literacy across the continent.

Under the partnership, CreditRegistry and Afreximbank will onboard thousands of African businesses onto the MANSA platform. They will also deliver financial literacy and compliance training to MSMEs, build capacity for responsible borrowing, and create a more transparent environment for cross-border transactions. 

The institutions say this will make more African enterprises “visible, credible and bankable.”

The signing also highlighted CreditRegistry’s long history in enhancing Nigeria’s credit infrastructure. Dr Sharrieff-Ayedun recalled how millions of Africans had long faced blocked opportunities due to the lack of verifiable credit history. 

That changed when CreditRegistry established Nigeria’s first credit bureau, an effort that later introduced biometric technology into credit reporting and helped pave the way for the Bank Verification Number system.

Over the years, the organisation supported several initiatives to expand financial literacy. These include the Africa Consumer Credit Academy and public awareness programmes that reached more than a million Nigerians. 

Last year alone, the group completed 73 webinars and in-person sessions sponsored by industry partners. The company has also launched youth-focused initiatives, such as Project Launchpad, designed to guide young Africans towards financial independence.

Another ongoing initiative, “On The Streets: Naija Tours,” captures real voices and personal stories about the meaning of credit, financial struggles and the desire for better opportunities. 

These programmes, the organisers said, align with the everyday realities of young Africans, many of whom are ambitious but lack guidance and access to credit tools.

The Africa Credit Expo itself has evolved into a regional point of convergence, bringing together regulators, innovators and more than 90 stakeholders from across the continent. Its mission is to connect, empower and ensure trust in Africa’s financial systems.

CreditRegistry and Afreximbank aim to enhance that mission. Their shared commitment, they said, is to strengthen the backbone of Africa’s financial ecosystem and push the continent closer to a self-sustaining future where businesses can trade with confidence across borders.

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The event will take place on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, bringing together financial leaders, innovators, regulators, and entrepreneurs from across the continent for the ultimate financial experience.

Building on the success of previous editions, ACE 2025 stands as a bold declaration that Africa’s financial future will be written by its people, its innovations, and its courage.

The Expo aims to empower individuals and businesses through data-driven credit access, financial literacy, and collaboration that bridge the gap between dreams and opportunity. This movement is rooted in the five pillars of the ACE Mission: Connect. Trust. Empower. Educate. Include.

Pioneering the Infrastructure of Trust: The CreditRegistry Story

Founded in 2003, predating the CBN regulatory licensing of credit bureaus, CreditRegistry did more than pioneer credit reporting in Nigeria; it catalyzed it and achieved a global first by integrating biometric technology into its credit system, a foundational step that later informed the development of the nation’s Bank Verification Number (BVN).

For more than two decades, this legacy of innovation, advancing transparency, trust, and financial inclusion has defined CreditRegistry’s mission.

ACE 2025 continues this legacy by spotlighting new initiatives designed to make credit relatable, responsible, and rewarding.

Key innovative programs over the years at ACE include:

• Black Friday on Credit: ACE 2025’s groundbreaking initiative and Africa’s first credit-powered shopping experience, showcasing how responsible credit use can power consumer spending and stimulate economic growth. This concept directly rewards financially disciplined consumers with access to premium products at the best discounted prices – on credit!
• #PowerfulByNature Movement: Highlight of ACE 2024, which convened female financial leaders to spotlight the powerful role of women in Africa’s economic
• Africa Consumer Credit Academy (ACCA): Born from ACE 2023, this strategic platform continues to shape a new era of financially literate African citizens. The Academy is a critical enabler of Nigeria’s national goal to achieve 50% consumer credit access by 2030. ACCA continues its mission to reach 3 million families and businesses by 2030, equipping Africans with the knowledge to manage finances, build credit, and advance pan-African Through youth-centered programs like Project Launchpad and the engaging street interviews of ‘Naija Talks Credit’, ACCA is nurturing a new generation of financially aware entrepreneurs across Nigeria.

Strategic Collaborations and Industry Masterclasses

ACE 2025 will also mark the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CreditRegistry and MANSA (Afreximbank’s digital identity platform) for the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), and CreditRegistry and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to embed financial literacy in the curriculum to improve entrepreneurship.

These collaborations will enhance data sharing, research, and human capital development, further solidifying the academic and institutional foundations needed to advance Africa’s credit and trade ecosystem.

The Expo features dynamic Masterclasses and Panel discussions tailored to the diverse needs of Africa’s financial ecosystem:

• Masterclass for SMEs: Highlighting the MANSA Digital Initiative platform, led by Afreximbank, to promote trust and transparency in trade finance through the Africa Trade Gateway, thereby helping SMEs position themselves for cross-border growth under the AfCFTA

• Masterclass for Lenders: Chaired by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), to help participants create a blueprint for designing and deploying affordable, inclusive financial products to effectively capture the massive retail and underserved MSME
• Masterclass for Consumers: Facilitated by leading financial experts to help individuals unlock their credit power, master their profiles, boost their SMARTScores, and seize better financial opportunities.
• SMARTScore – Smart Life Panel: A discussion focused on how analytical data can improve transparency, reduce lending risks, and build confidence in the future of Africa’s digital credit and large-scale retail lending.

The Vision of Generational Wealth

In her address, Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, managing director/CEO of CreditRegistry, emphasized the importance of partnership and shared vision:

“We are building bridges between dreams and opportunity, between data and dignity, and between ambition and access. There is a well-known proverb: ‘Give a person a fish, and they eat for a day; teach them to fish, and they eat for a lifetime.’ At CreditRegistry, we believe we must go further: “Empower them to own the pond, and they will feed their future generations.”

She added that ACE is about creating pathways for real financial empowerment, that builds generational wealth.

Africa Credit Expo extends deep appreciation to its Founding Sponsor, Afreximbank, for its commitment to Africa’s credit and trade transformation.

Also recognized are strategic partners, whose collective support continues to drive ACE’s mission of financial education and inclusion.

More than an event, ACE is a movement, one that places people at the heart of Africa’s financial story.

With over 5000+ attendees over the years across sectors including banking, fintech, insurance, MSMEs, and government, the Expo serves as a dynamic platform for creating the credit culture we want to see on the continent.

As Dr. Jameelah concluded:

“The true measure of ACE 2025 lies in the actions that follow, the ideas implemented, the partnerships formed, and the lives transformed. Together, we are writing a new chapter for Africa’s financial story, one defined by empowerment, education and inclusion.”

Event Details: Date: Friday, November 14, 2025 Time: 8:00 AM Prompt Venue: Landmark Event Centre, Lagos

Register: africacreditexpo.creditregistry.ng | Registration for masterclass: here.

For Inquiries, please contact: Faith: 0908 797 2070 | Tolu: 0708 915 8573 info@creditregistry.ng Follow: @AfricaCreditExpo | @CreditRegistry

The post CreditRegistry: Africa Credit Expo (ACE) 2025 Holds November 14 appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Oganised by CreditRegistry, Africa Credit Expo 2023 is championing large-scale consumer and SME lending in Africa’s financial sector. This was the root of Ayedun’s presentation, shedding light on the vast wealth lying dormant in Nigeria, juxtaposed against the continual borrowing by the government to sustain the economy. 

He emphasized the untapped potential within the country’s unregistered assets, labeling them as “dead capital.”

“Right here in Nigeria, we have abundant wealth… yet created wealth is dead. And I’ll show you what we can do to try and integrate wealth.” 

The term “dead capital” referred to assets lacking legal registration, hindering their full economic utilisation. Ayedun elucidated the impact of unregistered properties, particularly homes, on Nigeria’s economic potential. He drew from the ideas of Peruvian economist Fernando De Soto, emphasizing the role of property titles in distinguishing developed economies from developing ones.

“What separates economies like the United States from developing markets is the fact that many other countries have titles, and those titles are actually the backbone of the whole power of capital.” Taiwo Ayedun said.

Ayedun’s comprehensive breakdown highlighted the various repercussions of unregistered properties: restricted access to credit, reduced transactional capabilities, diminished investment opportunities, and inhibited economic growth due to the absence of property tax revenues.

The Potential of Dead Capital

Ayedun delved into the estimated value of dead capital in Nigeria, quantifying it to approximately 450 trillion Naira. To unlock this potential wealth, he proposed various measures, pointing out the simplification of property registration processes and the promotion of title insurance companies to ensure secure transactions.

He outlined a strategic roadmap to revitalise dead capital, advocating for:

1. Simplified Registration: Proposing streamlined and efficient registration processes, reducing obstacles for homeowners.
2. Promotion of Title Insurance: Highlighting the role of title insurance companies in securing transactions and validating property titles, fostering confidence in investments.
3. Creation of Mortgage Liquidity: Introducing mechanisms like mortgage-backed securities and mortgage servicing rights to infuse liquidity into the market, attracting long-term investors and enabling banks to offer more mortgages.

The founder of CreditRegistry stressed the role of government policies in harnessing the latent potential of dead capital. The need to ensure every Nigerian home obtains a title, implement efficient registration systems, and foster liquidity in the market is important for Nigeria to potentially witness a solid economic transformation.

“Let us put pressure on our government, disseminate what you’ve learned, and collaborate to create wealth collectively.” 

Ayedun’s presentation at Africa Credit Expo 2023 was a roadmap for Nigeria’s economic prosperity, keying into the untapped potential within dead capital and igniting a dialogue for transformative change in property registration and financial systems.

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The Africa Credit Expo 2023 is packed with loss of opportunities including becoming pre-approved for a loan, learning about the latest credit products, and attending masterclasses on a variety of financial topics.

ACE 2023 marks a significant milestone as the first-ever credit conference and exposition in Africa, dedicated to expanding large-scale consumer and SME lending.

The event will consist of a one-day expo for consumers in Lagos and a pioneering annual summit for lenders in Lomé, Togo, on the 16th of November 2023 in collaboration with AFIS.

Registration is officially open for the highly anticipated Africa Credit Expo (ACE) 2023, a groundbreaking event set to take place in Lagos, Nigeria on the 15th of November 2023.

Why Attend Africa Credit Expo 2023

ACE 2023 is designed to empower attendees to take control of their financial future through the use of credit. This remarkable event offers numerous opportunities to:

• Get pre-approved for a loan from multiple lenders

• Learn about the latest credit products and services

• Meet with financial experts and get one-on-one advice

• Attend masterclasses and seminars on a variety of financial topics

• Network with fellow attendees, lenders, and industry professionals who can assist you on your journey through the world of credit.

• Win gifts and prizes that can change your life

Event Details

Day 1: Lagos, Nigeria – November 15th, 2023

This B2C event is tailored to bring together over 1,000 consumers and MSMEs seeking credit with more than 25 premier lenders and exhibitors. This presents an excellent opportunity to generate leads, showcase products and services, and close deals on the spot.

Event highlights include:

• Full-day expo for consumers and SMEs to meet with exhibitors.

• Opportunities for lenders to meet one-on-one with pre-qualified Tier 1 borrowers seeking credit.

• Consumer Certification Workshops on budgeting, understanding credit, and managing finances with exclusive access to qualified lenders.

• Breakout tracks featuring professionals in savings, investment, family business planning, ideation, 1st-time borrowing, and more.

• Live demonstrations to generate leads.

• Three Consumer Workshops: Level 1 Credit Certification for first-time borrowers, Preparing your MSME business for foreign exchange, and Multiplying Your Wealth using Credit.

• VIP opportunities to meet celebrity guests and enjoy backstage access to music artists. – VIP seating at the closing entertainment in Lagos, featuring guest artists.

Day 2: Lomé, Togo – November 16th

This B2B event is tailored for credit professionals, including lenders, CEOs, FinTech companies, and solution providers. It provides a platform to share best practices and innovative solutions to help lenders grow their consumer and SME retail loan portfolios.

Event highlights include:

• Keynote speaker and practical guidance from speakers on critical topics, including Fintech, employee recruitment and retention, marketing, sales, loan processing, compliance, leadership development, and more.

• General sessions, small-group roundtable discussions, idea exchanges, live demos, networking opportunities, and more.

• Solution providers showcasing new technologies and systems to assist lenders in their growth.

How to Register

Spaces are limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged to secure your spot and take the first step towards financial empowerment. Please visit the website for more information and to register.

Africa Credit Expo 2023 is proudly brought to you by CreditRegistry and AFIS.

The post Unveiling “Africa Credit Expo 2023”; Continent’s First Credit Conference and Expo appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

NFW is one of the largest gatherings of players in the fintech ecosystem in Nigeria as well as Africa and this edition will hold in a hybrid format which offers you the opportunities to attend physically or be a part of the event online.

You can register to attend the #NFW2022 here.

The Nigeria Fintech Week (#NFW2022) theme for this year is reflective of Deloitte’s Fintech Report which highlights customer inertia and infrastructure as one of the failings of the global fintech ecosystem.

The theme also speaks to the need to take on the issue of sustainable impact across sectors as the world finds its footing in the ‘next normal’.

In light of this, this year’s edition would practically touch on emerging technologies spanning different verticals and e-government in the African contexts.

The hybrid event which has Fintech Association of Nigeria, FintechNGR, and Fintech Associates Limited, as its organizing partners, is set to host about ten thousand attendees.

Some of the features of Nigeria Fintech Week which are applicable to businesses and professionals alike include opportunities to expand business & professional networks, interact and learn from top industry leaders & respected icons, and advance thought leadership.

The NFW team is also big on promoting emerging voices and experts, so you can send in your application if interested in being a part of the speaker line-up this year.

Other aspects of the event more particular to corporate brands are product acquisition/promotion, brand exposure & publicity, technology launches/showcase, fast-track customer acquisition, co-create solutions off the event, foster new B2B and B2C partnerships, as well as media interviews and appearances. For brand participation, you are encouraged to kindly send an expression of interest while slots are still open.

Other key features include TechSpark – a full-day hands-on session for students on deepening technical skills & tech-enabled businesses which will be held at select campuses, pavilions at the physical location in Landmark by international investors and embassies, as well as regulatory parleys and Ecosystem Hour.

The 2021 edition had over 8000 participants in attendance both online and physically from 20 countries and had notable highlights such as the launch of DigiStuds – a digital academy training project for undergraduates in Nigerian universities, Ecosystem Hour with representatives from other local/regional ecosystem bodies, and a mini TechSpark.

It also had practical sessions on NFTs, Disruption Disrupted, discourses on fintech in the capital market, femtech, payments and a lot more.

Past editions of the Nigeria Fintech Week had given birth to Fintech Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body for about 300 players in the Fintech space from the twenty-one sectors of the economy, the Africa Fintech Network, the body of thirty-two national Fintech Associations across Africa, Fintech Adoption Roadmap Policy in the Capital Market, helped young startups to launch out and scale up, rallying point on regulatory issues amongst others. 

Some of the sponsors at NFW2021 include Zenith Bank, Mastercard, Ecobank, Aella, Access Bank, Unified Payments, TeamApt, VFD Group, Softalliance, CreditRegistry, Jackson, Etti & Edu, FastCredit, AELEX,Coinnews, DLM, Odua Investment Company Limited,  AppZone and numerous product exhibitors, in addition to ecosystem/media partners like NIBSS, NCC, TechEconomy.ng, Proshare, Nairametrics.

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