Organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with The World Bank, the Bankers’ Committee, and the Financial Inclusion Steering Committee, the conference was held at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, from November 12–13, 2024.

Themed “Inclusive Growth: Harnessing Inclusion for Economic Development,” this year’s event brought together global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders in the financial services industry to deliberate and strategise on advancing financial inclusion for socio-economic development.

During a plenary session at the recently concluded conference titled “New Frontiers in Innovation: Accelerating Digital Financial Services for Financial Inclusion and Development”, Akeem Lawal, managing director, Payment Processing and Switching, Interswitch Purepay, underscored the transformative potential of public-private partnerships, emphasising that financial inclusion is essential to driving Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

He noted, however, that challenges such as limited access, inadequate infrastructure, identity barriers, and low literacy levels continue to hinder progress.

Addressing these issues, he stressed, requires innovative solutions bolstered by robust public-private collaborations. Lawal also shared valuable insights into how these partnerships can accelerate the adoption of digital financial services and enhance the Nigerian payment system

“For Interswitch, public-private partnerships have been instrumental in addressing industry challenges. Years ago, we partnered with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to digitise tax collection, resolving significant revenue collection issues. More recently, we collaborated with the Lagos State Government to tackle critical healthcare challenges through the LAGSHIP initiative.

These partnerships exemplify our dedication to leveraging innovation and collaboration to deliver sustainable solutions that drive financial inclusion and economic growth. We are committed to applying this model to future initiatives,” said Lawal.

He added, “Public-private collaborations are essential to sustainable development. At Interswitch, we remain committed to leveraging technology to deliver secure, accessible, and affordable financial services that empower individuals and businesses across Africa.”

The plenary session further explored global best practices, success stories and actionable strategies to expand digital financial services, highlighting solutions to improve access for underserved populations.

The International Financial Inclusion Conference served as a critical platform for stakeholders to come together and align with a shared vision of fostering a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

Consequently, Interswitch showcased its unwavering commitment to driving financial empowerment and economic growth through innovation and technology.

This prestigious event which was hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in attendance, several key stakeholders in the financial services industry that include Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria, Philip Ikeazor, director-general, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa, Mastercard, Folasade Femi-Lawal, and Chairman of Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH), Ajibade Laolu-Adewale among others.

Themed “Inclusive Growth: Harnessing Inclusion for Economic Development,” this year’s conference brought together global experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore strategies for advancing financial access and fostering economic development.

Moniepoint’s stellar contributions and nationwide impact in promoting financial inclusion across underserved communities were celebrated alongside its innovative products and solutions that bridge gaps and provide a secure, fast and transparent way to access digital financial services .

In addition to this accolade, in recent weeks Moniepoint has received several other industry awards, further cementing its position as a leader in driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment across Nigeria.

Commenting on the awards and wins, Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO Moniepoint Inc, said,

“These recognitions underscore our commitment to engineering financial happiness via solutions that empower individuals, small businesses and communities at large. At Moniepoint, we believe that financial inclusion is not just a goal but a necessary foundation for sustainable economic growth and development. We are honored to contribute and support the Federal Government’s aspirations and agenda to become a trillion dollar economy by 2030 and we remain dedicated to making a meaningful impact.”

He continued,

“the laurels and accolades are a strong validation of the hard work and dedication that our DreamMakers put into powering the dreams of millions of Nigerians, and it will continue to fuel our passion for driving excellence in Nigeria’s financial services sector. It’s just Day One for us and we will continue to develop solutions that make financial services more accessible to all.”

Scoring an uncommon hattrick, Moniepoint Inc was listed for the third year in a row in the seventh edition of CB Insights annual Fintech 100, a list of the 100 most promising private fintech companies in the world and described as high-momentum companies shaping the future of financial services.

At the prestigious BusinessDay Banks & Other Financial Institutions BAFI Awards 2024, now in its 12th year, which highlights excellence and innovation within the financial services sector and celebrates the institutions that have set new standards in performance, customer service, and leadership, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank won the award for “SME Microfinance Bank of the Year” and Tosin Eniolorunda emerged as the Fintech CEO of the Year.

At the Phillips Consulting (pcl.) Digital Jurist Awards 2024, which celebrates the remarkable achievements of organizations that have exemplified innovation and excellence in leading digital transformation across various sectors in Nigeria, Moniepoint was recognised for Best Digital and Best Website in the Microfinance Bank sector, while winning the award for the Overall Best OFI in Digital Banking Solution Delivery (Vision Category) at the NEXUS 2024 Gala and Awards Night organized by Qore, a leading fintech infrastructure and Banking-as-a-Service platform provider.

Moniepoint Inc. is Africa’s all-in-one financial ecosystem, helping 10 million businesses and individuals access seamless payments, banking, credit, and business management tools since 2019.

As Nigeria’s largest merchant acquirer, it powers most of the country’s Point of Sale (POS) transactions. Through its subsidiaries, Moniepoint Inc. processes $17 billion monthly for its customers while operating profitably.