Understandably, many people have different opinions about these events, but everyone in the tech space will agree that the annual Moonshot Conference hosted by TechCabal, is one of a kind.

At this year’s Moonshot event, Cardtonic leaders took the stage in a grand style. The spotlight was on a transformative panel session by the Growth lead, Tomisin Oduyemi, discussing “Scaling, Compliance, and the Cost of Growth for Fintech in Africa.” In addition, Cardtonic CEO Emmanuel Sohe delivered an inspiring speech on “Building Resilient Fintech Products for Africa’s Dynamic Economy.”

Both sessions left a lasting impression on attendees. If you missed the discussions, here’s a quick look at key insights shared by the Cardtonic’s leaders.

Why Scaling and Compliance Matter in African Fintech Today

Scaling as an Africa Fintech isn’t just about handling more users or transactions. It’s about expanding sustainably, while compliance ensures that this growth happens within safe, transparent, and legal boundaries. Together, they form the backbone of any fintech that hopes to grow in Africa’s digital economy.

Tomisin Oduyemi, Cardtonic’s growth lead, opened the panel session with a story that brought this to life.

She explained how, back in 2021, Cardtonic’s transaction volumes suddenly spiked. What happened was Nigerian cards had just been restricted for international payments, and both individuals and businesses were desperately looking for new ways to make cross-border purchases. That period brought a flood of users to Cardtonic, but it also came with a surge in fraud attempts.

“Imagine people creating fake profiles and trying to move money around at 2 a.m.,” Tomisin shared. “Unfortunately for them, it didn’t work.”

What protected the company was a safety feature that only allowed users to fund and withdraw from their own accounts. It was a small rule that made a big difference. 

Cardtonic’s Perspective on Responsible and Sustainable Scaling

Tomisin’s story opened the floor for a deeper discussion on what responsible growth truly means for fintechs operating in Africa.

Drawing from Cardtonic’s experience, Tomisin shared practical insights on how fintechs can expand sustainably while earning and maintaining trust across borders. Below are some of her views.

Understanding the Uniqueness of Each Market

According to Tomisin, one of the biggest mistakes fintechs make when expanding is assuming that compliance looks the same everywhere. “Compliance has never been a one-size-fits-all kind of shoe,” she noted.

She explained that each market has its own trust psychology, and ignoring that can damage credibility before a product even launches. For instance, rolling out a tax-related app in Nigeria without approval from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) would instantly raise doubts about its legitimacy.

To avoid this, she advised that fintechs take time to identify key regulators, licenses, and documentation that might shape user perception and market access. “Before building that shiny new product,” she said, “try to understand what each market requires, both legally and emotionally.”

Building Practical Collaboration Across Borders

On the subject of uneven regulatory frameworks across Africa, Tomisin took a realistic stance. While regional harmonisation sounds ideal, she pointed out that every regulator is solving different local problems, so a single rulebook for the continent is not likely in the near future.

Instead, she emphasised the value of smaller, practical collaborations, regulators sharing learnings, aligning on core principles like KYC and data protection, and keeping communication channels open.

She also stressed that fintechs must lead by example. “If you build disciplined systems at home and engage regulators transparently, you’re more likely to be trusted when you expand elsewhere,” she explained. In her words, cross-border credibility begins with local responsibility.

How Compliance Shapes Cardtonic’s Growth Strategy

When asked how regulatory frameworks affect Cardtonic’s growth strategy, Tomisin explained that compliance is not a barrier but a guide. It defines how the company builds and communicates its products.

For instance, Cardtonic ensures that every product guide and video clearly explains KYC levels and what each tier allows users to do. “It makes us more deliberate about educating users,” she said.

Marketing is also handled with care. Every major campaign goes through ARCON approval before publication, ensuring transparency and accuracy.

“It keeps us diligent to timelines and helps us avoid overpromising,” she added.

While some fintechs slow expansion due to high compliance costs, Cardtonic has never had to deprioritise a market. The company believes in growing deeply before expanding wide, and that focus continues to pay off.

Cardtonic’s Journey and How It Has Shaped the Future of Digital Transactions in Africa 

And just when you thought you couldn’t get any more solid stuff from Cardtonic Leaders, Emmanuel Sohe, the CEO, decided to deliver a beautiful speech to inspire the next generation of fintech growth in Africa.

But, instead of giving a boring speech on “Building Resilient Fintech Products for Africa’s Dynamic Economy,” he chose to tell Cardtonic’s story of grit and adaptability.

He recalled how the 2021 CBN ban on crypto transactions forced the team to rethink everything. And within days, they had to rebuild the app, remove crypto features, and reshape Cardtonic into what it is today. That tough moment became the foundation for new solutions that now let users trade gift cards, pay local and international bills, and make global purchases with Cardtonic’s Virtual Dollar Card.

Emmanuel ended by reminding innovators that resilience means turning challenges into opportunities. “We didn’t give up on dreams,” he said, “we focused on value, discipline, and growth that lasts.”

Wrapping Up

This year’s Moonshot event was a spectacular one, and Cardtonic’s presence truly contributed to its success. From insightful panel discussions to powerful storytelling, the brand reaffirmed its position as one of Africa’s most forward-thinking fintechs.

As a Platinum Sponsor of the event, Cardtonic’s participation made an even greater impact, inspiring conversations around innovation, resilience, and the future of fintech in Africa.

Nigeria’s IT ecosystem, under the stewardship of Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Chief Information Technology Officer and Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is emerging as a beacon of digital transformation.

Through strategic international and local stakeholder engagements, Inuwa is steering Nigeria’s digital sector toward unprecedented growth, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Recently, Inuwa’s international engagements reflect his commitment to positioning Nigeria as a global digital leader.

During GITEX Global 2024, one of the world’s premier technology events, he delivered a keynote address on “Securing Africa’s Digital Future: Nigeria’s Cybersecurity Roadmap.”

In this address, he meticulously outlined Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework, a cornerstone of the nation’s ambition to foster a secure and resilient digital ecosystem.

Emphasising the critical role of digital innovation in economic diversification, Inuwa mapped out five foundational pillars: digital fluency, cybersecurity skills, robust policy frameworks, technological innovation, and cybersecurity innovation roadmaps.

He left no stone unturned in highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to closing the cybersecurity skills gap, securing data systems, and developing a national cybersecurity architecture aligned with global standards.

In addition to cybersecurity, Inuwa has shown a remarkable capacity to engage with international stakeholders, fostering collaborations that promise to boost Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

His meetings with executives of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) at GITEX 2024 exemplify this.

He engaged (DWTC) towards organising GITEX Nigeria 2025 to chart ways for inclusive stakeholder participation in the event, positioning Nigeria as a prime destination for global investors.

He rightly argued that Africa’s largest economy, brimming with a vibrant youth population and a burgeoning tech startup scene, is ripe for value-driven investments.

In line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through innovation, Inuwa has spearheaded collaborative efforts between NITDA and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).

This strategic partnership aims to harness cutting-edge technology to address the myriad challenges plaguing the agricultural sector, from resource optimisation to improving productivity.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities marks a watershed moment in Nigeria’s quest for food security.

The goal is to integrate technology into agriculture, drive innovation, and ultimately enhance national food security efforts of the present administration.

Inuwa’s local engagements are equally impressive. His keynote address at the Nigeria Govtech Conference and Awards touched the role of digital innovation in fostering economic growth and empowering citizens.

He emphasised the importance of a comprehensive agenda focused on human capital development, digital literacy, and skills training, particularly in both formal and informal sectors.

This vision aligns seamlessly with President Tinubu’s commitment to leveraging technology to build strong institutions that enhance governance and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.

On a broader continental stage, Inuwa’s participation in the 3rd Moonshot Annual Tech Conference in Lagos, alongside tech leaders from across Africa, further solidified his status as a digital economy visionary.

In his panel discussion on “Building Digital Economies for the World,” Inuwa articulated the need for governments to collaborate with the tech ecosystem in developing robust regulations that support cross-border data exchange within the continent.

He advocated for building Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI) to unlock the full potential of Africa’s digital economy, positioning Nigeria as a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Inuwa’s leadership in promoting Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) was also front and center at the 17th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2024) in Pretoria, South Africa.

Representing the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Inuwa reiterated the need for scalable, inclusive, and secure DPI that builds trust between governments and citizens.

Kashifu Inuwa also introduced the African DPI Community, a platform for collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation across the continent.

His efforts in advocating for digital identity systems, payment platforms, and data exchange infrastructures have placed Nigeria at the forefront of DPI innovation in Africa.

Additionally, Inuwa’s active role in the global DPI discourse was further demonstrated by his participation in the United Nations General Assembly, where he contributed to the launch of the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework.

This initiative sets new standards for the design and implementation of digital infrastructures, prioritising public interest and promoting safe, inclusive, and interoperable systems.

Inuwa’s insights on Nigeria’s journey toward building a resilient DPI showcased the country’s commitment to harnessing technology for sustainable development, reinforcing the Federal Government’s dedication to supporting research and technological innovation.

In every sphere of his engagement, both local and international, Inuwa’s efforts are emblematic of a leader committed to digital transformation.

His work is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda; and it is shaping the very future of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, ensuring that Nigeria’s digital future is both secure and prosperous, setting the stage for the nation to lead in the global digital economy.