The award ceremony, organized by Nairametrics, Nigeria’s leading financial news and analysis platform, in conjunction with The Economic Forum, recognized financial services organisations for innovation, impact and the commitment to empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) through access to finance in Nigeria.

Commenting on the award, Chief Executive Officer, Smartcash PSB, Tunde kuponiyi, said the award is a motivation to continuously empower small business with access to innovative and secure financial access.

“We are honoured to be recognized as the MSME Payment Bank of the Year. This award reflects our unwavering commitment to empowering small businesses across Nigeria by providing innovative, accessible, and secure financial solutions. MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, and we believe that by improving their access to digital financial services, we are not only helping them grow but also driving broader economic development. This recognition motivates us to continue in our mission of creating financial inclusion for Nigerian business owners.”

Jude Ndu, CEO of The Economic Forum, lauded SmartCash for its continual improvement and support of the financial sector, stating, “We believe today marks a significant step in empowering MSMEs to overcome the financial inclusion challenges in Nigeria.”

Also speaking at the event, Ugo Obichukwu, founder, Nairametrics, said,

“As a media organization, this is our way of contributing to the growth of MSMEs, which are a critical driver and backbone of the Nigerian economy. They Contribute 50% of our GDP and over 80% of our workforce, operating with a spirit of resilience that propels Nigeria forward. The award seeks to recognize and reward innovation and impact, and also inspire and motivate others to support MSMEs.”

The event was attended by prominent guests in the financial sector, including, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs and Job Creation, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson; Executive Director, Zenith Bank, Anthony Akindele Ogunranti; Vice President, Customer Solutions Center, East & West Africa, Mastercard; Kari Tukur, Executive Director, Zenith Bank; Anthony Akindele Ogunranti, Head of Retail Banking at Polaris Bank; Taye Mosaku, among other financial leaders.

The relaunch of “The Price Is Right” in Nigeria is not just a comeback, according to Genesis Studios, which are the local production company of the iconic game show; it is a celebration of an “amazing global franchise” which holds the prestigious title of being the longest-running game show in the world, having excited millions of international viewers for decades.

As the timeless and interactive program makes a new mark with Nigerian audiences, the producers have promised that it would bring with it a legacy of fun, excitement, and the opportunity for the viewing public to win mind-blowing prizes.

Partnering with Genesis Studios as headline sponsor of The Price is Right in Nigeria, SmartCash has also assured fans of the show of an enhanced viewing experience, courtesy of the mobile money platform’s dynamic features.

Expressing optimism about Smartcash as primary sponsorship, Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Studios, Olatubosun Olaegbe, stated that;

“The time is right for The Price Is Right in Nigeria. It has been a beacon of entertainment globally for generations, and with SmartCash by Airtel as our sponsor, we are taking it to new heights the way only Nigerians can. This partnership adds a layer of innovation to the show, and we are excited to create a game show that will be remembered for its captivating entertainment and engagement.”

Launched by leading telecommunications company, Airtel, Smartcash PSB is a payment platform, which has provided mobile money services, enhancing modern lifestyle by facilitating seamless payments and building a bridge between consumers and merchants.

Olatubosun added that the sponsorship of The Price Is Right by Smartcash would bring a new dimension to the show. “Through this collaboration, The Price Is Right becomes more than just a game show; it becomes a platform that integrates entertainment, commerce, and technology, offering a distinctive and collaborative experience to both contestants and viewers,” he said.

Aligning with Olatubosun, the chief executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, noted that the support of The Price Is Right by Airtel would ultimately be to the benefit of fans and customers.

“As SmartCash embarks on this exciting journey as the headline sponsor for The Price Is Right Nigeria, we are thrilled to be part of an iconic show that transcends the realm of entertainment. Our commitment to fostering meaningful connections among our users aligns seamlessly with the show’s ability to bring families together through laughter, excitement, and interactive engagement. We believe that this strategic partnership will not only redefine the landscape of entertainment but also create positive emotions among audiences,” Mr. Cruz said.

Anahita Kheder, senior vice president, Middle East, Africa, and SouthEastern Europe at Freemantle Media, global format owners of The Price Is Right, affirmed in a statement that, after the huge success of Idols, Got Talent, and X Factor in Nigeria, there are high hopes that Genesis Studios would bring The Price is Right Nigeria to its full potential, especially as the legendary US version of The Price Is Right currently attracts over 5.4 million viewers per episode.

This recognition took place at the 18th edition of the foremost creativity event in Nigeria, ceremony which was held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at The Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Airtel received a total of 20 awards, including 8 gold, 5 silver, and 7 bronze, while Smartcash secured 2 bronzes.

According to LAIF, these companies showcased their incredible creativity and innovation in their advertising campaigns, demonstrating their commitment to delivering unique and engaging content.

Commenting on the recognition, Ismail Adeshina, the marketing director, Airtel Nigeria,  said, “We are thrilled to receive multiple recognitions at the LAIF awards. It is good to know that our efforts towards delivering exceptional communications and driving meaningful brand engagement that resonates with our customers are being recognized.”

Muyiwa Ebitanmi, the chief executive officer Smartcash, also expressed delight at the recognition. “We believe that the recognition is a testament to our dedication and hard work since we launched into the market. This will definitely fuel our passion to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the advertising industry,” he said.

By clinching a total of 22 awards, Airtel, together with Smartcash, have once again solidified their positions as industry frontrunners.

The awards highlight their outstanding creativity and strategic brand communication and their consistency in maintaining high standards across multiple campaigns.

The Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) is an annual event of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) that is widely regarded as the most prestigious platform in the Nigerian advertising industry that celebrates excellence, originality, and effectiveness.

It is a platform that recognizes, rewards, and fosters creative excellence in all areas of marketing communications while helping to improve the quality of creative craft and to promote the spirit of healthy competition, applying global best practices to local executions.

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Smartcash Payment Service Bank Limited (Smartcash PSB) has the cheapest remittance service rate in the market, Judith Osiobe, the head of B2B Sales, Smartcash PSB, has said.

Smartcash recently partnered with Thunes, a cross-border payments infrastructure provider, to power international remittances in naira to mobile wallets.

Smartcash PSB becomes one of the first financial services providers to offer naira payouts to wallets, since the Central Bank of Nigeria approved this payout method in June 2023.

Osiobe said these during a recent Airtel Nigeria interactive session with the media.

Thus, as an integral part of Airtel Nigeria‘s commitment towards enhancing relationships with its operational stakeholders, Airtel recently hosted a Media Roundtable which was an interactive event to provide media stakeholders an opportunity to interact with key leaders at Airtel Nigeria and discuss the latest developments within the business.

The event, which was held on Thursday, 16th November 2023 at Radisson Hotel Ikeja, had more than 40 senior editors in attendance and included insightful presentations by three Airtel directors who discussed various recent developments across the business, including Airtel Nigeria enterprise offerings, collaborations with public sector Chief Information Officers (CIOs), 5G rollout, and Airtel Nigeria subsidiary, Smartcash Payment Service Bank.

Femi Adeniran, The Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, while delivering his welcome remark, expressed gratitude to the media guest and said that the roundtable is a platform for Airtel to bring the media partners up to speed on the activities of Airtel Nigeria, considering their role as vital stakeholders and consistent supporters of Airtel as a business.

“We have had several events that have brought us together in the past months, but we thought it is important to have a closer community discussion. The essence of this event is to have a good time together while we give you an understanding is currently going on in Airtel.”

Speaking at the event, Ogo Ofomata, the Director, Airtel Business, revealed activities that Airtel Business has been up to in terms of providing data and cloud management solutions to both SMEs and government agencies.

 “Airtel realized that the buying behavior of the private sector is different from the public sector, so this year, we created a special public sector event to showcase how their various parastatals can be upgraded to become more reliable. It was important to showcase to the public sector how their bulky data could be well managed. We had about 46 government agencies represented, to show that we were listening to the needs of the government on the digitization agenda,” she said.

Judith Osiobe, the head of B2B Sales, Smartcash PSB, also discussed the recently launched Smartcash international remittance service, revealing that this service is to ensure financial inclusion on a global scale.

“We recently launched the Smartcash Remittance Service that offers competitive tariffs compared to traditional means. Customers can simply activate this service by opening an account with an existing mobile number by simply dialing *939# or downloading the app to activate an account.  Smartcash is here to stay, and we are changing lives and making financial services accessible for everyone. We are also proud to say that we have the best and cheapest rate in the market when it comes to sorting utility bills on our payment service app.”

In his presentation, Ismail Adeshina, Airtel Nigeria Director of Marketing,  expounded on Airtel 5G rollout and the telecom giant’s commitment to innovative service delivery advancement through collaborations.

“Airtel is investing heavily in 5G infrastructure, including towers, base stations, and spectrum licenses, to provide widespread 5G coverage across Nigeria. We are actively collaborating with technology partners, device manufacturers, and local businesses to explore and develop innovative 5G use cases, such as IoT applications and smart city solutions,” he said.

While responding to a concern of one of the Journalists who questioned if 4G will be affected following the 5G focus, he said “Every Airtel site is a 2G, 3G and 4G site. 5G deployment will not affect any of these, especially because the deployment is prioritized based on used cases and the need.”

The event lived up to its billing as a true interactive meeting, as the presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session between the directors and the media guests in attendance.

Airtel Nigeria expressed gratitude to the media for participating at the roundtable and declared that the company would look forward to collaborations that will further strengthen the bond between the company and the media.

Smartcash PSB becomes one of the first financial services providers to offer naira payouts to wallets, since the Central Bank of Nigeria approved this payout method in June 2023.

This partnership will enable Smartcash PSB’s customers to receive inward remittances from countries worldwide directly into their Smartcash accounts by simply sharing their phone numbers, which also serve as their account numbers.

Funds are sent rapidly at no charge to the recipient and can be accessed across the Smartcash agent network.

Muyiwa Ebitanmi, Managing Director, Smartcash PSB, said that the service is set to solve another challenge with receiving funds from family and friends abroad adding: “It helps those financially excluded by providing a hassle-free and efficient solution for individuals in the diaspora looking to send money quickly to their loved ones in Nigeria.”

“We are delighted to partner with Thunes on cross-border transfers that bring unprecedented convenience and speed to international remittances, making it easier than ever for Nigerians to enjoy seamless transactions at a global scale via their Smartcash accounts. This service will not only improve the financial well-being of our customers, but also contribute to the economic growth and spending capacity of Smartcash account holders in the country,” he remarked.

Asma Ben Gamra, Vice President of Network Development, Middle East and Africa at Thunes, adds:

“Our partnership with Smartcash PSB aims to simplify transactions for millions of Nigerians in the US, Europe and beyond, making it easier for them to support their families back home. With a population of 224 million and an extensive international diaspora, Nigeria is one of the world’s largest markets for remittances, with $20.9 billion, paid in during 2022 according to the World Bank. Thunes has deep experience supporting banks and digital wallets to enable cross-border payments seamlessly, transparently and in real-time.”

Smartcash PSB was launched in 2022 to help unbanked populations better access banking services and the digital economy. It’s one of the fastest growing digital wallets providers in the country with tens of millions of account holders,.

The Central Bank of Nigeria granted the Payment Service Bank (PSB) license to entities and investors who seek to comply with its policies and obtain its objective, to enhance financial inclusion by increasing access to deposit products, payments and remittance services to individuals, small businesses, low-income households and other financially excluded entities.

Recall that Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in April granted approval to SmartCash, Airtel subsidiary to operate as a Payment Service Bank (‘PSB’) in Nigeria, and since May 19, operations have begun at some selected retail touchpoints.

The official launch event of SmartCash PSB was held on Thursday at Eko Hotel with several key stakeholders across the different industry sectors in attendance.

In his opening remarks during the launch event, Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, said SmartCash PSB is the beginning of Airtel’s journey to revolutionize the financial services landscape in the country.

According to Ogunsanya, the primary objective is to give financial services to the unbanked by reaching the millions of Nigerians in all the nooks and crannies who have been financially excluded.

He said Airtel shares the same agenda with the Nigerian Government, the CBN ,and Traditional Financial Institutions to further deepen financial inclusion in the country for the benefit of all citizens and the Nigerian economy.

According to Muyiwa Ebitanmi, Chief Executive Officer, SmartCash: Today is a remarkable day that we have been waiting for, and I am very excited that we have commenced the operations for financial services in Nigeria through SmartCash PSB.

Ebitomi said SmartCash PSB operations include receiving cash deposits, processing payments and remittances; issuing debit and prepaid cards; operating electronic wallets, and other services.

According to Ebitomi, removing the barriers and increasing accessibility to banking services, especially to those who have been left out of banking, remains imperative, a goal that SmartCash PSB intends to achieve.

Users of service are expected to download the app while the USSD code is *939#. Smartcash will serve the purpose of receiving and sending cash, among other financial transactions.

Airtel Africa offers an integrated suite of telecommunications solutions to its subscribers, including mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services both nationally and internationally. The Group aims to continue providing a simple and intuitive customer experience through streamlined customer journeys.

Create a Smartcash PSB

The steps are simple.

Step 1 – Dial *939# on your mobile phone

Step 2 – from the options, you may wish to use NIN or select BVN to create the wallet.