The recognition was announced in Lagos during the investiture of Dr. (Mrs.) Markie Idowu as the Institute’s new President.

In his welcome address, Prof. Chris Onalo, Registrar/CEO of NICA, noted that the National Institute of Credit Administration distinguishes itself from other professional bodies through its unwavering commitment to advancing credit management, promoting professionalism, and empowering Nigerians with credit literacy.

“Unlike many other institutes, NICA recognizes that credit management is a lifeline of commerce, influencing every aspect of business, social, and economic life. Through this commitment, the Institute continues to shape Nigeria’s economic future towards sustainable growth,” he stated.

The Fellowship represents the Institute’s highest professional distinction and is conferred on individuals whose leadership has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s credit environment, institutional governance frameworks, and the integrity of the financial system.

This recognition also comes at a significant moment globally as the world commemorates International Women’s Day, underscoring the growing recognition of women’s leadership and contributions across industries, particularly in finance, governance, and economic development.

The ceremony brought together senior financial sector executives, policymakers, regulators, and distinguished guests to celebrate excellence in credit administration and professional practice.

The Institute described Mrs. Uche Uzoebo as a seasoned business executive and financial services leader with over two decades of professional experience spanning banking, digital payments, and financial services.

A proven change agent, she brings deep expertise across digital payments, financial inclusion, agency banking, product and business development, merchant acquiring, as well as corporate, commercial, and retail banking.

Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing secure and inclusive digital financial services, strengthening payment systems, and expanding last-mile access to financial services across underserved communities in Nigeria.

Through SANEF and related initiatives, she has supported economic empowerment and financial inclusion by expanding agent networks, promoting financial literacy, and championing innovative technology-enabled solutions.

Passionate about gender inclusion and women’s economic empowerment, Uzoebo is also a gender specialist and advocate with a strong focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and breaking structural economic barriers.

As a certified trainer, she designs and delivers high-impact capacity-building programmes for individuals, youth, women, and organizations, enabling sustainable growth and improved performance.

Convened by Tripoint Academy for Tourism and Enterprise Development in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Lagos, the festival was held across Kano and 18 other northern states, reviving the spirit of ancient African trade while spotlighting modern enterprise, creativity and innovation.

Speaking during the pre-event press conference, co-convener of the festival, Mrs. Muhammed Shuhda, said the initiative was designed to celebrate Northern Nigeria’s identity while fostering unity and economic collaboration.

“Arewa represents Northern Nigeria, and when people hear ‘Arewa Festival’, that identity naturally comes to mind. With the Global Entrepreneurship Week theme, Together, We Build, we wanted to create a platform that unites Northern entrepreneurs, not only to celebrate trade and enterprise but also to showcase the many beautiful things Nigeria has to offer,” she said.

According to the organisers, the festival attracted over 30,000 participants across the 19 northern states, with 871 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and vendors showcasing products spanning agriculture, fashion, crafts, technology and hospitality.

Dignitaries at the event included Dr. Olawale Anifowose, Managing Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (Nigeria); Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director of the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University; Mrs. Uche Uzoebo, Managing Director of SANEF Limited; the Emir of Kano, represented by the Jarman Kano; and Ambassador Tomas Vyprachticky, Czech Republic Ambassador to Nigeria, among others.

A major highlight of Arewa Festival 2025 was the official launch of AREWATECH, Africa Rebuilds Economy With Agriculture, Trade, Entrepreneurship, Creatives & Hospitality, a long-term development blueprint aimed at accelerating Northern Nigeria’s economic reawakening.

Dr. Anifowose noted that the festival is designed to be a recurring national platform that will continue to showcase the entrepreneurial and creative strength of the North.

“What we want to achieve with the Arewa Festival is to continuously showcase the creativity and entrepreneurial strength of Northern Nigeria. The Festival will move to different parts of the country, still as Arewa Festival, giving entrepreneurs and creatives from the North the opportunity to show what they have in every region of Nigeria,” he said.

The AREWATECH initiative is expected to drive competitive agricultural value chains, improve inter-state and cross-border trade, strengthen youth employment and entrepreneurship, grow the creative and digital economy, and position Northern Nigeria as a tourism and hospitality destination.

Over the two-day grand event, the festival blended commerce with culture, featuring vibrant SME marketplaces, durbar displays, fashion shows, cultural performances and indigenous culinary experiences. State-wide entrepreneurship masterclasses, held under the Global Entrepreneurship Week theme, promoted collaboration, leadership and innovation, while young creatives showcased talents across fashion, art and digital expression.

Mrs. Uche Uzoebo, managing director of SANEF Limited, highlighted the festival’s role in advancing financial inclusion in the North.

“When we talk about financial inclusion, we must also talk about access points. That’s why this Festival matters to us at SANEF Limited. The North has one of the highest exclusion rates, and this platform allows us to bring more people into the financial space through literacy, empowerment and meaningful impact,” she said.

Building on the success of the 2025 edition, the organisers said plans are underway to expand the Arewa Festival experience to Southern and Western Nigeria, deepen the implementation of AREWATECH across states, establish annual innovation hubs and marketplaces, strengthen regional trade corridors, and scale year-round entrepreneurship support programmes.

With its blend of heritage, enterprise and innovation, Arewa Festival 2025 has reinforced a shifting narrative for Northern Nigeria, one of renewed confidence, collaboration and economic transformation.

Unveiled at a press briefing on July 23, the 8th edition, dubbed “The Fintech Ecosystem Symphony: Orchestrating Nigeria’s Digital Future”, aims to bring together over 20,000 participants from across sectors and regions.

Organised by the Fintech Association of Nigeria, NFW25 will explore how coordinated efforts between government, startups, corporates, and investors can fast-track innovation and financial inclusion across the continent.

“This is no longer just an event. It’s a movement,” said Dr. Stanley Jacob, president of the Fintech Association of Nigeria. “NFW25 will be where new partnerships are forged, sectors transformed, and the future of Nigeria’s digital economy is composed like a symphony.”

For the first time, Nigeria Fintech Week will span multiple locations, Abuja, Delta, and Enugu, before culminating at the Landmark Centre in Lagos.

The multi-city format is designed to widen participation and showcase the reach of fintech across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

According to Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, vice president and chair of the Organising Committee, the expansion reinforces NFW’s commitment to accessibility and grassroots innovation. “Fintech is for everyone now, from farmers to students, from SMEs to regulators,” she said.

Uche Uzoebo, CEO of the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities Limited (SANEF) added, “Even churches, schools, and food vendors are digitising. NFW25 is where they’ll find solutions, partners, and tools to grow.”

Nigeria Fintech Week has grown since 2017 into Africa’s leading fintech gathering, driving policy shifts, investment, and digital transformation.

With this year’s expansive approach, the stage is set to orchestrate an even more inclusive and impactful digital future.

According to the World Bank report, a significant portion of the global adult population remains unbanked.

Specifically, 27% of adults globally are considered unbanked, and an additional 50% are underbanked, defined as lacking a credit card, according to Lucidity Insights.

By investing in awareness, robust digital ID systems, interoperable payment rails, and inclusive policy frameworks, stakeholders can expand access to financial services, particularly in underserved regions, and reduce the global unbanked population significantly.

Stakeholders who gathered at the Regtech Conference 2025 discussed these strategies and more, especially facilitating cross-border payments and investment opportunities across Africa.

The event featured a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Uche Uzoebo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) Limited.

The panel discussion themed, “From Borders to Bridges: Leveraging Digital Infrastructure to Drive Financial Inclusion through a Multi-Stakeholder Approach”, brought together diverse voices across banking, fintech, policy, and government to explore how digital infrastructure can be annexed to drive financial inclusion.

Uche Uzoebo highlighted how women often face unique challenges in accessing financial services coupled with limited digital literacy and cultural barriers.

She engaged the panelists to discuss targeted interventions aimed at promoting gender inclusivity in the financial sector and effective financial education programs that empower individuals to utilize digital financial services.

Jacqueline Mpare, Head of Agency Banking, Ecobank Group, highlighted how her organization had established a women-focused initiative to provide support to businesses targeted at women and those with women as part of the leadership by providing them with access to finance and non-financial support.

Isa Aliyushata, Regional Advisor, Africa, Corum Group Limited, stressed the need to inculcate financial literacy into the education curriculum to ensure everyone is exposed to the knowledge of financial literacy from a young age.

The panelists include Ajibade Laolu-Adewale, Chief Partnership & Ecosystems Officer, Wema Bank; Gerald Munyaradzi Nyakwawa, Head of Digital Channels, MoneyMart Finance (Private) Limited, Zimbabwe; Dr. Henry Clarke Kisembo, Group Global Lead and Executive Chairman, Development Associates Link International (DALI); Jacqueline Mpare, Head of Agency Banking, Ecobank Group; Jean Jacques Kajuga, Chief Operations Officer, RSwitch Rwanda; and Isa Aliyushata, Regional Advisor, Africa, Corum Group Limited.

The panelists emphasized collaboration, leading by example, speed and legislative alignment, a unified infrastructure payment system, and collaboration between national and regional switchers to allow a low-cost cross-border payment as key to ensuring financial inclusion.

Meanwhile, her organization, Shared Agency Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF), was honored with the title of 2025 Financial Literacy Champion at the RegTech Awards.

This prestigious recognition highlights SANEF’s steadfast commitment to promoting financial literacy and enhancing financial inclusion across Nigeria.

Through strategic partnerships, the expansion of agent networks nationwide, and impactful educational programs, SANEF continues to equip millions with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions.

Speaking at the just concluded Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON 2.0), Uche Uzoebo (Mrs.), MD/CEO, SANEF Limited, noted that as technology evolves rapidly within the financial ecosystem, Financial Inclusion must continue to be at the center of the nation’s progress.

According to her, agent banking has been a game-changer in expanding financial inclusion across Nigeria. “By deploying agents in underserved areas, we have brought financial services and banking products such as account opening, cash in, cash out, bill payment, transfers and other services closer to the unbanked and underserved.”

With the Agent Banking model, SANEF has bridged critical gaps by reducing the need for long queues in physical bank branches, allowing individuals in the hinterland areas to access banking services without traveling long distances. Additionally, agents often communicate in local languages, making transactions easier for those with limited literacy, while reducing reliance on complex documentation. This has remained a critical and important elixir in Financial Inclusion.

She however noted that AI presents a huge opportunity to align with global trends in pushing financial inclusion further and faster.

“It is no gainsaying that, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is transforming the financial services industry at an unprecedented pace, reshaping how businesses interact with customers, manage risks, and expand financial inclusion. It has become the invisible engine driving the modernization of financial products and services. It is no longer a futuristic concept; it is at work right now all over the world, powering mobile banking apps, automating customer service, detecting fraud and enabling instant lending decisions.

In Nigeria, where millions remain unbanked and underbanked, Artificial Intelligence presents a game-changing opportunity to bridge financial gaps, enhance accessibility, and improve the overall efficiency of the financial ecosystem.”

She disclosed that the application of AI in the system will among other things, help to:

• Minimize KYC Roadblocks
• Detect Fraud and Flag Suspicious activities in real-time thus enhancing greater trust in digital payments and solutions
• Personalize and Tailor Financial products and services according to customers’ specific needs, amongst other key benefits and advantages.

While highlighting the benefits of AI in the ecosystem at PAFON 2.0, Mrs. Uzoebo noted that stakeholders must work towards guaranteeing that our Artificial Intelligence systems respect individual privacy, maintain equitable standards for all, remain transparent in their operations, and elicit trust.

“The use of Artificial Intelligence in payment solutions and within the broader financial inclusion industry must comply with existing regulatory frameworks such as; Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Consumer Protection Framework; Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and National Information Technology Development Agency’s Data Protection Regulation (NDPR),” she cautioned.

SANEF, whose mission is to deepen financial inclusion through partnerships and collaborations, is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), supported by the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) and Licensed Super-Agents, and was incorporated in 2019.

SANEF serves as an enabler in the Financial Inclusion ecosystem in Nigeria, collaborating with various Stakeholders to expand the frontiers of Financial Inclusion which includes Agent Expansion, Financial Literacy, Public Enlightenment, Policy Advocacy and Technological Solutions for Products and Services to increase Agent Business viability and Agent Network sustainability.

This is the viewpoint of stakeholders that gathered for the second edition of Payment Forum Nigeria (PAFON 2.0) held recently in Lagos.

Delivering a keynote address on the theme, “Bridging the Customer Experience Gap for Financial Inclusion Using AI”, Ebehijie Momoh (Mrs.), the managing director and chief executive officer of AfriGoPay Financial Services Limited, said that with 64% of Nigerian adults being financial included the country has made immense progress in that regards.

She said that between 2012 till date, the country has recorded robust regulatory reforms, especially the launch of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) in 2014 making it easier to identify and track customers across different banks.

“This initiative enhanced the credibility of the financial sector and increased confidence in formal banking systems.

The growth in adoption of smartphones has also helped the financial sector to leapfrog financial inclusion. Nigeria has 142.16 mobile internet subscriptions with an average consumption of ~7.04GB / month as of January 2025. If you juxtapose it to the 15.9% decline in shipments of feature phones to 18.8 million units in Africa as at Q1 2024, you will understand that the uptake in smartphones has helped us a great deal.

Mrs. Momoh who spoke through Mr. Munachi Duru, the head of Innovation and Strategic Partnership at AfriGoPay, said the adoption of artificial intelligence banking gave birth to solutions like smile identity, a leading KYC verification provider launches facial recognition capabilities in Nigeria as neobanks and commercial banks are deploying AI-based KYC verification tools, enabling cheaper and efficient customer acquisition and servicing.

In her goodwill message, Mrs. Uche Uzoebo, MD/CEO, Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities Limited (SANEF) Limited said that with progress made in accelerating financial inclusion to unbanked and underbanked communities in Nigeria, SANEF has leveraged Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the next step to advancement in financial services in the country.

She noted that as technology evolves rapidly within the financial ecosystem, Financial Inclusion must continue to be at the center of the nation’s progress.

According to her, agent banking has been a game-changer in expanding financial inclusion across Nigeria.

“By deploying agents in underserved areas, we have brought financial services and banking products such as account opening, cash in, cash out, bill payment, transfers and other services closer to the unbanked and underserved,” she said.

Speaking during a panel session, Mr. Ibirogba Oluwagunwa, chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Association of Mobile Money & Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), spoke of lack of collaboration and slow institutional drive towards AI as key barriers hindering digital inclusion.

He harped on the need for information sharing among fintech operators, and improved free flow of information to consumers. “The human barrier angle needs to be addressed. Fintechs need to be pushed to move forward, AI cannot operate itself.”

In his contribution at PAFON 2.0, Mr. Chika Nwosu, managing director of PalmPay, reiterated the need to reach the consumers with simple format communication and education style.

He said operators should create awareness and design consumer​-centric approach in developing any products. This will not only draw the consumers towards the product, but also generate trust and ease the use of such products.

Focusing on the use of AI to ensure reach, inclusion and security, Azure Application and AI Specialist at Microsoft UK, Olusoji Solomon Adeyemo, spoke on the need for AI and Blockchain in the bid to extend services to rural communities and the unbanked.

According to him, “AI, Blockchain and CBDs are shaping the future of payment, and there is a serious need for education. We need to align with global trends in new tech adoption.”

While noting that AI can ensure reach, Adeyomo said blockchain will also create digital identity that is exclusive and will promote digital financial inclusion.

In her position, Oluwabunmi Ogunyemi, the customer support lead at Moniepoint MFB, proffered physical and digital meet with customers, even in rural areas, as a viable means of inclusivity.

Also speaking, Olusegun Afolabi, co-founder of Face Technologies UK Ltd., called for improved collaborations among stakeholders in the financial sector.

According to him, the fintech companies must also embrace effective identification solutions, focusing on biometrics and card technologies to ensure topnotch security for users.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr. Peter Oluka, co-Convener of the Forum, noted that the financial inclusion journey in the country has come to a crucial juncture where over 30 million adults are still financially excluded, many of whom reside in rural areas or belong to vulnerable demographics.

He noted that despite 12% growth in access to formal financial services between 2020 and 2023, as recorded by the EFInA Access to Financial Services Survey 2023, challenges still exist that hinders the unlocking of the potentials of digital payments to drive inclusive growth in Nigeria.

He further posited: “As digital infrastructure grows and fintech innovation accelerates, we must channel these advancements toward building a more inclusive, secure, and trusted financial ecosystem.

This is not just about transactions — it’s about empowerment, opportunity, and economic participation for all.

Nodding in agreement, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-Convener, PAFON, reiterated the need for all stakeholders in the financial payment industry, including regulators, to participate in forums as PAFON, to map out, growth strategies with consumers and other strata of the ecosystem.

He promised to invite security stakeholders, such as the EFCC and others in subsequent editions of the event. This will help give insight into security concerns in deployment of products and services in rural and unbanked communities.

Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON) is a platform dedicated to shaping the future of digital payments and financial services in our country.

Featuring keynote presentation, fireside chat, panel discussion, networking opportunities, PAFON 2.0 is scheduled to hold on this week – Thursday, April 10, 2025 at the Function Room 1, Oriental Hotel, Lekki Road, Lagos from 9am-12(noon).

The event themed: “Bridging the Customer Experience Gap for Financial Inclusion Using AI”, aims at enabling knowledge sharing on key industry insights, issues, amongst key stakeholders, with the objective of ensuring a collaborative and proactive approach to push for policies that enable growth, tackling/mitigating fraud and limiting occurrences and losses in the payment industry.

Keynote:

Ebehijie Momoh (Mrs), managing director and chief executive officer, AfriGoPay Financial Services Ltd, will deliver the keynote address.

Special Guests:

Uche Uzoebo (Mrs), managing director and chief executive officer, Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) Limited and Mrs. Chika Nwosu, managing director and chief executive officer of PalmPay (Nigeria), are the special guest of honour.

PAFON 2.0 Special Appearances: Olusoji Solomon Adeyemo, Azure Application and AI Specialist, Microsoft UK., Ibirogba Oluwagunwa, chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), and Olusegun Gabriel Afolabi, co-founder & chief innovations architect, Face Technologies UK Ltd., will make special appearances at the event.

There will be a fireside chat featuring, Chukwuemeka Enoch Mbaebie, the convener, Lagos Blockchain Week, amongst other speakers, with Chidera Amuta, Marketing Manager, Vendorcredit, as the host.

According to Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-convener of Payments Forum Nigeria, “this year’s theme, ‘Bridging the Customer Experience Gap for Financial Inclusion Using AI’, underscores the urgent need to safeguard digital transactions against emerging threats while ensuring seamless financial inclusion and innovation”.

Industry players such as Bankers, Fintech startups, mobile money operators, blockchain experts, Cybersecurity, etc., are among the expected attendees.

PAFON 2.0 participation is free, but pre-registration can be done here.

Mrs. Uche Uzoebo succeeds Mrs. Ronke Kuye, who was the pioneer Chief Executive Officer and under whose leadership SANEF Limited experienced growth and success in its core mandate of expanding and deepening Financial Inclusion and Agent Banking.

Uzoebo brings extensive experience, knowledge and expertise to her new role.

Prior to her appointment, she served as the Chief Distribution and Stakeholder Engagement Officer of SANEF Limited since inception and is credited with driving business, stakeholder expansion and strategic initiatives that has enabled the organization to meet its core objectives through Agent Expansion; Account Opening; Product & Services; Technology Solutions; Policy Advocacy; Stakeholder Engagement, Financial Literacy, Capacity Building and Awareness.

As the Chief Distribution and Stakeholder Engagement Officer of SANEF Limited, Mrs. Uche Uzoebo also collaborated closely with regulators, banks, financial service providers, developmental organizations, enterprise support organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector, government agencies to expand financial access points, digital financial services, economic and financial inclusion through agent networks, financial literacy and innovative technology solutions.

Uche is a passionate and renowned expert in financial inclusion, digital transformation, inclusive finance and women empowerment in Nigeria.

With over two decades of cognate experience in banking and financial services, she has established herself as a thought leader and passionate advocate for financial literacy and advocacy, training, inclusive finance, women empowerment and breaking economic barriers.

Her strong business acumen and leadership qualities have driven the advancement of digital financial services, economic and financial inclusion in the ecosystem.

Mrs. Uche Uzoebo has led strategic project initiatives focused on expanding economic inclusion and diligently worked on empowering women as a gender specialist and advocate with special focus on supporting women entrepreneurs; digitally transformed businesses and society.

As a reputable certified trainer, Uche has delivered high-impact training and well-tailored programmes to deepen knowledge and thought leadership.

She has also contributed to published works, spoken at fintech and finance related conferences, thereby providing a strong voice in advancing financial inclusion and digital payment.

Her practice engagements involve policy and strategic management interventions. Under her leadership, SANEF Limited is committed to achieving excellence, greater growth, development and expansion to stakeholders in the ecosystem.

Uche is a certified Product Manager, certified Licensed National Business Development Service Provider (BDSP), member of the Association of International Product Marketing & Management (AIPMM), Global Women in Management (GWIM), Honorary Senior Member (HCIB) – the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a fellow of Acumen, West Africa and a fellow of The Microfinance Association, UK.

SANEF serves as an enabler in the economic and financial inclusion ecosystem in Nigeria, collaborating with various Stakeholders to expand the frontiers of Financial Inclusion.