Among the global leaders and decision-makers, Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company, stood out as one of Africa’s most prominent voices.

The company’s executives played a central role in high-profile discussions covering topics such as digital trade, innovation, artificial intelligence, and financial inclusion, reiterating Flutterwave’s position as a key enabler of Africa’s digital transformation.

For Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, founder and chief executive officer, the week’s centrepiece was his participation in the Bridgforte Financial Inclusion Roundtable at UNGA 80, convened by the former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Aishah N. Ahmad.

The roundtable brought together financial leaders and policymakers who explored how to build more inclusive systems that serve the unbanked and underbanked.

Agboola’s contribution reflected a broader consensus at the roundtable: that true economic growth cannot be achieved without widening access to finance, particularly for women, rural populations, and small enterprises.

Additionally, he also joined the US-Kenya business investment roundtable and the US-Ghana executive business roundtable, where conversations focused on strengthening trade and investment ties between Africa and the United States.

Mitesh Popat, chief financial officer, joined policymakers and industry leaders at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy side event on accelerating digital trade across Africa through the African Continental

Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Popat emphasised the importance of creating a trusted payment infrastructure to enable cross-border commerce, particularly for small businesses that often face the greatest hurdles.

His comments reflected Flutterwave’s long-standing mission to simplify payments across Africa and open pathways for entrepreneurs to access new markets through the AfCFTA.

At the same time, Bridgit Antwi, the Company’s vice president, Strategy and Planning, took part in the Global Africa Business Initiative’s Action Pathway for Digital Transformation roundtable.

Convened by the UN Global Compact and the African Union, the closed-door roundtable brought leaders together to establish digital innovation as a pillar of Africa’s prosperity.

Antwi contributed to shaping an ‘Action pathway’ designed to foster innovation, attract strategic investment, and secure commitments on bold policy reforms. The session reflects the company’s belief that digital infrastructure is not only about technology but about jobs, skills, and inclusive access for Africa’s young and growing population.

Elsewhere during the week, Bankole Falade, chief legal, Regulatory and Public Policy Officer, featured in a one-to-one onstage interview at the Foreign Policy Tech & AI Forum.

In a conversation titled ‘The Next Wave: Africa’s Emerging Digital Economy,’ Falade discussed the promise and risks of rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies on the continent.

He argued that African economies must define their own path in AI adoption, balancing innovation with clear regulatory frameworks that ensure ethical use and data protection.

His remarks resonated with the policymakers, technologists, and investors, sitting in the audience, who are keen to understand how Africa can leapfrog legacy systems to shape a distinctive role in the global AI landscape.

Flutterwave’s active engagement at UNGA 80 showcased the breadth of its leadership’s contribution to global dialogue on Africa’s future.

The message that emerged was clear: Africa is no longer on the margins of global digital transformation; it is the core of where the future of payments, innovation, and inclusion will be defined.

To address this, the World Bank and African Development Bank launched Mission 300, a plan designed to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. 

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has now pledged $16 million at UNGA 80 to speed up this initiative.

According to GEAPP, the latest commitment is expected to reduce market barriers, strengthen government and community capacity, and open the door to additional investment in clean energy technologies.

Woochong Um, GEAPP’s chief executive, explained the scale. “Our Alliance’s work in Africa, including Mission 300, is proof of what’s possible when governments, business, and philanthropy act together with urgency and purpose—turning ambition into real power, real jobs, and real opportunity for millions across the continent.”

Where the Funds Are Going

The Democratic Republic of Congo will receive the largest share, over $7 million channelled through the Mwinda Fund, managed by GreenMax. This support is set to expand mini- and metro-grid projects and attract nine times more capital, potentially bringing electricity to millions in a country where 70 million people still live without it.

Nigeria has been allocated more than $2 million to scale interconnected mini grids with RMI, with a target of 100MW deployment and a pipeline of 500MW. RMI’s Chief Executive, Jon Creyts, described the move as transformational: 

“Interconnected mini grids are a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy future. By combining on-site renewables with grid power, mini-grids deliver reliable, affordable electricity to underserved communities, reduce reliance on costly diesel, and create new value for developers and utilities. With support from the Energy Alliance, we’re scaling this model to accelerate energy access for millions of Nigerians.”

In Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Nigeria, $5 million has been earmarked for Odyssey Energy Solutions’ Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology (DART 3.0). The initiative is expected to pool equipment demand, cut costs, and unlock as much as $125 million in investments. 

“By reducing costs and accelerating deployment timelines, we are creating a more efficient and investable market for distributed renewable energy,” said Emily McAteer, Odyssey’s co-founder and CEO.

South Africa will also benefit through a $1.5 million partnership with its Just Energy Transition Programme Management Unit, aimed at attracting new capital and strengthening the shift to clean power.

A Continent-Wide Push

The Alliance stressed that lack of coordination continues to slow progress in Africa’s energy sector. Carol Koech, GEAPP’s vice president for Africa, said: “The Alliance recognizes the tremendous challenge that energy access poses to communities across Africa, and the lack of coordination is a major brake on progress. We are continuing to align public, private and philanthropic partners to channel resources wherever we can to create the greatest impact.”

Since its launch at COP26 in 2021, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has awarded $503 million in catalytic funding, bringing $7.8 billion in investments. Current projects span more than 30 countries and are projected to deliver electricity to 91 million people, generate 3.1 million jobs, and avoid 296 million tons of CO₂ emissions.

This $16 million pledge sharpens its focus on scaling solutions in fragile and underserved markets, where access to power usually determines whether economies can grow or stall.