By Adedapo Adesanya

Stakeholders, including industry leaders, regulators, and payment experts, have called for stronger infrastructure, responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, and deeper cross-sector collaboration to unlock the next phase of growth in Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem.

They made the call during the 2026 Digital Pay Expo held in Lagos on June 17 and 18, 2026. This year’s event focused heavily on the transformative role of AI, cybersecurity, cross-border transactions, and deepening financial inclusion across Africa.

Speaking at the event, Dr Rekiya Yusuf, Director of the Payment System Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), represented by Mr Chika Ugwueze, Deputy Director, stated that Nigeria’s payment ecosystem is rapidly evolving beyond digital adoption into deeper digital transformation.

According to Dr Yusuf, artificial intelligence is emerging as a critical driver of this shift, particularly in real-time fraud detection and expanding access to underserved populations.

“The goal is to make financial transactions seamless. AI is now driving innovation, helping in real-time fraud detection and helping to expand access,” she said.

She noted, however, that important gaps remain, particularly around infrastructure and inclusion. Building a resilient digital market system in the AI era requires reliable connectivity, robust infrastructure, intentional talent development, and sustained capacity building.

Echoing the regulator’s call for robust ecosystem support, Mr Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, said trust, access, and practical financial support remain critical to helping small businesses participate more meaningfully in the formal economy.

He noted that while micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute an impressive 40 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), limited access to credit and reliable payment infrastructure continues to slow their ability to grow and scale.

To drive true innovation, Nwosu argued that financial inclusion must move beyond simply opening accounts and enabling basic transactions; it requires building a foundation of trust and tangible economic empowerment.

“SMEs contribute 40 per cent of the country’s GDP. For us at PalmPay, we don’t just provide payment solutions to them, we also support them with financial tools they need to expand and create jobs,” he said.

Mr Nwosu further emphasised the importance of digital literacy, noting that a stronger understanding of digital tools and AI-enabled systems will be essential to building long-term trust and participation across the ecosystem.

The discussions at Digital Pay Expo 2026 reflected a growing consensus across the industry: the future of African digital payments will depend on getting the fundamentals right. That means stronger infrastructure, responsible use of AI, better cybersecurity, and closer collaboration between regulators, fintechs, and other ecosystem players.

For PalmPay, the event reinforced the importance of building a payments ecosystem that is more resilient, more secure, and better equipped to support inclusion and growth at scale.

Founded in 2019, PalmPay has expanded its operations across emerging markets, providing digital financial services ranging from payments and savings to credit and merchant solutions, while supporting financial inclusion through smartphone financing and access to digital banking services.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A new vehicle financing initiative designed to allow funding support of up to 90 per cent of a vehicle’s value and repayment tenures of more than four years has been introduced by Access Bank Plc.

This is part of the lender’s vehicle asset financing programme aimed at expanding access to vehicle ownership and mobility services across the country.

Application for the service is through a digital process, the bank’s Executive Director of Corporate and Investment Banking Division, Ms Iyabo Soji-Okusanya, disclosed.

Customers can access vehicles from top distributors like CIG Motors, Mikano Motors, Kewalram Motors, Stallion Motors, Elizade JAC, CFAO and other mobility dealers. They can purchase both new and certified pre-owned vehicles through a single process, she added.

“You apply online, and you go home with the keys to your car already in your pocket,” Ms Soji-Okusanya stated, noting that for businesses, the initiative will provide access to vehicles needed for operations while helping dealers improve inventory turnover and unlock capital tied down in unsold stock.

While explaining how the process works, the Group Head of Access Bank Mobility, Mr Ishmael Nwokocha, said the bank spent the last six months engaging dealers and other stakeholders in the automotive value chain before rolling out the programme.

According to him, Nigeria records annual vehicle sales of about 100,000 units, with only about 10 per cent being brand-new vehicles, while the remaining 90 per cent are pre-owned vehicles, adding that rising vehicle prices have significantly reduced affordability for many Nigerians.

“What are we offering today? Come with 10 per cent equity contribution, and we’ll finance the 90 per cent,” Mr Nwokocha said, noting that customers would also have access to insurance, after-sales services, and a digital loan application process that allows applicants, dealers and the bank to monitor progress.

He said the initiative extends beyond individual consumers to corporate organisations, schools, hospitals and other businesses requiring vehicle fleets, revealing plans to expand financing access to operators in the ride-hailing and transport sectors that are currently outside the formal banking system.

On her part, the Group Head of Product and Segment at Access Bank, Ms Chizoba Iheme, said the bank had put measures in place to support customers who encounter financial difficulties during the repayment period, explaining that affected borrowers could seek loan restructuring rather than risk losing their vehicles immediately.

“So long as the vehicle is still valid, it’s still running on the road, we can look at your finance, and then we’ll repackage your loan,” she said, also clarifying that customers are not required to maintain loans for the full approved tenor and can repay outstanding obligations earlier if they choose.

On the scope of the programme, she said financing is available to individuals, corporates and small businesses seeking vehicles for commercial or operational use.

The Managing Director of CIG Motors, Ms Eniola Olutimilehin, whose company is one of the participating dealers, said the partnership would help connect vehicle buyers with financing while supporting mobility and business operations.

She said the collaboration is expected to improve access to vehicles for individuals and entrepreneurs requiring transportation assets for personal and commercial activities.

By Adedapo Adesanya

African payments infrastructure giant, Paystack, has taken an early step into AI-driven commerce with the launch of Paystack Index, a platform that allows users to complete transactions through AI assistants.

The move signals the company’s ambition to power payments in an emerging era where chatbots could become a primary channel for shopping and financial services. It makes Paystack among the first African fintechs attempting to integrate payments directly into AI workflows.

In a statement on Thursday, the payments giant announced the experimental product developed by Paystack with product support from TSG Labs, the venture studio and emerging technology arm of The Stack Group.

Paystack Index builds on existing Paystack products, such as Paystack Checkout, by giving Zap users in Nigeria a new way to check out with supported Paystack merchants via AI agents.

The product is launching in early access as Paystack learns how people want to use AI agents to get things done, starting with familiar tasks like buying airtime and mobile data, funding wallets, sending money, and paying for food.

Paystack Index is live in Nigeria and currently works with supported AI clients, including Claude, ChatGPT, and OpenClaw. At launch, it supports airtime and mobile data purchases across major Nigerian networks, transfers via Zap, and food ordering through Chowdeck.

With Paystack Index, users can ask a supported AI agent to complete a task. Index interprets the request, routes it to the right provider or supported Paystack merchant, processes the transaction through Zap and Paystack’s payment infrastructure, and helps the user complete checkout securely within the AI experience.

Users remain in control of what they authorise. Index only acts on requests that users send through their chosen AI agent and within the permissions and limits they set. Index does not store card numbers, CVVs, PINs, or bank account credentials, and transactions are processed through Paystack’s secure payment infrastructure.

“Paystack has always focused on helping businesses get paid safely and reliably, wherever their customers are,” said Mr Shola Akinlade, CEO of Paystack. “As AI agents become a more common way for people to search, decide, and take action, we think checkout has to evolve too. Paystack Index is an early experiment in extending Paystack’s checkout infrastructure into AI experiences, starting with users in Nigeria and a few supported merchants and services.”

“The goal is simple: help users complete everyday transactions more easily, while keeping authorisation, permissions, and payment processing on trusted Paystack rails,” he added.

Paystack said since the product is not fully due for general rollout, it will continue to test how users interact with AI agents for commerce, how merchants can safely participate in AI-led checkout experiences, and what infrastructure will be needed as this behaviour evolves.

Paystack Index is now live in Nigeria in early access, with more features, supported merchants, billers, and African markets coming soon. Users in Nigeria can get started with Paystack Index at paystack.com/index.