2nd National Fintech Conference Begins Tomorrow in Lagos

By Dipo Olowookere

The second edition of the much-anticipated National Fintech Conference is slated to begin on Thursday, January 25, 2018.

The two-day event will take place at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos and several experts in the industry have been lined up to speak at the conference.

The National Fintech Conference is an exclusive gathering of Africa’s largest financial institutions, best fintech start-ups, technology companies, industry experts and most active venture investors.

The total investment in Fintech in 2016 was $24.6 billion according to KPMG while an annual 20 percent ROI is expected on Fintech related projects as indicated in a PWC report.

Similarly, in Fintech Trends Report for 3rd quarter of 2017, industries under the sector closed 496 deals worth $8 billion in the first half of 2017.

Many African countries particularly Nigeria have benefited from the massive investments in Fintech and are creating world class innovation that promises to significantly contribute to the development of their economies.

In Nigeria, activities in the Fintech ecosystem continue to soar with series of investment in up and coming Fintechs with special emphasis placed on Fintech partnership and collaboration.

During the conference that begins tomorrow, expert will try to look at how should incumbents especially financial institutions relate in a win-win scenario with up and coming and established FinTechs?

Also, they will focus on what needs to be done to develop Fintech ecosystem in Nigeria to position Nigeria not only as Africa’s Fintech leader but a force to reckon with in the global Fintech landscape?

Other issues they will beam their searchlights on include what are needed to create solutions that address real life problems and challenges of Nigeria? How to adapt and leverage international best practices to fast-track Fintech growth and contribution to economic development? And what are the emerging technologies and initiatives that are trending across the globe?

Organisers of the event are Fintech Associates Limited (Fintech), FinTechStage, and the CIBN Centre for Financial Studies (CIBNCFS).

Speakers include Mr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology; Dr Segun Aina, Chairman, Fintech Associates Limited & President, FinTech Nigeria; Matteo Rizzi, Co-Founder, FinTechStage; Dr Amine Mati, Senior Resident Representative, IMF; and Lazaro Campos, Co-Founder, FinTechStage.

Others are Tunde Badejo, MD/CEO, Soft Alliance & Resources Limited; Dr Bola Akindele, Founder/CEO, Courteville Business Solutions; Ashley Lewis, Investment Officer West Africa, Accion Venture Lab; and Prof Segun Ajibola, President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Also to speak at the conference Tokunboh Ishmael, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Alitheia Capital; Mrs Temitope Akin-Fadeyi, Head, Financial Inclusion Secretariat (CBN); Mary Aina, Director, Wealth & Vendor Oversight; Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Director, Zenith Bank; Ike Williams, CIO, Heritage Bank Plc; Mohammed Kari, Commissioner for Insurance National Insurance Commission; amongst many others.