E-Financial
Sub- Saharan Africa is the Fastest Growth Frontier for Fintech Firms – GSMA
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing investment zones for financial technology companies, according the trade body that represents the interests of global mobile network operators.
The GSM Association (GSMA) says in its Mobile Economy, Sub-Saharan Africa 2019 report that the region will remain the fastest growing worldwide.
Predicting a total subscriber base of over 600 million by 2025, which represents approximately half the population, Sub-Saharan Africa will become a flagship for mobile disruption.
According to Mike Smits, co-founder of the uKheshe micro transaction platform, the unbanked are one of the driving forces behind this growth.
“Mastercard reports that while around 1.2 billion adults opened bank accounts for the first time over the past decade, 1.7 billion remain outside the formal banking sector worldwide,” Smits says.
“Our challenge, as a continent, is to reach these ‘unbanked’ individuals and better understand, as financial service providers, why they opt to stay in the informal sector.”
Smits says since the launch of uKheshe 10 months ago, the plight for financial inclusion has become glaringly obvious. “While progress has been made in terms of mobile money, it’s become imperative that we move beyond that and look into digital payment solutions.
“What we have realised is that financial inclusion is not just about technology disruption, but more about solving greater economic problems.”
He says consumers need simpler, more cost-effective ways to do simple tasks, such as sending or receiving money and buying airtime.
Mobile operators on the continent have over the past few years been entrenching themselves in the financial services sector to cover the unbanked and make transactions simpler.
Last week, MTN Group announced its fintech transactions reached R666 billion ($44 billion) in the six months to June.
The JSE-listed telco says its fintech strategy is starting to pay off, reporting a 30.7% hike – customer growth went up 8.9% to 30 million, while active Mobile Money (MoMo) users and average revenue per user is pegged at R19.60 ($1.30).
The total value of fintech transactions in the first half of the year to June reached a peak of $44 billion and the company processed 9 193 transactions per minute.
The mobile operator has been actively pushing to be a dominant force in the financial services space on the continent.
M-Pesa in Kenya remains the mobile money business case study of payment innovation in emerging markets. It was launched 12 years ago.
In Southern Africa, EcoCash is a success story in Zimbabwe. It is a mobile payment platform hosted by local telco Econet. EcoCash is an offshoot of Cassava Smartech, an entity that offers more financial services than mobile money, including remittances, digital banking and all kinds of insurance.
The GSMA report adds that in 2018, mobile technologies and services generated 4.6% of GDP globally, a contribution that amounted to $3.9 trillion of economic value added.
“The mobile ecosystem also supported almost 32 million jobs (directly and indirectly) and made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector, with more than $500 billion raised through general taxation”
According to the GSMA report, by 2023, mobile’s contribution is forecast to reach $4.8 trillion (4.8% of GDP) as countries around the globe increasingly benefit from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by increased take-up of mobile services.
Further ahead, the report says 5G technologies are expected to contribute $2.2 trillion to the global economy over the next 15 years, with key sectors such as manufacturing, utilities and professional/financial services benefiting the most from the new technology.
At the end of 2018, 3.6 billion people were connected to the mobile Internet, the report says, representing an increase of just over 300 million compared to the previous year. However, more than four billion people remain offline.
Further, it says around a billion of these are not covered by mobile broadband networks (the ‘coverage gap’), while around three billion live within the footprint of a network but are not accessing mobile Internet services (the ‘usage gap’).
“Over the next few years, as the enablers of mobile Internet adoption (infrastructure, affordability, consumer readiness and content/services) continue to improve, millions of people will start using the mobile Internet for the first time. By 2025, five billion people across the globe (more than 60% of the population) will use the mobile Internet,” reads the report.
Eight leading Nigerian banks collectively set aside N156 billion as impairment charges on their credit and financial assets, marking a significant financial impact amidst a challenging economic environment, in the opening quarter of 2025.
Known commonly as loan losses or credit impairments, these charges highlight the banks’ defensive measures against risks arising from inflation, naira depreciation, and tightened liquidity affecting consumers and businesses alike.
The level of impairment varied considerably across institutions, reflecting divergent risk appetites and credit management practices.
Zenith Bank led with the highest provision of N49.38 billion, an 11.8 percent reduction from the previous year’s N55.97 billion.
This decline may suggest enhanced asset quality or more rigorous loan recovery tactics.
Broken down, loans and advances contributed N35.95 billion to impairments, while investment securities and treasury bills added N7.1 billion and N2.16 billion respectively.
Despite heavy provisioning, Zenith recorded a notable 20.7 percent increase in post-tax profit, soaring from N258.34 billion to N311.83 billion.
Similar trends emerged at First HoldCo, which posted N37.25 billion in impairment (down 11.2 percent), driven mainly by loans and advances provisions of N41.23 billion.
Offsetting this were write-offs and reversals that mitigated losses.
First HoldCo’s profit, however, fell to N171.10 billion from N208.11 billion.
Access Holdings and Guaranty Trust Holding Company also demonstrated reduced impairment charges, indicating stronger credit monitoring.
Access’s net provision dropped 4.5 percent to N21.77 billion, while Guaranty Trust’s impairment stabilized near last year’s N13.42 billion figure.
Yet, Guaranty Trust’s profit plunged 43.6 percent to N258.03 billion, a striking contrast to other banks’ profit growth.
On the other hand, United Bank for Africa (UBA) faced a staggering 332.2 percent surge in impairment, from N3.28 billion to N14.18 billion—pointing to amplified credit risks possibly driven by external economic pressures.
Nonetheless, UBA recorded a 33.1 percent profit uptick to N189.84 billion.
FCMB’s impairment charge fell notably by nearly 60 percent to N9.52 billion, aided by significant recoveries of previously written-off loans, boosting its profit to N32.23 billion.
Meanwhile, Fidelity Bank and Wema Bank posted sharp rises in impairment—285.8 percent and 64.7 percent increases respectively—reflecting heightened write-downs that underscore growing risk exposure amidst portfolio expansions.
Overall, while the cumulative impairment charge diminished by 5.2 percent compared to Q1 2024, individual bank results were mixed, embodying the varied strategies and external pressures in Nigeria’s banking sector.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revealed plans to commence investigation into the activities of an entity operating under FF Tiffany, allegedly running a fraudulent investment scheme that has defrauded citizens.
A statement by SEC on Tuesday in Abuja said preliminary information revealed that the scheme, which promised investors unusually high and unrealistic returns, had resulted in the loss of several billions of naira.
The SEC said it viewed the activity as a threat to investor confidence and the overall integrity of the financial system.
The commission assured the public that it was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies to bring everyone involved in the unlawful operation to justice.
According to SEC, those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with Investment and Securities Act (ISA) and regulatory provisions.
SEC reiterated its earlier warnings to the general public to desist from engaging in Ponzi or unregistered investment schemes that promised guaranteed or exaggerated returns.
”These schemes are not registered with the SEC and do not offer investor protection under the law.
“The commission is currently investigating 79 schemes and will make a statement on its findings at the conclusion of the investigation,” the SEC said.
The commission encouraged investors to conduct due diligence and verify the registration status of any investment firm or product by visiting the SEC website or contacting the commission directly through official channels.
SEC said it remained committed to its mandate of protecting investors, ensuring fair practices, and maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.
Accion Microfinance Bank has unveiled AccionMonie, a next-generation digital financial services platform aimed at empowering individuals, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as low-income households across Nigeria.
Speaking at the official launch in Abuja, Chief Executive Officer of Accion MfB, Taiwo Joda, described the introduction of AccionMonie as a significant milestone and a testament to the bank’s culture of innovation, designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers.
“At Accion Microfinance Bank, we believe in the potential of every MSME to drive inclusive economic growth. That is why we are committed to empowering them with the financial support they need to grow, innovate, and make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond,” Joda said.
He added that the app provides instant access to essential services including loans, savings, and other forms of financial support.
According to Joda, AccionMonie is a strategic component of the bank’s “Always There to Lend You a Hand” campaign, which underscores its commitment to small business development and the economic upliftment of underserved households. The campaign positions Accion MfB as not only a financial institution but also a trusted partner in its customers’ journey to prosperity.
Highlighting the economic role of MSMEs in Nigeria, he noted that with an estimated 37 million MSMEs, the sector accounts for 86% of employment and contributes 48% to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, these enterprises continue to face major challenges such as limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, and an unfavourable business environment.
Also speaking at the launch, the bank’s Chief Commercial Officer, Stephen Olalere, said the combination of AccionMonie and the bank’s expansive network of over 74 branches across 12 states will help bridge the gap in financial service delivery to small businesses.
“The platform’s user-friendly features are designed to simplify payments and offer vital support to businesses and individuals alike,” he said.
Paul Ehiagbonare, Chief Digital Officer of the bank, described the launch as a bold step toward digital leadership and financial empowerment.
“For us, AccionMonie reflects customer empowerment through digital tools and technologies. It offers a range of customer-focused features designed to promote financial inclusion,” he said.
One of its standout features is Save2Loan, which allows users to save between ₦50,000 and ₦250,000 over a 90-day period and become eligible for a loan worth twice their saved amount. This, Ehiagbonare explained, will help promote a savings culture while enhancing credit access.
In addition, customers can conveniently fund their AccionMonie accounts using any debit card, eliminating the need for physical visits or long queues in banking halls.
CAC Flags Three Companies, Warns Nigerians
NDPC Asks Court to Dismiss Meta’s Suit Challenging $32.8m Fine
FG to Launch Fully Digital Expatriate Residence Permit Application Portal August 1
France Moves to Tackle Online GBV in Africa with $4.3m Funding
AfDB to Introduce Systems Reforms to Prioritize Investing in Africa’s Youth
Telecom3 days agoNCC Introduces N10m Licence Fee for Bulk SMS Service
Telecom3 days agoMTN Nigeria Targets $1Bn Cloud Market with Largest Modular Data Centre
General News3 days agoWoodhall Capital and Partners Launch ₦1.5Bn Fund
E-Business3 days agoFirm Highlights Top Risks of Quantum Computing
E-Financial2 days agoZenith Banks Leads as 8 Banks Suffer N156Bn Impairment Charges
General News3 days agoBurna Boy Distances Himself from Meme Coin, Labels Crypto as Fraud
Telecom3 days agoPAT Taps Osi as CEO
E-Financial3 days agoAfrica Launches PAPSSCARD, First Pan-African Card Scheme