News
Austin Okere to Keynote as Tunde Coker Chairs MoDiTECH 2019
Mr. Austin Okere, Founder & Vice Chairman, CWG Plc, will present the keynote at the maiden edition of Mobile & Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH 2019) holding on October 24, 2019 in Lagos State, Nigeria.
ModiTECH’19 is being organised by TechEconomy.ng in collaboration with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, as a platform for inter-sectorial review of economic impacts of technologies; giving particular attention to the disruptive potentials of emerging solutions supported by the Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Robotics, FinTechs and mobile phone economy around retail and service provision
The event under the theme: “The Power of Digital Services”, holds at Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel (VCP), 292B, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos under the chairman of the Managing Director of Rack Centre, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, while the Chairman, Connect Technologies & Africa Chair for IEEE, Chris Uwaje (Oracle), is the co-chairman and will moderate a session on digital disruptions.
Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications, is the special guest of honour. Other special invitees expected at the Forum are Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director General of the National Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Tony Ojobo, the President, African ICT Foundation (AfICTF), Mr. Muhammed Rudman, President of NiRA, among others.
Other speakers include, Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale, the Co-Founder/COO, Digital Encode; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, Co-founder/CTO, Digital Encode; Dr. Babatunde Obrima, the Chief Operating Officer, FinTech Association of Nigeria (FinTechngr); Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder Rise Labs; Debbie Michael, Nigeria’s First AI powered Learning, Research & Work Readiness Centre; Engr. Frank Ogochukwu, Chief Technology Strategist, Consulting & Board Member Global Advisory Council, EC-Council; Tunde Ogungbade, Managing Director of Global Accelerex Limited, amongst others.
The Keynote Speaker
Mr. Okere is a respected personality in the Nigerian IT/ICT industry, Africa and indeed the world. He is also the Entrepreneur in Residence, Ausso Leadership Academy. Austin is a member of the World Economic Forum Business Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship.
He serves on the Board of the National Competiveness Council of Nigeria and Initiative for Global Development.
He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria.
Austin is a graduate of Computer Science from the University of Lagos and holds an MBA degree from the International Graduate School of Management (IESE), Navara, Spain. He possesses an unprecedented flair for visioning, strategy and branding.
He is a member of several professional and leadership bodies, including ICT Advisory Board, Nigerian Competitive Council and Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce.
Austin has been recognized and honored locally and internationally with many awards in recognition of his contribution to the Information and Communications Technology world. He was named ICT Personality of the year 2014 by the Nigerian Computer Society and ICT Man of the Decade by ICT Watch Africa Digital Network in 2012.
His most recent recognitions are; 2016 NCS Presidential Award for promotion of ICT in Nigeria, Announced as member of the Global Business School Network Advisory Board and was named as one of Nigeria’s Top 50 Tech-Titans at the Titan of Tech Awards 2016.
He is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Legatum Centre as well as Columbia University, New York.
Chairman of the occasion
Dr Ayotunde Coker has over 30 years’ international experience across Europe, USA, Asia and Africa. He was born in Nigeria, went to school in Lagos, and university in the UK.
His distinguished career of 28 years in the UK, included roles as Management Consultant Cap Gemini UK, Director Egg Bank the first European Internet Bank, Global Applications Director BP, CTO UK Criminal Justice, IT Director, Ministry of Justice.
He returned to Nigeria in 2009 as Group CIO of Access Bank, and then MD/CEO of Emerging Markets Payments, West Africa. As MD/CEO, he has led Rack Centre to become a household name in Nigeria, leading brand in Africa with global recognition and numerous international awards. He is Secretary General of the Africa Data Centre Association.
He is an award-winning post graduate alumnus of Cranfield Institute of Technology UK, Fellow Institute of Directors (UK), Fellow British Computer Society, Honorary Senior Member Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
He holds a PhD (Honoris Causa) by ESCAE University, Republic of Benin.
He was recently identified in the Power 200: The Worlds Most Influential Data Economy Leaders by the Data Economy Magazine in the UK
MoDiTECH 2019
The Forum sponsored by Digital Encode, Global Accelerex, Medallion Communications and hosts of others has been endorsed by, ATCON, InnovationBed Africa and ALTON, FinTechNgr and AfICT.
It will feature C-Level executives including CEOs/CFOs/CROs/CCO/CIO; Directors and Heads of trading, operations, research, analytics, investment, strategy, digital, compliance, risk and data analysts; and senior regulators and policymakers; drawn from the FMCGs, Financial Industry including Fintechs, Banks, Insurance Companies, etc., AgriTech, Logistics, Cyber security companies, amongst others.
Interested corporate/individual participants can register via next.techeconomy.ng or contact the organisers via email: [email protected] : Chike – 08033800291 or Peter- 08184346261 for sponsorship and exhibition space reservation.
News
Africhange Secures IMTO Licence to Streamline Remittance to Nigeria
Africhange, a cross-border remittance service provider, announced today that its Nigerian subsidiary, Currenzo, has secured the International Money Transfer Operator [IMTO] licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN].
This strategic move significantly improves Africhange’s ability to facilitate inward remittances for immigrants and diaspora communities sending money to Nigeria.
Nigeria remains one of the largest recipients of remittances in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief, in 2023 alone, remittance to Nigeria accounted for 38% of the region’s $54 billion total.
For many Nigerian individuals, these funds are essential for education, healthcare, and daily living, making accessible and cost-effective remittance solutions vital. With the IMTO licence, Africhange is positioned to deliver a trusted service that improves access to much-needed financial support across borders.
Founded in 2020, Africhange has achieved impressive growth as a fully bootstrapped company, serving over 200,000 users globally and facilitating more than 2 million successful transactions. Operating in over 100 countries—including Canada, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Australia—Africhange offers an extensive range of currencies and services that simplify international money transfers.
By leveraging advanced technology, the platform minimizes the cost and complexity of cross-border transactions, enhancing the immigrant experience and supporting communities, especially those of African descent.
After four years of deep market understanding, maximizing unit economics, and reaching cash flow positivity, Africhange is now poised to raise funds in the coming year to fuel rapid expansion and bring its impactful solutions to even more users worldwide.
The new IMTO licence allows Africhange to manage inward remittances directly into Nigeria without relying on intermediaries. By removing third-party involvement, this capability enables partnerships with local banks, streamlining payment processes and lowering costs for customers.
Furthermore, the company can offer better rates and faster services for Africans living on the continent and abroad. Africhange is dedicated to maintaining the highest compliance standards with regulatory requirements across all markets, ensuring that customer transactions are secure and transparent.
David Ajala, CEO of Africhange, stated: “As an immigrant-founded company, we understand first-hand that sending and receiving money across borders is a key part of daily life for our users, who are immigrants of African descent. Securing the IMTO licence allows us to offer a faster, more affordable way for people to support their loved ones back home.
For Africhange, it means we’re stepping into a new era where we can empower both individuals and businesses to make seamless, direct transactions in Nigeria. We’re excited about the doors this opens to bring greater impact to the lives of the communities we serve.”
With a strong track record of success, Africhange has established partnerships with three Nigerian banks and is actively seeking to expand these relationships. It also has a reliable settlement partner in Nigeria, ensuring secure processing for local transactions. Building on this partnership alongside the IMTO licence.
Tega Gabriel, Head of Growth of Africhange, added: “This IMTO licence acquired from the CBN brings incredible opportunities to form direct partnerships with Nigerian banks and other international money transfer operators.
“Connecting directly with local partners lets us speed up transactions and improve the remittance experience for our users sending money to Nigeria. As we scale, these partnerships will strengthen our reach across Nigeria and beyond, bringing us closer to our vision of accessible financial services for the global diaspora.”
The licence acquisition follows Africhange’s recent expansion to the UK and builds on the licences already acquired in its Canadian and UK markets, intending to strengthen its service offerings. Looking ahead, the money transfer platform is preparing to launch operations in the US and EU markets, further scaling its footprint in the remittance sector and reinforcing its position as a leader in cross-border financial services.
News
How Hackers Manipulated, Stole N622m from Interswitch within Minutes- Police
Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has heard how Daniel Ikeoha and Sylvester Ebeta, two alleged hackers, manipulated Interswitch Nigeria Limited’s Payment Gateway switch and siphoned N622 million within minutes.
Police intelligence operatives from Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos State, who later uncovered the two alleged, arraigned before Justice Bogoro for causing multiple fraudulent transfers and withdrawals of N622 million from various bank accounts of other customers to their own accounts.
Justice Bogoro, the presiding judge, ordered both Daniel and Sylvester remanded in the Ikoyi facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), after they pleaded not guilty to the charges of alleged conspiracy, hacking into the Interswitch’s server and unlawful conversion/taking possession of proceeds of an unlawful acts.
The offences which contravened Sections 27(1)(b) and 14(1)of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024, read along with Section 14(1) of the same Act.
The offence also contravened Section 18(2)(b)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Justine Enang, the prosecutor and a chief superintendent of police at the Legal Department of PSFU, Ikoyi, Lagos, alleged that the defendants and others at large have between January 2022 and October 12, 2023, conspired among themselves to commit illegal acts.
Enang told the Court that the two defendants and others at large, unlawfully suppressed the Interswitch Payment Gateway Merchants to interchange the system switch and caused multiple fraudulent transfers and withdrawals of N622 million, from various bank accounts of other customers to their own accounts.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants wired the N622 million to their under-listed banks and accounts: Kuda Microfinance Bank, account no. 2012900334; UBA Plc, account no. 2259918436; Zenith Bank Plc, account no, 225135546; Eco Bank Nigeria Limited, account no. 4360057510 and 4360057503; GTB Plc account nos. 0025473624, 0560512839; FCMB, account nos. 7358218027, 7358218010; Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, account no. 5397559320; GTB Plc, account no. 0167915358; Stalonvee Concept, Stalonvee Concept, account no. 6397559320, 5397602542 and Zenith Bank Plc, account no. 240753383.
- S. Hart, their lawyer, informed the court that she had two applications before the Court for the Court to determine.
She told the court that the first application is challenging the court’s jurisdiction in entertaining the charges against her client, because her clients have been charged before a magistrate court. Hence, the charges against them before the Court was an abuse of court process.
She also told the Court that the second application is the bail application of her clients.
In response, the prosecutor told the Court that the charge before the Magistrate Court has been withdrawn.
On the application for bail, the prosecutor told the court that he has responded to same, by filing a counter-affidavit.
Based on the submissions of the parties, Justice Bogoro ordered parties to move the bail application. And upon taking arguments on the bail application, Justice Bogoro adjourned ruling till 14th November, 2024, while ordering that the two defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending when the bail application will be determined.
News
Standard Chartered, BII Renew $350 million Commitment to Support Trade Finance in Emerging Markets
Standard Chartered, a leading international cross-border bank, and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution (DFI) and impact investor, announce the signing of a USD350 million risk participation agreement. This facility aims to bolster the trade finance needs of SMEs and corporates across Africa and South Asia and to boost economic growth in these regions.
Since the initial agreement in 2013, Standard Chartered and British International Investment have enabled over USD10 billion in trade volumes in over 10 countries across Africa and South Asia including Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. In the past year, approximately USD450 million of trade has been supported via this facility.
The renewed facility will cover an expanded number of dynamic markets and seek to provide much needed support in trade and economic growth in Africa and South Asia by further enabling trade finance access and liquidity across Standard Chartered’s extensive global network. It will support many sectors such as food, agriculture, healthcare, industrials, metals infrastructure, electrical, electronics, technology, telecom and mobility to name a few.
The facility also supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals of Decent Work & Economic Growth (UN SDG 8), Industry Innovation & infrastructure (UN SDG 9), Responsible Consumption & Production (UN SDG 12).
The UK’s Development Minister Anneliese Dodds said: “I am delighted to see BII and Standard Chartered renew their facility to deliver trade finance throughout Africa and South Asia. This is an important partnership that will support SMEs and corporates to grow and deliver critical goods and services.
“Trade plays an important role in economic transformation, and this risk-sharing facility demonstrates how BII can work with financial institutions to support our shared development objectives.”
Nick O’Donohoe, CEO, BII, said: “We are proud of the positive impact that this long-standing trade finance facility with Standard Chartered has had in Africa and South Asia. By enabling over $10bn in trade volumes, the facility continues to empower businesses and facilitate the vital flow of essential goods and services including food and healthcare.
This is pivotal in supporting economic growth and creating new opportunities in these regions. It is also a step closer to narrowing the global trade finance gap.”
Saif Malik, CEO, UK and Head of Banking & Coverage, UK, Standard Chartered said: “We are thrilled to renew our commitment to work with BII in support of trade. As a leading international banking group, we play a vital role in enhancing access to the capital and liquidity that is essential for global trade.
This strategic agreement will provide significant support to businesses with high potential but constrained access to finance. It aligns to our vision of the role that banking and finance can play in supporting the growth ambitions of corporations that innovate for the future by connecting the world’s most dynamic markets in trade, investment and capital flows.
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