Electronic Payment Providers Association (EPPAN) has reiterated the need for Nigeria to upgrade its infrastructure ahead of the boom in ePayments in the country, even as it stressed that more enlightenment was still required to boost the scheme.
Mrs. Onajite Regha, executive secretary/chief executive officer of EPPAN, was of the said that the scheme was fast gaining acceptance across the country, despite the present challenges.
In a related development, EPPAN in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States is set to host the fourth yearly Payment Systems and Fraud Conference for West Africa 2013.
The conference, according to a statement, has been endorsed by the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems and Interswitch Nigeria Limited, SecureID Limited, Diamond Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc sponsor it.
Regha, who’s team just returned from a sensitisation programme of the new six states for the cash-less economy initiative, including Abia, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun, Kano and the FCT, Abuja for the cash-less economy scheme, noted that virtually all those that were sensitised showed eagerness for the scheme.
To her, the success of the scheme rest on improved infrastructure, “strategies must be developed to ensure that all loopholes are blocked, especially in the areas of infrastructure and sensitisation. All the players involve, especially the telecommunications operators must support this scheme.”
The conference also has the support of Citiserve Limited and Itex Integrated Services Limited and will be held in Lagos by November 5 this year.
The theme for this year’s conference is: “Contemporary Fraud Issues with Cash-less Society: The Way Forward.”
Invited speakers for this year’s conference are Trustee, Electronic – Payment Providers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, Director of Operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olaolu Adegbite (CSP), Director, Banking and Payment Systems, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, Head, Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum, Mr. Dosunmu Olabiyi among others.