Leading Pan-African payment solutions provider SeerBit has partnered with Spectranet, Nigeria’s pioneer 4G LTE broadband service provider to launch ExpressPay, a seamless, efficient and secure payment option designed to revolutionise internet access subscription and renewal.

Many internet users often endure service downtime after subscription renewal due to delayed payment processing. This recurring challenge, exacerbated by the absence of real-time payment validation, represents a major source of frustration for subscribers.

Furthermore, the inconvenience of manual payment options and overdependence on limited options such as cards or USSD deprives customers of flexibility and impacts satisfaction and loyalty.

Accessible to all customers with a bank account, ExpressPay is a game-changer in the digital payment landscape, addressing common challenges for internet users such as payment errors, manual reconciliation, and service activation delays. With ExpressPay, Spectranet customers are assigned unique virtual accounts, ensuring accurate payment processing, eliminating manual intervention, and enabling instant reflection of payments for uninterrupted internet connectivity.

With approximately 161.9 million active internet users in Nigeria as of January 2025, based on recent data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and growing dependence on internet access for participation in modern society, Express Pay will eliminate payment friction, ensuring customers can pay seamlessly for uninterrupted internet access.

Through this collaboration, Spectranet customers can unlock several benefits including eradication of payment errors as each customer is assigned a unique virtual account,ensuring payments are accurately matched to their subscriptions.

Also, payments are processed in real-time, eliminating delays and ensuring instant service activation and uninterrupted connectivity. Furthermore, via ExpressPay, Spectranet users can count on frictionless payment experience with manual verification no longer required, thereby reducing effort and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Equally important, this innovative solution delivers faster processing times, ultimately ushering in greater efficiency and convenience for users.

“Internet access is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for commerce, education, employment, healthcare access, leisure and other critical aspects of daily life,” said Omoniyi Kolade, Founder and CEO of SeerBit.

“Our partnership with Spectranet is more than transforming the subscription payments experience — it’s about delivering more value, ensuring customers stay connected without the stress of failed or delayed transactions and boosting Nigeria’s digital economy. Express Pay is the future of seamless internet subscription payments.”

Also speaking on the partnership, the Chief Operating Officer of Spectranet, Amrish Singhal said: “As a company dedicated to delivering reliable and seamless internet services, we are always innovating to enhance our customers’ experience.

“The launch of ExpressPay as a payment gateway is a bold step forward in our commitment to eliminating payment-related disruptions and ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for our subscribers.

“Our partnership with SeerBit reinforces this mission, enabling effortless, instant payments that make staying connected easier than ever.”

The launch of ExpressPay reinforces both SeerBit and Spectranet’s commitment to leveraging innovation to drive digital transformation and improve service delivery across Nigeria.

Customers can now enjoy a more reliable, accurate and efficient way to manage their internet subscriptions, ensuring a frictionless digital experience.

ExpressPay is accessible to Spectranet customers via https://selfcare.spectranet.com.ng/payment

Tizel Cybersecurity has urged firms in the financial sector to adopt advanced tools, partnerships, and training to stay ahead of artificial intelligence (AI-driven) fraud.

Happiness Obioha, Tizel Cybersecurity CEO

Happiness Obioha, the Chief Executive Officer, gave the advice while speaking on AI-powered identity theft and payment fraud, at the Payments Forum Nigeria [PAFON 2.0] held in Lagos, recently, she said the rapidly growing threat can no longer be ignored by businesses, especially those in the payment space.

She said while AI continues to transform the way people live and work, it also introduces new security vulnerabilities that threaten the very systems users aim to enhance.

Obioha referred to the latest Microsoft Cyber Signals report which highlighted a rise in AI-assisted scams targeting online shoppers using payments channels.

She warned that scammers are increasingly using AI to create more convincing fraudulent schemes.

In her words: “From deepfakes and synthetic identity fraud to real-time payment exploitation through bot attacks, cybercriminals are using AI to create smarter, more evasive fraud schemes. This is why security must be at the forefront of AI integration. Without a fortified environment, even the most innovative technologies risk becoming liabilities.

“At Tizel Cybersecurity, we’re not just observing this evolution—we’re actively shaping the future of secure innovation. We provide AI-driven security solutions that detect and prevent fraud in real-time, protect against identity theft, and ensure safe digital interactions across financial and business platforms.

“Our services include real-time threat detection and response, AI-based biometric authentication, fraud prevention using behavioral analytics, next-generation firewall and intrusion prevention systems, and comprehensive cybersecurity training designed to build a strong culture of security.

She further stated that Tizel Cybersecurity has readied its team to support businesses by delivering proactive, intelligent, and adaptable security infrastructures—“because staying ahead of cybercriminals is not a one-time effort; it’s a continuous journey”.

“As we leverage AI to drive inclusion and customer experience, let’s also prioritize security at every step. The question isn’t whether threats will come—it’s whether we’re prepared when they do”, she said.

As both a sponsor and participant at PAFON 2.0, she said they were excited to join industry leaders to explore the theme: “Bridging the Customer Experience Gap for Financial Inclusion Using AI.”

The Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON) is a platform for discussing and addressing issues related to the Nigerian payments ecosystem.

It’s a cross-industry event that brings together industry leaders, policymakers, fintech innovators, and other stakeholders to discuss topics like digital payments, cybersecurity, and financial inclusion.

Google has announced the global beta rollout of AI Max for Search Campaigns, an upgrade to its Search Ads platform that brings smarter, more intuitive advertising tools to businesses — including those in Africa — looking to grow, and expand their online presence.

This feature uses artificial intelligence to improve how ads are shown, helping local businesses connect with a larger customer base in the rapidly changing online environment.

This launch comes at a time when African businesses are navigating an increasingly digital economy. As more people across the continent turn to Search to make decisions — whether they’re looking for the nearest tailor in Yaba or comparing prices for solar panels in Nairobi — the opportunities for businesses to connect with local customers have never been greater. But reaching those customers, especially in a region as diverse and fast-evolving as Africa, isn’t always easy. That’s where AI Max steps in.

AI Max is designed to help businesses show up in more relevant searches, even when potential customers don’t use the exact words the business might expect. By drawing on the latest AI models, including Google’s Gemini technology, the feature allows businesses to expand their reach beyond traditional keyword targeting.

That means a small shop in Kumasi selling handmade bags can now appear in searches like “durable carryall for weekend travel” — even if the ad didn’t include those specific words.

“People are asking more specific questions on Search, and they expect more helpful answers,” said Brian Burdick, Senior Director of Search at Google.

“With AI Max, we’re using advanced AI to better understand those questions and help businesses show up at just the right moment — with content that’s more relevant, and more likely to help people find what they’re looking for.”

The new feature suite includes:

• Search term matching, which automatically finds new relevant queries that a business might not have thought of;

• Dynamic text customization, where ad copy updates in real-time to better match user intent;

• Final URL expansion, which directs customers to the most relevant page on a business’s website;

• And control settings, like location targeting and brand filters, that give advertisers more say in where and how their ads appear.

For African business owners — many of whom operate in crowded marketplaces with limited marketing budgets — these tools can make the difference between being discovered or being overlooked. The platform’s automation doesn’t just save time; it helps ensure that limited ad spend goes further by connecting businesses to higher-intent customers.

Results from early adopters globally are promising: businesses that activated AI Max in their campaigns saw an average 14% increase in conversions at a similar cost-per-action. For those still using more traditional targeting methods, like exact-match keywords, the uplift was even higher.

Crucially, this is not a new campaign type — it’s a setting within existing Search campaigns. That means African businesses can turn on AI Max and begin experimenting right away, without needing to start from scratch.

“We know many African entrepreneurs wear multiple hats. They’re managing stock, serving customers, and handling finances — often all at once,” said Burdick. “AI Max is about making their advertising work harder for them, not adding to their workload.”

This announcement also builds on Google’s broader efforts to support small and medium-sized businesses in Africa. Through training programs like the Hustle Academy and its ongoing digital skills initiatives, Google has helped millions of African entrepreneurs build the skills they need to succeed in a digital-first world.

With the launch of AI Max for Search Campaigns, those businesses now have an additional tool — one that not only understands their goals but helps them get there faster.

AI Max will begin rolling out in open beta globally — including in Africa — later this month.