E-Financial
FintechNGR, Africa Fintech Network Call for Enhanced Collaboration and Innovation on Cross-Border Payments and Remittances
In a continued effort to drive innovation and collaboration within the fintech sector, the Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR), in partnership with the Africa Fintech Network (AFN), hosted an impactful webinar on August 20, 2024.
The event, themed “Scaling Cross-Border Payments and Remittances,” brought together industry leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities in advancing cross-border financial transactions.
The webinar, which had average of about 200 participants, featured key insights from seasoned practitioners and experts from across Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The dialogue covered the opportunities and challenges to scaling cross-border payments to boost livelihood and intra-Africa trade as well as trade between Africa and the rest of the world; leveraging the development in fintech and wider digital finance space.
Opening the event, Jacqualine Jumah, Director of Advocacy and Capacity Development at AfricaNenda, highlighted key trends in payment volumes across Africa.
She noted that the continent has witnessed a significant surge in digital payment volumes, driven by increased mobile penetration and the adoption of fintech solutions.
However, she cautioned that while the growth is encouraging, the continent must address infrastructural and regulatory challenges to sustain this upward trajectory.
On the pressing issues of fraud, data privacy, and the need for strategic partnerships across Africa; Abiodun Animashaun, Country Director of Chipper Cash, emphasized the critical need for robust anti-fraud measures in cross-border transactions.
He highlighted that the success of these measures relies heavily on global collaboration between the private and public sectors, stressing that this cooperation is essential for enhancing the security and efficiency of cross-border payments.
Similarly, Paul Li, President Hong Kong Fintech Industry Association, addressed the challenges posed by varying privacy laws on the international transfer of data.
He noted that while technology such as AI can significantly aid in fraud prevention, the infrastructure required for such solutions is often hampered by these regulatory differences.
Li, called for a more unified approach at the governmental level to facilitate smoother data transfers, suggesting that mobile based solutions and blockchain technology could offer more streamlined and secure alternatives for managing digital identities.
The event also shed light on the importance of strategic partnerships for financial institutions looking to expand across the African continent.
Ho Chee Wai, Lead Consultant at JFourth Solutions based in Singapore, advocated for collaboration with established players in target markets, noting that such partnerships are crucial for easing the complexities associated with regional expansion.
He emphasized that such alliances are not only beneficial for entering new markets but are also vital for accelerating the setup and operation of financial services across Africa.
Furthermore, the discussion highlighted the potential of a unified digital identity system in Africa. The panelists explored the use of mobile phones and biometric information to create blockchain-based ID tokens, which could significantly streamline Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.
They suggested this approach would be more efficient and secure compared to traditional ID methods, which often face significant logistical challenges.
Reflecting on the relevance of traditional platforms such as SWIFT, questions were raised as to the true benefits for intra-Africa trade given challenges such as the need for settlement in non-African currencies and the associated volatility in African currencies; significant declined in correspondent banking relationship between Africa and advanced economies; and the relatively high transaction costs.
The view held was that fintech solutions, specifically tailored to the African context, might offer more effective and innovative alternatives.
On the issue of cyber fraud and insurance, Animashaun pointed out the difficulties fintech companies face in obtaining affordable coverage, attributing this to the limited anti-fraud infrastructure.
He noted that insurance companies often struggle to offer reasonable rates, necessitating case-by-case negotiations by fintech firms.
Overall, the webinar underscored the need for continued dialogue, collaboration, and innovation to overcome the challenges in cross-border payments and remittances. It also set the stage for further discussions on blockchain technology, which will be explored in more depth during the upcoming Nigeria Fintech Week in October 2024.
These initiatives reaffirm FintechNGR and Africa Fintech Network’s commitment to fostering an innovation-driven environment not only in Nigeria, but across the entire Africa fintech ecosystem. By leveraging technology and strategic collaborations, both organizations continue to play a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency, security, and accessibility in the financial services sector.
Fidelity Bank Plc has recorded gross earnings of N315.4bn for the first quarter ended 31 March 2025, representing a 64.2 per cent increase from the N192.1bn reported in the corresponding period in 2024.
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director and chief executive officer, Fidelity Bank,
According to the bank’s unaudited financial statements filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited, the impressive performance was driven by significant growth in interest income, foreign exchange revaluation gains, and higher fee and commission income.
Interest and similar income calculated using the effective interest rate method rose by 58.1 per cent to N256.1bn in the period under review, up from N161.9bn in the same quarter of 2024.
Additionally, the bank earned N25.4bn from other interest and similar income, compared to N8.2bn in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
Despite a 28.5 per cent increase in interest expense to N90.7bn from N70.5bn, net interest income climbed to N190.8bn, reflecting a 91.5 per cent growth from N99.6bn in the same quarter last year.
Fidelity Bank recorded a credit loss expense of N6.3bn, a decline of 49.2 per cent compared to the N12.4bn reported in Q1 2024. Consequently, net interest income after credit loss expense rose to N184.5bn from N87.3bn.
The bank also saw growth in its non-interest income. Fee and commission income increased to N23.8bn, up from N18.3bn in Q1 2024.
Foreign currency revaluation gains contributed N9.8bn to earnings, representing a 200.8 per cent increase from N3.3bn in the same period last year.
On the cost side, operating expenses remained elevated. Personnel expenses rose to N19.7bn from N14bn, while depreciation, amortisation, and impairment increased significantly to N8.7bn from N2.2bn. Other operating expenses also grew to N87.5bn from N52bn.
Despite the cost pressures, the bank posted a profit before income tax of N105.8bn, more than doubling the N39.5bn recorded in the same period last year. After a tax charge of N14.7bn, profit for the period stood at N91.1bn, marking a 190 per cent increase compared to N31.4bn reported in Q1 2024.
Earnings per share rose to 181 kobo from 98 kobo in the corresponding quarter.
The bank’s total comprehensive income for the period rose to N101.6bn, up from N35.8bn in Q1 2024, bolstered by exchange differences on translation of foreign operations and revaluation gains on debt instruments.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has uncovered another suspected illegal investment platform identified as TOFRO.COM (Tofro).
The commission raised the alarm in a notice issued on Thursday and made it available to the newsmen.
The commission warned Nigerians against falling for their tactics to obtain money from them through the promise of unusually high returns.
SEC said that the suspected investment platform holds itself out as a cryptocurrency trading platform, adding that such an investment scheme is not registered by the commission.
It said that based on its investigations, Tofro’s operations exhibit the typical indicators of a fraudulent Ponzi scheme.
According to the SEC, it promises unusually high returns, heavy reliance on a referral system to sustain payouts, and failure to honour withdrawal requests from subscribers.
SEC, however, strongly advised Nigerians to be wary about investing with Tofro, noting that any person who places such an investment with the entity does so at their own risk.
The notice reads, “The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission has been drawn to the activities of an online platform known as TOFRO.COM (Tofro), which holds itself out as a cryptocurrency trading platform.
“The Commission hereby informs the public that the Tofro is NOT REGISTERED by the Commission either to solicit investments from the public or operate in any other capacity within the Nigerian capital market.
“Investigations have revealed that Tofro’s operations exhibit the typical indicators of a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, including the promise of unusually high returns, heavy reliance on a referral system to sustain pay-outs and failure to honour withdrawal requests from subscribers.
“Accordingly, the public is strongly advised to be wary about investing with Tofro, as any person who places such investment with the entity does so at his/her own risk.
“The Commission similarly reminds potential investors of the need to VERIFY the registration status of investment platforms via the Commission’s dedicated portal: www.sec.gov.ng/cmos before transacting with them.”
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has received shareholders’ approval to invest $2.5 million or 25% equity stake in the proposed Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YIB) — a new investment vehicle designed to provide equity funding to youth-led businesses in Nigeria.
The approval came during the bank’s 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held in Abuja.
The move is a strategic step aligned with the bank’s broader mission to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), job creation and entrepreneurship among Nigeria’s youth.
According to Tony Okpanachi, DBN Managing Director, Youth Entrepreneurship Investment (YIB) is not a conventional bank. It is an investment vehicle that will deploy equity into promising youth-owned enterprises.
“This is about backing ideas and unlocking growth through long-term capital — not debt,” Okpanachi told journalists after the AGM.
The initiative is a partnership between DBN, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), with additional backing expected from development finance institutions.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is currently in discussion to provide debt financing, which would bolster the capital available to the vehicle without diluting equity.
“This $2.5 million is DBN’s initial stake,” Okpanachi said. “We are co-investing alongside NSIA, and this sets the stage for broader institutional participation — both local and global.”
YIB aims to fill a critical funding gap in Nigeria’s startup ecosystem. While the country has a vibrant pool of young entrepreneurs, access to early-stage funding remains limited. Many businesses rely on short-term loans or informal capital, which often constrains scalability and long-term planning.
Okpanachi emphasised that YIB’s structure is deliberately designed to avoid the trappings of a traditional bank.
“This is not a commercial bank. It won’t provide loans or open retail accounts. It’s structured purely as an equity-focused investment vehicle, targeting scalable ventures with strong fundamentals and youth ownership”, he noted.
This will be DBN’s second strategic investment following the establishment of its wholly owned impact credit guarantee subsidiary, which offers partial credit guarantees to MSMEs.
Final structuring of YIB is underway. Following the shareholder greenlight, the promoters are now coordinating with the relevant stakeholders to complete incorporation, legal frameworks, and capital mobilisation.
“We expect all groundwork to be finalised by the end of this year. With operations likely to begin by early 2026,” Okpanachi disclosed.
The move comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s rising youth unemployment rate.
By investing directly into youth-led businesses, DBN and its partners aim to accelerate job creation, promote innovation, and catalyse broader economic development.
“There’s already strong interest from global players,” the MD noted, though he declined to name institutions due to ongoing negotiations.
“What we are doing is laying the foundation. YIB will serve as a credible, well-structured platform to crowd in institutional capital and scale youth-driven entrepreneurship.”
He added that YIB is not a one-off initiative but part of a long-term strategy to create sustainable investment channels focused on Nigeria’s demographic dividend.
“This is more than a financial transaction,” Okpanachi said. “It is a statement of intent. We believe in the entrepreneurial potential of Nigerian youth — and we are backing that belief with real capital.”
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