Flutterwave, leading financial technology (fintech) company, has sought the support of President Bola Tinubu as it plans to list its shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
Mr Olugbenga Agboola, and President Tinubu
At a meeting with President Tinubu at the weekend, Mr Olugbenga Agboola, chief executive of the firm, said Flutterwave has been a star of Nigeria on the global scene.
According to him, the company has made it easy for citizens to pay for some global services with Naira and provided payment platforms for Nigerians in the diaspora who are willing to send money to families and relatives in the country.
He said Flutterwave, valued at over $3 billion, is a Nigerian export and brand employing over 1,000 Nigerians.
In his response, Mr Tinubu promised to support the firm and other fintechs providing payment infrastructure services for Nigerians and Africans.
He said Nigeria is genuinely open to business, and as President, he is determined to remove all obstacles to allow companies to thrive, commending Flutterwave’s commitment to building capacity in the digital economy sector, especially as it is being made possible by energetic, young Nigerians.
President Tinubu said he was honoured to be the President of a country with such a youthful and resourceful population, saying what Flutterwave provides in the digital world is what Nigeria needs today to grow its economy and make life easier for most of its population.
Also speaking, Mr Wale Edun, minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the Economy, said Flutterwave has made significant progress since its establishment 10 years ago.
He further said it has created jobs and helped diversify the economy by providing innovative digital platforms and payment services in Nigeria and across Africa.
On his part, Mr Armstrong Ume Takang, chief executive of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), said that as Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria must demonstrate its economic prowess by strategically positioning products and services by Nigerian companies, such as Flutterwave, in the homes of all Africans.
Mr Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, chief executive of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), noted that Flutterwave spends millions of dollars monthly on hosting services, but that money goes to other countries, suggesting supporting Galaxy Backbone’s hosting services to enable it to handle companies like Flutterwave.
Flutterwave, a leading Fintech company founded by young Nigerians and headquartered in Lagos, operates in the US, Canada, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, and 29 other African countries.
Also present at the meeting with President Tinubu was Ms Oluseun Olufemi-White, chief executive of Alami Capital.