Oceanic Bank Supports Aitec Conference

Oceanic Bank has confirmed platinum sponsorship of this year’s Banking & Payment Technologies West Africa Conference, scheduled for 4-6 May at the Muson centre, Lagos.
In addition, Dr. Cecilia Ibru, the bank’s CEO, will make the opening welcome address on the first day of the conference, which will focus on “Transforming Access to Finance through Branchless Banking.” The first day will be hosted by a consortium of agencies promoting the extension of banking services to the unbanked through mobile technology and other innovations.
These organisations include Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA), supported by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the MSME Project which is a joint pilot of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank and the global microfinance body Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) based at the World Bank. .
The conference, according to the organizers, will highlight technologies used by pioneering organizations in the financial services industry, including microfinance organizations, to reduce costs and reach new customers.
It will enable Nigeria’s financial services sector to gain knowledge and experience from over 50 local and international experts, including speakers from as far away as South Africa, Peru and the Philippines, all of which have pioneered innovative mobile banking systems.
Confirming their sponsorship of the event, Dr. Ibru congratulated the hosts of the event on the world-class programme they have lined up. “ Oceanic is proud to be associated with such a leading-edge conference, which has such a valuable role to play in educating the market on the opportunities and risks presented by Nigeria’s roll-out of mobile banking services. Oceanic remains the country’s leading innovator applying information technology to maximise the reach and the quality of our services across the country and our support for this event demonstrates our commitment to maintaining this leading position in the market – as well as supporting the development of the market by supporting an educational event of this high calibre.”
Sean Moroney, chairman of Aitec Africa, the organisers of the event, welcomed Oceanic’s sponsorship, emphasizing the role the conference will play in helping the country’s banks and mobile operators to select best technologies and practices as they roll out mobile and other new banking channels.
“Nigeria represents an untapped market of over 100 million unbanked who over the coming five years will be able to access financial services via their mobile phones. Banks and mobile operators need to prepare for the explosion of demand there will be for mobile banking services. Our conference will have a crucial role to play in preparing the market for this explosion and we are pleased to be partnering with Oceanic International bank and our other sponsors to maximise the positive impact of the conference,” he said.
The event includes an exhibition, where Oceanic will be demonstrating its own technological innovations, together with over 30 other financial service suppliers and innovators.
A branchless banking innovation hub at the exhibition, sponsored by EFInA, will provide a facility for SMEs involved in innovative applications in financial services to demonstrate their products and meet major players in the industry.
In another development, Aitec has confirmed Pia Roman, head of the Inclusive Finance Advocacy Staff of the Central Bank of the Philippines (CBP), as one of the speakers on the first day of this year’s conference.
She is involved in the overall microfinance programme within the Philippines Central Bank, specifically in the areas of policy, supervision and regulation, capacity building, advocacy and promotion as well as donor relations. The IFAS also handles broader issues of access to finance including credit information systems, product innovations and the application of technology in service delivery, among others. 
Roman previously worked for a microfinance NGO in New York, and a savings and credit organization in Nepal. She will be bringing unparalleled experience and knowledge to share with colleagues in the Nigerian financial sector; along with over 50 local and international banking experts who would provide a consummate educational programme over the three days of the conference.