African’s Finance future Will Be Decided Locally….Moniepoint CEO

• Champions Financial Inclusion

By Bonny Amadi

Against the backdrop of long-standing overbearing foreign influence on Africa’s finance, Africans would soon begin championing the continent’s financial latitude.

Towards this direction, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to financial inclusion as the cornerstone of its business, declaring that its mission goes beyond growing market share, to transforming lives across Nigeria and Africa as well as help chart the continent’s finance future direction.

Speaking at the 2025 annual conference of Finance Correspondent Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Lagos on Saturday, the bank’s Chief Executive, Babatunde Olofin, said that Africa’s driven economic direction would be propelled by technology.

He however stressed that for technology to truly catalyse economic development, three pillars “trust, talent, and literacy” must be prioritised:

The CEO emphasised that Africa’s financial future will not be scripted in Silicon Valley but determined by homegrown solutions, regulatory oversight, and informed journalism.

“At Moniepoint, we are not just interested in growing the market. We are committed to transformation. Everyone can bank on technology as a force for good,” he concluded.

The theme of this year’s FICAN conference ‘’Bracing for the Digital Economy in Nigeria: Taxation, Banking and Finance,’ brought together experts and stakeholders across the key finance sector of Africa’s largest economy, among whom was Moniepoint boss.

Olofin who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Bamigho Awala, said that financial inclusion, makes possible, what hitherto seemed impossible.

“That is the power of access. That is the meaning of inclusion,” the CEO declared. “Financial services should mean only one thing: progress.”

According to him Moniepoint’s new campaign, “We’re Made for Your Progress,” reflects its broader mission to power the dreams of Africans by using technology to provide speed, trust, and simplicity in financial transactions.

He stressed that the digital economy is not a distant prospect but a lived reality, underpinned by tools such as mobile connectivity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

Yet, for technology to truly catalyse development, three pillars must be prioritised: trust, talent, and literacy.

Moniepoint, he noted, is investing heavily in these areas. Its “Dream Developments” incubator trains young Nigerians to build financial solutions, while the company also champions financial literacy as a safeguard against exclusion and misinformation. “Without knowledge,” he warned, “we are building on sand.”

Beyond banking transactions, Moniepoint is extending its solutions into areas such as inventory management for small retailers, enabling mom-and-pop shops to track stock and improve profitability. The bank is also documenting local case studies to better understand regional economies, including livestock and crop markets in Northern Nigeria.