Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has concluded the sixth edition of its flagship industry engagement series, TechConnect, with a grand finale at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Lagos event marked the culmination of a four-city tour that included engagements in Owerri, Abuja and Ibadan. It brought together stakeholders across the financial services, technology and business ecosystems to explore how financial infrastructure can evolve to support business growth and the next phase of digital commerce.
The series, themed “Built for What’s Next: Designing Adaptive Financial Infrastructure for a Dynamic Market,” provided a platform for discussions on emerging financial technologies, evolving business needs and the importance of secure, resilient and interoperable systems.
Speaking on the significance of TechConnect 6.0, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Payment Scheme and Network (Verve International) , said:
“Building for what’s next extends beyond just adopting new technologies tot creating financial infrastructure that can evolve with changing consumer expectations, support new business models and enable innovation without compromising the trust on which digital finance depends. As payments become increasingly digital and interconnected, we must continue to strengthen interoperability, security and resilience while creating room for new payment experiences that give consumers greater choice and businesses more flexibility.”
Robinta Aluyi, Chief Sales Officer, Interswitch, said TechConnect provides an important platform for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships and explore practical ways to advance Nigeria’s digital economy.
“TechConnect is about bringing stakeholders across the financial services, technology and business ecosystems together to share perspectives on the realities of our market, the opportunities ahead and the partnerships required to move the industry forward. As we conclude this year’s edition, the conversations across our four-city journey reinforce the need to build financial infrastructure that responds to changing business and consumer needs, supports innovation and creates a strong foundation for sustainable growth,” Aluyi said
The Lagos finale featured a panel discussion, “Adaptive Frameworks: Digital Financial Services in an Era of AI, Tokenization and Real-Time Payments,” which explored how emerging technologies are shaping financial services and the development of a more responsive digital economy. The discussion brought together industry representatives to examine the infrastructure, partnerships and capabilities needed to support evolving payment experiences.
A fireside chat, “Tokenization: The Next Chapter for Digital Payments,” examined the relevance of tokenisation to payment security, digital commerce and the future of card-based transactions. This was complemented by a live demonstration of a tokenised transaction, illustrating the technology’s application in digital payments.
The programme also featured an official announcement concerning Google’s entry into Nigeria and the roles of Interswitch, Verve and their partners, alongside an industry presentation by Kantar, “From the Queue to the Tap: Twenty Years of How Nigerians Pay.” It also included a showcase of Interswitch’s products and services, highlighting the role of integrated payment technologies in supporting businesses, financial institutions and consumers across an increasingly connected economy. An awards presentation also recognised outstanding performances by Interswitch partners.
Across its four stops, TechConnect 6.0 created opportunities for stakeholders in different markets to exchange perspectives on the evolving payments landscape, explore emerging opportunities and strengthen connections across the financial services and technology ecosystems.
With the Lagos finale, Interswitch brings this edition of TechConnect to a close, sustaining its focus on collaboration, innovation and the development of adaptive financial infrastructure. Through continued engagement with industry stakeholders, the company remains committed to advancing payment capabilities that support businesses, financial institutions and consumers as the digital economy evolves.
