May 01, (THEWILL) — United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration between banks and fintechs across Africa, following the successful hosting of its inaugural Fintech Conference themed “Navigating Regulatory Milestones: The Future of Bank–Fintech Partnerships.”
The conference brought together over 20 leading fintechs and key ecosystem stakeholders, including PalmPay, OPay, PayAza, Mastercard, Visa, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, and representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Conversations centred on regulation, innovation, security, and the future of payments across the continent.
Opening the event, UBA’s Executive Director of Digital Banking, Emmanuel Lamptey, emphasised the need to move beyond rivalry. He noted that the future lies in collaboration, where banks’ scale, trust, and regulatory expertise combine with fintechs’ agility to drive broader financial inclusion.
Peter Ehizogie of Mastercard highlighted Nigeria’s payments evolution as both an opportunity and a risk, noting that each wave of innovation, from instant payments to artificial intelligence, demands stronger collaboration to ensure sustainable growth.
Seyi Ebenezer, CEO of PayAza, stressed urgency, stating that removing barriers between banks and fintechs is critical to achieving scale quickly.
UBA also showcased its digital strides, with Head of Mobile Banking, Gideon Iheama, outlining enhancements to Leo, its AI-powered assistant, which now enables conversational transactions and supports transfers up to ₦5 million, including foreign currency operations.
Closing the event, Head of Digital Banking Sales, Shamsideen Fashola, underscored the rising importance of cybersecurity, describing it as “AI versus AI” in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
The conference ended with a unified call for deeper collaboration to drive financial inclusion and long-term growth.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
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