The Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) has reaffirmed its leadership role in advancing the country’s financial technology ecosystem by convening regulators, innovators, investors, and policy advocates at the Nigeria FinTech Week 2025 in Lagos.

Held under the theme “Orchestrating the Future of Finance,” the event underscored the need for collaboration between innovation and regulation to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable financial system.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, FintechNGR President, Dr. Stanley Jacob, said the fintech sector has evolved from a fragmented collection of startups into a unified ecosystem driving Nigeria’s economic transformation.

“The fintech ecosystem is no longer a collection of startups working in silos,” Jacob said. “It is a movement of innovators, regulators, investors, and educators working together to transform Nigeria’s economy. Collaboration is the rhythm that sustains our symphony of progress.”

Jacob highlighted the association’s Policy Innovation Agenda and capacity-building programmes, as well as plans to expand the Nigeria FinTech Week to other African cities. He added that FintechNGR now represents over 600 member institutions, including banks, technology companies, universities, and investment firms a testament to the sector’s growing maturity.

Representing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, the Director of Payment System Supervision, Yusuf Rakiya Opeyemi, reaffirmed the apex bank’s commitment to responsible innovation anchored on trust and consumer protection.

“The Central Bank embraces responsible innovation,” Opeyemi said. “We provide space for creativity while safeguarding financial stability. Regulatory compliance is not an obstacle but a precondition for sustainable growth.”

He urged fintech founders to see regulators as partners rather than obstacles, stressing that “innovation thrives where there is trust a trusted business is a sustainable business.”

From a continental perspective, President of the Africa Fintech Network (AFN), Dr. Segun Aina, called for harmonised fintech regulations across African markets to enable startups to scale beyond national boundaries.

“Africa cannot compete globally if its fintech innovators remain confined by fragmented national regulations,” Aina said, revealing that AFN is developing a cross-border licensing framework to allow fintechs to operate in multiple jurisdictions with a single approval.

Dr. Jameelah Sharrief-Ayedun, CEO of CreditRegistry and Chairperson of the Nigeria FinTech Week Committee, emphasised that fintech progress must be inclusive and human-centred.

“Fintech is not just about innovation; it is about inclusion,” she said. “As we adopt AI, blockchain, and open banking, we must ensure these innovations serve real human needs, protect data, and inspire confidence.”

First Bank Group Executive, Callistus Obetta, lauded fintech’s role in expanding financial access through mobile technology but cautioned that growing cybersecurity threats could undermine public trust if left unchecked.

“In the new world of banking, trust is the currency that underpins everything else,” Obetta noted.

Now in its ninth year, Nigeria FinTech Week hosted by FintechNGR in partnership with the CBN, AFN, and key ecosystem players — has become one of Africa’s most influential fintech gatherings, attracting participants from over 20 countries.

Through sustained dialogue and collaboration, FintechNGR continues to position Nigeria as a continental leader in digital finance, driving a future where innovation, regulation, and inclusion harmonise to power long-term economic growth.