Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has emphasised the importance of advancing inclusive payment systems that seamlessly connect businesses, the workforce, and government to drive the Africa’s economic transformation. This was highlighted by Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Group Managing Director, Interswitch, during his keynote address at the 2024 Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH) Conference, held recently at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.In his address, titled “The Impact of Globalization and the Gig Economy on Inclusive Payment Systems in Nigeria,” Elegbe noted that while fintech companies have made significant progress in enhancing financial inclusion, Nigeria’s full economic potential can only be unlocked when all stakeholders, including businesses, government, and fintech innovators, work together. He further emphasised the need to leverage their collective strengths to meet the evolving needs of Nigeria’s diverse and growing population through seamless, accessible, adaptable, and inclusive payment solutions. He said that such systems would drive widespread economic benefits.“The role of inclusive payment systems in Nigeria’s economic growth cannot be overstated. A collaborative approach involving businesses, workers, fintech companies, and the government will ensure that financial services are accessible to everyone, regardless of their location. This will create a financial ecosystem that supports growth, innovation, and inclusion across all sectors,” Elegbe stated.The conference featured a dynamic panel session titled “The Future of Cards,” where Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Interswitch Paytoken (Verve), discussed the evolution of card payment systems. He stressed the need for innovation to stay ahead of market trends, particularly in areas such as tokenisation and biometrics.According to Ogbunude: “The future of card schemes is evolving beyond the plastic we know today, moving towards tokenisation, biometrics, and other innovative payment methods. At Verve, we are committed to delivering seamless and world-class solutions that ensure our infrastructure and security protocols continue to adapt to these changes.”The event also highlighted a presentation by Olubunmi Aina, Vice President, Sales and Account Management, Interswitch, showcasing Verve cards’ global acceptance across platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Google, and AliExpress. Aina also spotlighted Interswitch’s expansion into key sectors, including transportation and healthcare, citing the Lagos SHIP initiative with the Lagos State Government as a testament to the company’s innovative approach.As Nigeria’s first unicorn, Interswitch continues to lead transformative changes across industries, creating user-centric solutions that enhance everyday experiences. The company’s sponsorship of CeBIH 2024 underscores its dedication to promoting robust payment ecosystems that empower individuals and businesses alike.By forging strategic partnerships, advocating progressive policies, and championing technological advancement, Interswitch is steadfast in its vision of a prosperous Africa driven by the seamless exchange of value and commerce.

L-R: Victor Oladipo, Breeder, Seed-Co Nigeria; Dr Sunday Aladele, Director Research, NACGRAB; Agboade Oladotun, Regional Director, NASC; Dr. Anthony Okere, DG NACGRAB; Prof. B.G.J. Kabir, Director/CEO Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI); Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Agric Superintendent, LCRI; Prof. Shehu G. Ado, Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee, National Varietal Release; Dr. K.K. Mala, Programme leader Wheat and Barley, LCRI; Mr. John Amidu, Asst. Chief Agric Superintendent, LCRI during an on-field activity critical to delivering the ‘Crown’ wheat seed variety in Plateau State.

Olam Agri and Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) have further underlined their commitment of helping Nigeria towards greater wheat production self-sufficiency and food security with the release of a novel heat-tolerant and super-early durum wheat variety suitable for local cultivation during the harmattan season.This release signals another milestone achievement for Olam Agri’s “Seed for the Future (SFTF)” flagship project that was launched in 2021. The initiative is focused on removing hurdles to wheat production self-sufficiency in the country. It prioritises developing and cultivating seed varieties that suit the country’s unique topographic and climatic conditions and training a wide range of smallholder farmers on modern agronomic practices, with a stronger focus on empowering rural women. The Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) achieved its first-year milestone of producing 10 kg of pre-multiplication wheat seed varieties in September 2022 and this season, ten women-owned farms will plant the seed variety in December, with hundreds of farms set to benefit by 2025 and thousands more in 2026.

L-R: Dr Maryam Abba Dawud, Programme Leader Millet, Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI); Dr Zakari Turaki, Director Research, LCRI; Damilola Adeniyi, head legal, Olam Agri; Prof. O. Olufajo, Chairman Main Committee National Varietal Release; Dr K.K. Mala, Programme leader Wheat and Barley, LCRI; Dr A.S. Wali, Head of Cereals Research, LCRI, during a stakeholder meeting connected to the research operations.

This novel heat-tolerant and super-early durum wheat variety is called “Crown”, and it emerges from the work of Dr Filippo Bassi, a specialist wheat breeder at the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), as part of the work that received the Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security back in 2018. Speaking about the wheat seed variety, Dr Filippo Bassi said, “The Crown wheat variety is tailored for the Nigerian growing conditions after working closely with local farmers to understand their needs, especially the need to grow super-early varieties that allow farmers to harvest and replant rice on time. Based on test results run with Crown Flour Mill Nigeria, this variety is certified as suitable for high-quality pasta production.” Dr Kachalla Mala, an LCRI breeder and lead in the project, said, “Availability and accessibility of quality seed varieties are important to farmers, and we are excited to release “Crown”, a heat-tolerant, high-yielding wheat variety. In collaboration with Olam Agri and ICARDA, this is the first step in a chain of actions to work with women’s cooperative unions and local farmers to multiply and commercialise the seed.”Each of the female cooperatives will now receive one quintal of Crown seeds, in addition to training in agronomic management and some initial financing to produce three tons of certified seeds ready for further usage by the farmers of their villages. They will then engage their farming communities to further multiply it to 30 tons of seeds and commercialise it for use across Nigeria.Nitin Mehta, Managing Director of Crown Flour Mill Ltd (Olam Agri’s Wheat Milling business), explained, “We are glad to reach this critical milestone of releasing Crown, a novel heat-tolerant durum-wheat seed variety tailored to the Nigerian farming conditions. We consistently focus on making bold investments in projects that will enable the country to achieve its food production self-sufficiency goals and understand the importance of wheat-derivative foods such as pasta, bread, confectioneries, pastries, and biscuits in local dining.”Anil Nair, Managing Director of Olam Agri’s operations in Nigeria, emphasised the company’s dedication to food security, stating, “The milestone release of the novel durum wheat seed variety supports the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and focus on food security. This initiative is not only advancing greater domestic wheat production but is also empowering women farmers to play a critical role in scaling up farming communities. The future is bright for the food value chain, and we look forward to 100% Nigerian-grown wheat.”

Lagos, November 21, 2024 – Leading global brands in the building, design and finance sectors are partnering with Ecobank Nigeria for its inaugural Design & Build Expo. Key partners include SABA Steel, Nigeria’s largest steel manufacturer; Coleman Wire & Cables, the leading cable producer in West Africa; Donna Spectre, a prominent indigenous oil and gas logistics company; Dulux Paints, a top paint brand in Nigeria; HTL Africa, a forward-thinking architectural firm; ITB Nigeria Limited, leading Construction Company in Nigeria and West Africa; Mota Engil Nigeria, a civil construction company; and Chapel Hill Denham, Nigeria’s leading investment banking, securities trading, and investment management, and many others.The five-day event, themed “Building Nigeria Together,” will run from November 27 to December 1, 2024, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) on Victoria Island, Lagos, with daily sessions starting at 10:00 am. More than 60 exhibitors are set to showcase their latest products and innovations during the event.Omoboye Odu, Head of SMEs, Partnerships, and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, expressed her enthusiasm about the strong lineup of partners and exhibitors. She emphasized Ecobank’s commitment to deliver a seamless and mutually beneficial experience, provide a platform to showcase cutting-edge trends, innovations, and sustainable practices across Architecture, Construction, Building Materials, Household Appliances, Engineering, and Interior Design.”As a bank committed to fostering industry growth, we aim to use this event to drive conversations around innovation, sustainable practices, and financial solutions tailored for these sectors. Our goal is to use innovation and creativity to change our narrative as a Nation and to help us in “Building Nigeria Together”. The Ecobank Design & Build Expo is positioned as the go-to hub for empowering businesses, promote economic growth, and strengthening our relationships with key stakeholders”. She stated. Further, she said the expo serves as a prime opportunity for professionals in the Architecture and building sectors to present and market their products to a broader audience, while encouraging valuable networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, consumers, and other stakeholders , She highlighted the event’s exciting features, including knowledge exchange sessions by industry experts, creative exhibitions and installations, product displays showcasing the latest in design and innovation, networking opportunities with thought leaders, and inter-school architectural design competition to inspire the next generation, multi-audience entertainment and food offerings to keep energy high.She concluded by extending an invitation to Nigerians from all walks of life to visit the expo, as there is something for everyone, while also contributing to the collective effort of Building Nigeria Together.