L–R: Ayomide Awe, Chief Technical Officer, Termii; Oche Omale, Divisional Head, Engineering, Payment Processing & Switching (Interswitch Purepay); Opeyemi Folorunsho, Vice President, Engineering Research and Development, Moniepoint; and Abdul-Hafiz Ibrahim, Divisional Head, Engineering, Commercial Inclusion (Interswitch inclusio), at the recent Coded Meetup organised by the Interswitch Developer Community, held at the Interswitch Innovation Hub, Lagos.

Interswitch, one Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, through its Interswitch Developer Community, recently hosted the Coded Meetup at the Interswitch Innovation Hub, Lagos. The vibrant social and learning experience brought together developers, engineers, and tech enthusiasts from across Africa to connect, collaborate, and learn within the continent’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Designed to bridge the gap between coding and community, the Coded Meetup created an environment where professionals and aspiring tech talents could move beyond their screens to share experiences, exchange insights, and build lasting relationships. More than a meetup, it served as a platform to spark conversations on engineering excellence, innovation, and mentorship, reinforcing Interswitch’s commitment to empowering Africa’s growing community of tech builders.

The evening featured two engaging panel sessions where seasoned industry leaders shared insights drawn from their journeys, exploring topics such as distributed systems, artificial intelligence, and scalable solution design. Discussions also touched on the importance of community-driven learning, ethical AI use, and how mentorship can help developers future-proof their careers in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Commenting on the significance of the Coded Meetup, Muyiwa Asagba, Managing Director, Commercial Inclusion (Interswitch Inclusio), emphasized that the initiative reflects Interswitch’s ongoing commitment to empowering Africa’s tech ecosystem through mentorship and knowledge-sharing.

“At Interswitch, we’ve always believed that Africans should solve Africa’s problems, because no one understands the nuances, challenges, and opportunities of our continent better than we do. But solving these problems requires more than just talent; it takes the right motivation, mentorship, and community. That is why we created the Interswitch Developer Community, to empower developers with the right skills, knowledge, and connections they need to build solutions that truly make a difference. When we invest in people, we invest in Africa’s future,” he noted.

Beyond the conversations, the meetup provided a lively social atmosphere where attendees engaged in interactive Q&A sessions, shared personal experiences, and networked with peers and mentors over light refreshments. The evening struck a perfect balance between learning and leisure, inspiring collaboration while strengthening bonds within the developer community.

The Interswitch Developer Community is a sustained initiative dedicated to nurturing Africa’s pool of tech talent through mentorship, collaboration, and capacity-building. Through activities like the Coded Meetup, Interswitch continues to reinforce its role as a catalyst for innovation, driving inclusion, knowledge sharing, and empowerment across Africa’s technology and fintech ecosystems.

If you missed the grand finale of VerveLife 8.0, you really missed a whole vibe! Powered by Verve, Africa’s leading payment cards and digital tokens brand, this year’s event was nothing short of an energy explosion. The iconic Eko Convention Centre in Victoria Island was agog with approximately ten thousand fitness lovers, lifestyle enthusiasts, and good-vibes-only folks who came together for a day packed with movement, music, and fun. From the moment the first beat dropped, it was clear this wasn’t your average fitness gig. With the theme Elev8, VerveLife 8.0 took “sweat it out” to new heights, featuring a star-studded lineup of elite trainers who came ready to light up the floor. Kemen, Trebla, Mayorfit, BodybyJane, CeeJay Kimani, King of Squats (KOS), Mamiki Slayqueen, Queen Fitnass from South Africa, Alvin Lee from Kenya, Sandra, Dolapo, Macblake, Benfit, TL Funky, HSP Aesthetics and Dami led power-packed sessions that pushed limits and lifted spirits. Whether you were tackling the obstacle course, smashing through a high-intensity class, or soaking up wellness tips in the nutrition and lifestyle masterclass, there was something for everyone. Even the little ones got in on the fun, with a fully-equipped kiddies’ corner for ages 3–10. Nobody was left out! And of course, what’s VerveLife without a few big wins? After hours of sweat and adrenaline, three lucky participants hit jackpot moments! Peter Alfred and Paul Amedu each went home ₦1 million richer, while Chidera Nkem stole the show by driving away in a brand-new car, courtesy of Verve x Google Play and Carloha Chery. Talk about earning your rewards! Then came the afterparty, where the beats got heavier, the lights got brighter, and the crowd went all the way up. The vibes? Unmatched. The lineup? Loaded. King Ojem, Shoday, Alternate Sound, and the LOUD Choir set the stage ablaze before the legendary Timaya shut it down in true superstar fashion. DJs X-Ray, Maze & Xtreme, Toh Bad, Crowd Kontroller all kept the energy rolling, spinning back-to-back hits that kept everyone dancing deep into the night. Fitness and fun had never felt more in sync. Nigeria’s top celebrities were not left out as Tobi Bakre, Broda Shaggi, Timi Dakolo, Dr. Sid among others dialled up the fun and vibes. Since its inception, VerveLife has evolved beyond just a fitness event. It’s now a Pan-African movement that celebrates wellness, community, and self-expression in the most exciting way possible. And this year, the Elev8 edition once again raised the bar, reminding everyone that staying active can be as joyful as it is rewarding. As the curtains fall on VerveLife 8.0, one thing’s for sure, Verve isn’t just helping us stay fit; they’re building a community that moves together, celebrates together, and keeps the energy alive long after the music stops. So, if you missed it this time, don’t stress. Just lace up early for the next one. Because if VerveLife 8.0 brought this much heat, VerveLife 9.0 is going to be a whole new level of epic!Follow @VerveLife_ and @VerveCard on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for all the latest updates as countdown to VerveLife 9.0 begins!

Question: Let’s start this interview with a general introduction of yourself. Tell us about yourself as a customer of Fidelity Bank?

Response: My name is Mrs. Francesca Ogbonnaya and I am from Delta State while my husband is from Ebonyi State, South – East Nigeria. I was born here in Kano State, which means I have been in the state for so long. I am a trader and as you can see, my business inside the market is trading. I sell fufu to different customers who buy and then resell in their restaurants or feed their families at home. I started banking with Fidelity Bank, about a year ago, that is sometime in 2024. And I have been with the bank since then.

Question: Talking of banking with Fidelity Bank, may we know what inspired you to register with the bank instead of any other bank?

Answer: I think that my relationship with my former bank was not satisfactory enough. I had been hearing about Fidelity Bank and what I heard was encouraging. And so, when it was time to change my bank, Fidelity Bank naturally came to my mind. And I can tell you that I have not been disappointed. This is because all those good things that were said about the bank before I opened an account, I have experienced them while banking with them. Their staff attend to customers very well, and whenever I call my account officer, he attends to me very well. Each time I call on him regarding my account, he is on standby to help me.

Question: When did you open an account with the bank?

Response: Like I said earlier, I opened an account with the bank last year, around January or February 2024. And I opened a Savings Account.

Question: What is your experience with the bank. Is it wonderful? And if yes, why?

Response: My experience with the bank can only be described as wonderful. Apart from all other services, this is the first time I am experiencing a thing like this. I have never experienced any bank in Nigeria where I won in a savings promo. With this alone, I will say that my experience with the bank has been wonderful, really wonderful because I never expected anything like this. I also never knew of the GAIM 6 promo. I just woke up one day and found that I have won such an amount of money from the bank. This is why I will repeat that they are a wonderful bank, they are a bank for the people.

Question: You mean you didn’t know about GAIM 6 or any promotion, that you were just putting in your regular money and you won?

Response: Yes! I had no idea of an on- going promotion by the bank. I deposit money with them every day. Every day, at the end of business, I put in something into my account, no matter how small. I make sure I put money every day and I withdraw when I want to withdraw. Any amount I seek to withdraw, they give to me without wasting time.

I really didn’t know about any promo. As you can see in the market, I don’t have time for myself, talk less of having time to know about the Fidelity Bank’s Get Alert In Millions promo. I didn’t know of it. All I know is that one day, they called me on my phone number to inform me that I had won an amount of money in season 6 of GAIM. And that is all.

Question: When you received the news that you had won some money from the bank, how did you feel?

Response: The truth is I was sick on that day; I was actually lying on a sick bed when they called me to announce that I had won the sum of N1million from them. It was incredible. I was very, very happy and surprisingly, I jumped up and ran to my business outfit here to tell them the good news from the bank. At first, people around me did not want to believe, that it might be a scam. I told them that I trust my bank. And all they asked me to do was to go their branch to claim my money, which is what I did.

Question: Moving forward, what do you intend to do with the money you just won from the bank? Or put another way, what have you done with your money?

Response: Well, I have added it to my business capital and that has made my business bigger than what it was before the GAIM 6 promo money. I followed the advice of the bank when I won the money and I can tell you they did not just leave me. They told me what and what I should do and I can tell you that my business has recorded an improvement. We are now doing better than we were doing before the promotion money came.

Question: What is your message to the management of Fidelity Bank?

Response: First, I want to thank the bank for the efforts they are putting in ensuring that their customers are satisfied. I pray that they continue to support their customers and I beg them to continue. This is because if they extend this sort of promotion money for a longer time, they would be making more people to become rich. They would be helping hands. So, I am begging God that they should not stop or halt this promotion. It should continue and it should touch the poor, so that more customers will be made rich by the help of the bank.

Question: What is your message to Nigerians that are not yet banking with Fidelity Bank? What is your advice drawing from your experience?

Response: Well, I will say that Fidelity Bank is a good bank. It is a place you bank and you don’t have to worry about the safety of your money. Instead, your money can even make you a millionaire. The Get Alert In Million Season 6 promo can change their lives as it has changed my own. So, I urge my fellow Nigerians to come and join us at Fidelity Bank because Fidelity Bank is a bank you can trust and we their customers are proud of them.