Verve International, Africa’s leading card scheme and token brand—and a subsidiary of Interswitch Group—successfully hosted the 2026 edition of Verve Biz Unwind at the prestigious Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, convening key stakeholders across the financial services ecosystem for high-level industry engagement.

The event brought together issuer banks, fintech innovators, merchants, payment processors, and strategic partners for a curated forum focused on strategic dialogue, ecosystem alignment, and the evolving future of digital payments in Africa. Designed as an intimate yet impact-driven platform, Verve Biz Unwind continues to serve as a catalyst for meaningful conversations shaping the continent’s rapidly transforming payments landscape.

This year’s edition emphasized the importance of strengthening industry collaboration amid significant shifts in digital commerce. With the accelerating adoption of contactless transactions, embedded finance models, open banking frameworks, and real-time payment capabilities, the need for coordinated innovation and resilient infrastructure has become increasingly urgent. Verve Biz Unwind provided stakeholders with a valuable opportunity to exchange insights, address shared challenges, and identify collaborative pathways toward sustainable, long-term growth.

A defining highlight of the event was the official unveiling of Verve Tokenization, a next-generation security solution engineered to enhance transaction integrity, accelerate digital commerce adoption, and future-proof Africa’s payments ecosystem.

A defining highlight of the event was the official unveiling of Verve Tokenization, a next-generation security solution engineered to strengthen transaction integrity, accelerate digital commerce adoption, and future-proof Africa’s payments ecosystem.

Verve Tokenization replaces sensitive cardholder data with secure, device-bound digital tokens, ensuring that every transaction generates a unique cryptogram. By eliminating the need to expose actual card details during transactions, the solution significantly reduces the risk of fraud and data breaches, while enabling seamless and consistent payment experiences across multiple digital channels.

Speaking on this year’s edition, Paul Ohakim, Vice President, Issuing & Acquiring (Africa) at Verve International, underscored the critical role of collaboration in shaping the continent’s payments future. He noted that as digital commerce accelerates, driven by contactless innovations, embedded finance models, open banking frameworks, and rising demand for real-time transactions, no single institution can independently define or sustain the next phase of industry evolution.

He emphasized that Verve Biz Unwind was intentionally designed to foster stronger alignment among traditional financial institutions, fintech innovators, merchants, and payment processors in delivering secure, seamless, and inclusive payment experiences at scale. According to him, strategic partnerships remain fundamental to achieving long-term progress and effectively responding to the evolving needs of consumers and businesses across Africa.

“As digital commerce accelerates, no single institution can shape the future of payments alone,” he said. “Stronger collaboration between banks, fintechs, merchants, and processors is essential to delivering secure, seamless, and inclusive payment experiences across Africa.”

He further noted that tokenization represents far more than a backend technology upgrade; it signals a structural shift in how payments are secured, experienced, and monetized.               “By enabling interoperability across wallets, banking apps, e-commerce checkouts, and contactless infrastructure, Verve Tokenization empowers a single Verve card to operate securely across multiple digital environments without compromising user convenience.”

Beyond networking, the event reaffirmed Verve International’s long-standing commitment to deepening ecosystem partnerships and advancing collective progress across the payments value chain. Through structured engagements and forward-looking discussions, participants aligned on a shared roadmap focused on elevating security standards, strengthening interoperability, and delivering customer-centric payment solutions at scale.

As Africa’s digital economy continues to expand and consumer expectations evolve toward faster, safer, and more intuitive experiences, Verve International remains steadfast in its mission to modernize the continent’s payment infrastructure securely, intelligently, and collaboratively, while enabling partners to unlock sustainable growth and long-term value.

Before sunrise at Ojo Bus Terminal in Ibadan, engines warm up and journeys begin.
Commuters move quickly, drivers prepare for long hours on the road, and traders set the
tone for the day ahead. It is within this rhythm of urgency and ambition that NESCAFÉ is
deepening its everyday presence.
As Nigeria’s leading coffee brand, NESCAFÉ has introduced a new kiosk at Ojo Bus
Terminal in Ibadan, Oyo State, bringing its signature blend of taste and momentum to
helping Nigerians start strong and finish strong.
In Nigeria, the day often begins in motion, at bus parks, markets and commercial centres
where ambition meets urgency. By bringing NESCAFÉ closer to commuters, drivers and
traders within the terminal environment, the brand is embedding itself directly into the pulse
of daily life.
“Having NESCAFÉ available right here in the terminal has added real value to the daily
experience of commuters and operators,” said Adisa Olumide, Manager at the Bus Terminal.
“Passengers can now access quality coffee just steps away from their departure points,
without leaving the park. The feedback has been positive, especially around the rich taste
and the prompt service, which fits perfectly into the fast pace of this environment.”
For NESCAFÉ, the Ojo Bus Terminal kiosk is not simply a new touchpoint, but a natural
extension of its long-standing presence in homes, workplaces and communities across
Nigeria.
“For us at Nestlé Professional, this initiative reflects our continued commitment to delivering
quality beverage solutions to Nigerians wherever they are, even on the go,” said Ibraheem
Awelenje, Nestlé Professional Channels Manager. “NESCAFÉ has always been about
empowering strong starts, and this activation strengthens that connection in a meaningful
and accessible way.”
The kiosk currently serves NESCAFÉ 3-in-1 Original and NESCAFÉ Classic, with plans to
expand the offering to include MILO, ensuring a wider range of options that resonate with
the surrounding community. Operations are conducted in line with Nestlé Professional’s food
safety and hygiene standards.
“This launch demonstrates how NESCAFÉ continues to strengthen its presence in everyday,
high-traffic locations,” said Jean-Pierre Duplan, Category Manager for Coffee. “By situating a
kiosk at Ojo Bus Terminal, we are bringing the brand closer to Nigerians with busy routines
and reinforcing our commitment to helping them start strong and finish strong.”
Beyond accessibility, the kiosk builds on Nestlé’s long-term commitment to entrepreneurship
through its My Own Business (MYOWBU) scheme. Operated by a local entrepreneur who
has been part of the MYOWBU ecosystem for over ten years, the kiosk has created two

direct jobs, one operator and one attendant, with ongoing training provided in hygiene
practices and business management.
“After ten years as an attendant, my dedication has turned into ownership through the
NESCAFÉ kiosk initiative,” said the kiosk operator. “This kiosk is not just a business for me;
it is a new chapter.”
Sustainability considerations are integrated into daily operations. The kiosk uses recyclable
cups, and operators are trained on responsible waste management practices, including
proper disposal of materials and encouraging customers to do the same.
At Ojo Bus Terminal, where journeys begin long before sunrise, NESCAFÉ is doing more
than serving coffee. It is fuelling the drive, resilience and ambition that power Nigeria’s
mornings one cup at a time.

L-R; Ubong Nkanta, Director of Operations, AI in Nigeria; Adejoke Adekunle, AI Operations Consultant, Abby & Partners; Babafemi Ogungbamila, EVP, Operations and Technology, Interswitch; Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive, Sterling Bank; and Chinedu Onyia, Technical Support Team Lead, Representing the MD, CreditRegistry (Credit Bureau) following a panel session on “Rights, Equity, and Inclusive Development in Nigeria’s AI Future” at the 2026 Innovate AI Conference which held recently in Lagos.

Lagos, Nigeria – February 25, 2026 – Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) adoption as a 3-time headline sponsor of the InnovateAI 2026 Conference. The event convened technology leaders, policymakers, innovators, and ecosystem stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of AI in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.

As a key sponsor, Interswitch maintained a strong presence throughout the conference with an engaging on-ground presence that highlighted its focus on innovation. Participants engaged with the Interswitch team to gain insights into how emerging technologies, including AI-enabled systems, are strengthening digital payments infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding financial access across Nigeria and the broader African market.

The exhibition attracted developers, startups, enterprise leaders, and regulators eager to explore how intelligent systems can drive scalable and secure digital transformation. Through interactive conversations, Interswitch reinforced its role as a technology leader focused on building resilient, future-ready platforms that power commerce and economic growth.

Beyond the exhibition experience, Interswitch contributed significantly to thought leadership discussions at the conference. The company featured prominently in a high-level panel session titled “Rights, Equity, and Inclusive Development in Nigeria’s AI Future.” The session examined the ethical implications of AI deployment, equitable access to emerging technologies, regulatory alignment, and the importance of safeguarding digital rights in an increasingly automated world.

Representing Interswitch on the panel, Babafemi Ogungbamila, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technology, emphasized the need for intentional and responsible AI adoption.

“Artificial intelligence holds immense potential to accelerate economic progress, but its deployment must be guided by fairness, transparency, and accountability. For AI to truly deliver value, it must be designed to close gaps, not widen them, and supported by strong governance, responsible data practices, and cross-sector collaboration,” Ogungbamila said.

He noted that organizations integrating AI into financial systems and digital infrastructure must be deliberate in ensuring that innovation relies on strong governance frameworks, scalable infrastructure and trust between the public and private sectors.

The panel also highlighted the importance of capacity building, local talent development, and policy frameworks that support sustainable AI growth in Nigeria. Interswitch reiterated its commitment to investing in advanced technologies, strengthening partnerships, and supporting initiatives that enable responsible innovation across the ecosystem.

Interswitch’s participation at InnovateAI 2026 aligns with its broader strategy of leveraging technology to drive economic empowerment and accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. As AI continues to reshape industries globally, the company remains focused on developing secure, scalable, and inclusive solutions for individuals, businesses, and governments.