Lagos, Nigeria; June 10, 2026

Interswitch Group, Africa’s first homegrown technology unicorn and the continent’s foremost digital payments infrastructure company, participated as AI and Innovation Pavilion co-chair and corporate thought-leader at the 3rd Invest in Lagos Summit, held at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, from June 8–9, 2026. The high-profile summit, convened under the auspices of the Lagos State Government and themed ‘Lagos: Business Gateway to Africa’ expectedly drew a distinguished gathering of public and private sector leaders from across Africa and the global investment community, including His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State, and a slew of other state governors from across Nigeria, as well as members of the Federal Executive Council, whose presence underscored the strategic importance of the summit as a platform for shaping Africa’s investment and innovation agenda. Representing Interswitch Group on the summit’s flagship technology panel on day 1, themed “The Future of Technology and Innovation” was Babafemi Ogungbamila, Executive Vice-President (EVP) for Operations and Technology. Speaking to an audience of investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and global business leaders, Ogungbamila drew on Interswitch’s foundational story to deliver what became one of the session’s most cited contributions: a frank, first-hand account of what it truly takes to build technology infrastructure in Africa; not in theory, but from the ground up, against the odds, and before the market was ready to reward the effort. “Without the right rails, even the best products will stall before reaching scale,” Ogungbamila asserted. “We built Nigeria’s first successful digital interbank transaction infrastructure in 2002. Nobody was asking us to build it. There was no guaranteed return. But we understood that the companies that build the foundational layer of an ecosystem don’t just compete in that ecosystem; they shape it. That principle holds as powerfully today as it did then.” His contribution to the panel was rooted in a founding narrative that remains as instructive today as it was defining in 2002. When Interswitch was established in Lagos by Founder and Group CEO Mitchell Elegbe, there was essentially no technology ecosystem to speak of. No digital payments infrastructure. No interoperability between financial institutions. No playbook from which to build. According to him, what Lagos offered instead was something more powerful than infrastructure: a market whose economic ambition had already outpaced its digital capacity – a gap that became Interswitch’s founding mandate. “In 2002, there was no ecosystem” Ogungbamila reflected. “No blueprint. No guarantee that what we were building would find a market. Just a sprawling, complex, commercially ferocious city whose economy was moving faster than its digital infrastructure could carry. That gap was our invitation.” That invitation produced Nigeria’s first interoperable digital payments switching infrastructure, the invisible backbone that today processes the majority of Nigeria’s electronic transactions and connects banks, merchants, fintechs, and consumers across the country’s financial ecosystem at scale.Speaking to the broader question of what conditions are required to scale African technology companies into globally competitive enterprises, Ogungbamila was emphatic that infrastructure depth, and the institutional courage to invest in it before the market offers its reward, remains the defining variable separating technology companies that endure from those that plateau. “The companies that build the foundational layer of an ecosystem don’t just compete in that ecosystem, they shape it” he reiterated. “Twenty-three years on, that principle is not nostalgia. It is our operating philosophy, and it is more relevant now than ever, as Lagos cements its place as one of Africa’s foremost technology and innovation hubs, and as the next generation of African builders constructs what comes next.” Ogungbamila further referenced The Lagos Smart Health Information Platform, known as Lagos SHIP or LAGSHIP as a first-of-its-kind initiative developed by Digital Health Platform Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle comprising the Lagos State Ministry of Health and Interswitch eClat, designed to digitize and integrate patients’ health records across the state into a single, comprehensive platform, enabling a robust Health Information Exchange system that gives healthcare providers real-time access to comprehensive patient records for more informed decision-making, while simultaneously empowering patients with unprecedented control over their personal health data. Beyond individual patient care, LAGSHIP eliminates the inefficiencies of manual data handling, ensures data confidentiality and privacy, and equips the Lagos State Government with the data intelligence needed to plan and coordinate healthcare services across all levels, from primary healthcare centres to tertiary institutions. This essentially transforms fragmented, error-prone record management into a unified, policy-grade infrastructure for a city of over 22 million people Such an intervention, which essentially seeks to replicate in healthcare, how technology was leveraged by Interswitch, based on infrastructure-thinking, to transform banking and payments (resulting in tremendous multiplier effects) about 2 decades ago, speaks to forward-thinking vision by the leadership of Lagos State. Ogungbamila further addressed the conditions required to drive inclusive, broad-based economic growth through technology, arguing that connectivity must be treated as constitutional infrastructure, that public-private partnerships must be designed around community need rather than commercial convenience, and that regulatory frameworks must be built to enable innovation rather than merely govern it. On artificial intelligence specifically, he called for African governments to invest in regulatory capacity before regulatory complexity highlighting that understanding must precede legislation if Africa is to capture the full economic value of the AI revolution. A central theme of Interswitch’s participation at the summit was the role of Lagos not merely as a commercial hub, but as the specific environment whose scale, complexity, and appetite for solutions gave Interswitch the mandate and the market to become what it is today. Africa’s first homegrown technology unicorn was not built despite Lagos’s infrastructure challenges. In many meaningful ways, it was built because of them. That framing carries particular resonance at a moment when Lagos is actively positioning itself as the investment destination of choice for global capital flowing into African technology, financial services, and digital infrastructure. Interswitch’s story, from a 2002 startup operating in a vacuum of digital financial infrastructure to a billion-dollar pan-African enterprise operating across over 23 countries is, in many ways, Lagos’ story told through the lens of a company that bet on the city before the city had fully bet on itself.

Lagos, Nigeria – The Muvmnt Studio, the creative force behind Nigeria’s first podcast festival, has announced the return of PodFest Naija – A Festival of Stories, scheduled to take place on September 25, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, PodFest Naija returns as the country’s premier gathering for storytellers, podcasters, creators, brands, and culture shapers. The 2026 festival will feature a diverse lineup of influential voices who continue to shape conversations, communities, and culture across Nigeria and beyond.Created as a convergence point for the storytelling ecosystem, PodFest Naija exists to celebrate, collaborate, innovate, and support storytellers as they elevate their craft. Attendees can look forward to insightful conversations that explore the future of storytelling, evolving audience behaviours, emerging tools and platforms, and the power of authentic narratives. Beyond the discussions, the festival offers opportunities for meaningful engagement with some of the country’s most beloved creators and storytellers, who will share personal experiences and lessons from their journeys across specially curated themed stages.”Storytelling remains the heartbeat of meaningful communication,” said Tosin Adefeko, Curator of PodFest Naija and Chief Executive Officer of AT3 Resources – The Muvmnt Agency.”At The Muvmnt Agency, we recognised a major shift: consumers have become storytellers in their own right, shaping narratives, influencing culture, and driving conversations. Yet, despite the growth of the ecosystem, many creators were still operating in silos. No one was gathering the tribe. PodFest Naija was our response to that gap. The success of our first edition validated the power and potential of storytelling. This year, we are bringing together an even broader and more influential community of voices to amplify consumer-led narratives, foster deeper connections, and strengthen the storytelling ecosystem.”Podfest Naija is the creative economy’s signal to the ecosystem that our voices, stories, and community deserve to be seen, heard, and invested in. This year’s festival will feature specially curated stages hosted by some of Nigeria’s most influential voices across finance, branding, culture, health, relationships, and public discourse, including Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Olushola Olaleye, Ife Durosinmi-Etti, Aproko Doctor, Joro Olomofin, Tochukwu Macfoy (Dr Foy), Babajide Ogunsanwo, and Francesca Uriri. They will be joined by an impressive lineup of speakers and storytellers, including Grace Ofure, Ify Mogekwu, Abdulhafees Adelani, Bola Balogun, Rosemary Egabor-Afolahan, Adefunke Arowolo, Audu Maikori, Morenike Molehin, Tomike Adeoye, Anthony Wolve, Adefunke Arowolo, William Benson, Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi, Audrey Abayomi, Bola Balogun, and many more.Beyond the main stage conversations and the Next Big Podcaster talent discovery initiative, designed to spotlight and support emerging podcast voices across Nigeria, PodFest Naija 2026 will also feature a Spotify-led masterclass, providing creators with practical insights to grow and sustain impactful platforms. An interactive exhibition arena will give brands the opportunity to showcase products and services, connect directly with attendees, and engage with one of Nigeria’s most vibrant and influential creative communities.The festival is proudly supported by Eventful Nigeria, MTN, Fan Milk, Eve Essentials, and UAC, among other leading brands, further cementing PodFest Naija’s position as the definitive gathering for Nigeria’s podcasting and storytelling community.About PodFest NaijaPodFest Naija is Nigeria’s first podcast festival and a celebration of storytelling in all its forms. Designed as a platform for learning, networking, collaboration, and community building, the festival brings together creators, podcasters, brands, media professionals, and storytelling enthusiasts to shape the future of narrative-driven content in Africa.The event will CELEBRATE creativity, foster COLLABORATION, showcase INNOVATION, and provide a platform for LEARNING.

Captions: Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria,(left); Patricia Ekaba, Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability for Central and West Africa,(middle); Mrs Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner, Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State; Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, at the Nestle for Good Summit held in Lagos, recently

Nestlé Nigeria has convened government representatives, healthcare professionals, development partners, academia, industry leaders, civil society organisations, and the media at the Nestlé for Good Summit 2026, a stakeholder platform focused on advancing practical, collaborative solutions to improve nutrition outcomes, strengthen communities, and support more sustainable food systems in Nigeria. At a time when Nigeria continues to navigate evolving nutrition, public health, and food system challenges, the Summit provided a timely forum for cross-sector dialogue on how to drive meaningful and scalable impact. Held in Lagos, the Summit brought together key stakeholders including the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, and the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, alongside leaders from development organisations, public health institutions, and the private sector. The discussions centered on practical pathways to improving nutrition across the life stages, strengthening local food systems, and building more resilient communities. Participants explored the role of partnerships in addressing interconnected challenges spanning nutrition, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Wassim Elhusseini, said the Summit reflects Nestlé’s long-standing belief that creating shared value is fundamental to how the company operates. “At Nestlé, we are guided by a simple but powerful purpose: to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come. Delivering good food consistently and at scale depends on strong systems across the value chain — from responsible sourcing and manufacturing to distribution, livelihoods, capability development, and environmental sustainability,” he said. He added that Nestlé for Good provides a clearer, more connected expression of how the company delivers impact across Nutrition, Thriving Communities, and the Planet. In her keynote address, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, commended Nestlé Nigeria for convening stakeholders around issues critical to both public wellbeing and economic development. “The conversations we are having today are not only about food. They are about human capital, productivity, public health, economic growth, and ultimately, the future of our society,” she said. She also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration across government, industry, development institutions, and communities in delivering improved nutrition outcomes at scale. Providing further perspective on the company’s approach, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, noted that the platform helps bring together the full scope of Nestlé’s impact. “Nestlé for Good is not simply about showcasing individual initiatives. It is about demonstrating how our products, sourcing, partnerships, and community investments connect in practical ways to support healthier lives and more resilient communities,” she said.Also speaking, Patricia Ekaba, Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability for Central and West Africa, highlighted the importance of long-term, system-focused thinking. “Sustainable progress requires looking beyond short-term interventions. Business growth and social progress are interconnected, and lasting impact comes from creating value for both the business and the communities it serves,” she said. A key feature of the Summit was an impact showcase, where participants engaged with real stories of beneficiaries connected to Nestlé’s initiatives in women empowerment, youth capability development, dairy development, and environmental sustainability. These stories illustrated how targeted interventions across the value chain are contributing to improved livelihoods, stronger communities, and more sustainable practices. The Summit also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to experience how Nestlé’s products and initiatives contribute to nutrition, livelihoods, and sustainability across different stages of the food system. The Nestlé for Good Summit marks an important step in deepening dialogue and strengthening partnerships that can translate into measurable progress. As Nigeria continues to address complex nutrition and development challenges, Nestlé Nigeria remains committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to drive practical solutions that improve quality of life at scale.