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Interswitch Group Reinforces Call for Homegrown Innovation and Greater Economic Self-Determination At 2025 Africa Soft Power Summit
Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has emphasized the imperative for African technology players to champion locally relevant innovation that are tailored to the continent’s realities and nuances.
Speaking at the recently concluded 2025 Africa Soft Power (ASP) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, Key industry players and leaders at the Summit 2025 summarily called for greater economic self-determination and stronger artificial intelligence governance as the continent seeks to reduce dependence on foreign capital and prevent unregulated technology deployment.
The 4th edition of the two-day summit, running through May 22nd – 23rd, brought together thought leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and other African nations to address leadership, investment, and technological development challenges.
The discussions at the summit highlighted the current reality that most African startup capital Decision-makers remain external to the Continent, limiting the ecosystem’s potential, and called for unified perspective towards challenging this longstanding reality.
Speaking at the summit, Interswitch Group, represented by Bernard Kinara, Country General Manager in Kenya asserted that the company, as a fintech leader proudly rooted in Africa remains resolutely championing technology solutions that connect and empower individuals, businesses, and communities, to drive prosperity across the continent. He noted that beyond her role as a pioneering innovator in the digital payments & commerce space, Interswitch is always enthused at opportunities to advocate and advance the conversation around digital transformation geared towards enabling financial inclusion.
Speaking on a pivotal panel discussion themed “Inclusive Leadership & Disruptions: Shaping Growth and Navigating Global Shifts”, He highlighted Interswitch’s impact – being the continent’s first fintech/payments unicorn – in strengthening cross-ecosystem linkages and partnerships by bringing together fintechs, banks and other financial service delivery enablers; in advancing borderless payments and cross-country value-exchange; and in driving required affirmative action on the social development front through the creation of opportunities for women and youth through corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives; such as #InterswitchSPAK, in line with the organization’s corporate purpose – inspiring Africa to greatness through innovation, value-creation and excellence.
He furthermore highlighted AI’s potential to democratize access through natural language coding tools that break down gender and linguistic barriers, while cautioning against biases in AI systems.
The summit also discussed topical themes such as AI Models, Sovereignty, and Democratizing Access, and highlighted the necessity of policy autonomy in the global digital landscape, citing successful regulatory actions by governments in Uganda and Nigeria against multinational tech platforms.
Philip Ikeazor, Director General of Financial System Stability at Nigeria’s Central Bank, emphasized that anti-money laundering and fraud detection standards are becoming mandatory, with AI supporting but policy leading these efforts.
However, challenges remain around weak data protection and low digital literacy, which policy must address. The AI governance panel emphasized AI literacy for policymakers and the public, advocating tailored education approaches to ensure that AI tools solve practical problems for farmers, creatives, and civil servants. A technologist noted the paradox of rising public AI awareness alongside skepticism, reinforcing the need for transparent, trustworthy AI systems.
The Africa Soft Power Summit 2025 assembled Leaders, Innovators, and Creatives from across the Continent to address challenges in leadership, infrastructure, and technological development, with participants calling for frameworks that prioritize African decision-making and economic sovereignty. The discussions covered infrastructure, digital finance, and artificial intelligence, with a consistent theme of moving beyond external dependence toward sustainable, locally-driven development models.
Interswitch remains a leading technology-driven company focused on the digitization of payments and commerce across Africa. Founded in Nigeria in 2002, Interswitch disrupted the traditional cash-based payments value chain in Nigeria by supporting the introduction of electronic payments processing and switching services, and launched Verve, Africa’s premier and leading domestic EMV-standard chip and pin payments card scheme.
Today, Interswitch is a leading player with critical mass across Africa’s developing financial ecosystem and is active across the payments value chain, providing a full suite of omni-channel payment solutions. Interswitch’s vision is to make payments a seamless part of everyday life in Africa, and its mission is to create transaction solutions that enable individuals and communities to prosper across Africa. Interswitch’s broad network and robust payments platform have been instrumental to the development of the Nigerian payments ecosystem and provide Interswitch with the infrastructure to expand across Africa.
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Fidelity Bank Advocates for Inmates’ welfare with donation to Enugu Custodial Centre
L-R: Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Deputy Controller of Corrections, Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Dr. Sunday Igwe; Team Lead, Human Resources and Business Partner, East & South, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osayi Uwumarongie; and President, Legacy Inductees Class of 2026, Fidelity Bank Plc, Darlington Okereke; during Fidelity Bank’s donation of food and essential items to Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre, in Enugu State recently.
Tier one lender, Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to health and social welfare with the donation of food and essential items to inmates at the Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre.
The outreach was carried out by the newly inducted Legacy Class of 2026 and executed under the bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform known as the Fidelity Helping Hands Project (FHHP). Through the FHHP, staff identify areas of critical interventions in their immediate communities, raise funds and then receive matching financial support from the bank’s management to execute the projects.
Items donated by the Legacy class include a range of food supplies such as garri, spaghetti, noodles, biscuits, milk, and other essential consumables aimed at supporting the welfare and living conditions of inmates at the facility.
Speaking on the visit, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, described the initiative as a key component of the Bank’s culture, designed to inspire compassion and a sense of responsibility in its workforce.
“As part of our induction programme, we encourage new staff to identify meaningful ways to impact their communities. In assessing the needs of this facility, it became clear that providing food and other essentials would make an immediate difference. With over 3,000 inmates here, the daily effort required to feed and care for them is enormous. We believe that this donation will significantly support the centre’s ongoing work and contribute to improving the welfare of the inmates,” he said.
Nwagboh further emphasized the broader vision behind the initiative, noting that the bank is committed to raising socially conscious professionals. “At Fidelity Bank, we are intentional about building not just skilled employees, but responsible citizens. Initiatives like this help our staff connect with real societal needs and inspire them to make meaningful contributions beyond the workplace,” he stated.
In his response, the Deputy Controller of Corrections at the facility, Dr. Sunday Igwe, commended Fidelity Bank for nurturing a strong culture of social responsibility among its workforce. He described the donation as timely and impactful, noting that it would help alleviate some of the operational challenges faced by the facility.
Igwe further used the opportunity to caution Nigerians, particularly young professionals, against engaging in criminal activities such as fraud and cybercrime, emphasizing that personal decisions can have far-reaching consequences.
“People must understand that their choices determine their outcomes. We encourage everyone to stay focused and avoid actions that may bring them into conflict with the law,” he advised.
The Fidelity Helping Hands Project remains one of Fidelity Bank’s key CSR initiatives, enabling employee-led contributions that drive meaningful impact through inclusive development across Nigeria.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Brand
One Universe Launches to Redefine How People Find and Pay for Trusted Services
One Universe, a new trusted digital marketplace designed to connect people who need services with skilled professionals, has officially launched and is now available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Built to solve the everyday challenge of finding reliable service providers, One Universe brings trust, convenience, and transparency into one seamless platform. From beauty and lifestyle services to technical, creative, and professional support, users can now discover verified professionals, agree on terms, and complete payments securely – all within the app.
A Safer, Smarter Way to Get Things Done
One Universe was created to eliminate uncertainty in service transactions. The platform enables buyers to find professionals, chat directly, agree on pricing and timelines, and make payments securely. Funds are held safely until the job is completed, ensuring protection for both parties.
Empowering Professionals to Grow
For service providers, One Universe offers a powerful opportunity to showcase skills, receive referrals, build credibility through reviews, and access more customers without the usual barriers. Professionals can focus on delivering quality work while the platform supports visibility, trust, and secure payments.
Introducing the One Universe Recruiter Program
As part of its launch, One Universe is rolling out the Recruiter Program, designed to reward individuals who help grow the community. Recruiters earn incentives by inviting people to join the platform – especially buyers seeking services – thereby helping professionals get more jobs while expanding the ecosystem. The program turns everyday referrals into real value and shared growth for all participants.
Key Features Include:
- Verified professionals across multiple service categories
- Secure in-app payments with buyer and seller protection
- Transparent pricing and direct communication
- Ratings and reviews to build trust
- A growing community driven by referrals and reputation
- Incentives through the Recruiter Program for community growth
Now Available on iOS and Android
One Universe is now live and ready for use. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to download the app, explore services, and experience a smarter way to connect and transact.
Download One Universe today:
Apple App Store
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/one-universe/id6753012310
Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oneuniverse.oneuniverse
About One Universe
One Universe is a trusted digital marketplace built to connect people with skilled professionals, making service discovery, engagement, and payment simple, safe, and reliable. The platform is committed to empowering service providers while giving users confidence and peace of mind.
Media Contact:
www.oneuniverse.ng
info@oneuniverse.ng
08083327368
Brand
InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition: A Life-Changing Opportunity for Nigerian Students
For many students, the long holiday is a time to rest and reset. But it can also offer something more, a window of opportunity. This year, that opportunity comes in the form of InterswitchSPAK, one of Nigeria’s leading national science competitions, designed to spotlight and support the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) leaders.
Now in its eighth edition, InterswitchSPAK continues to identify, nurture, and reward some of the brightest Year 11 (SS2) students across the country, those with a strong passion for STEM, and the ambition to go further.
With registrations ongoing, this year introduces an important shift. Students can now be registered not only through their schools, but also directly by their parents and guardians. This expanded access ensures that more talented students, regardless of circumstance, can take part in this transformative experience.
At its core, InterswitchSPAK is more than a competition. Over the years, it has evolved into a credible platform that offers real opportunities that shape academic and career journeys. It gives students the visibility, confidence, and support they need to pursue their aspirations in STEM.
What truly sets InterswitchSPAK apart is the scale of its impact. It goes beyond answering questions correctly or passing exams, it unlocks access to higher education, mentorship, and life-changing opportunities.
This season raises the stakes even higher, with over ₦40 million in scholarships, reinforcing the programme’s commitment to rewarding excellence at the highest level. The top prize includes a ₦15 million tertiary scholarship spread over five years, complemented by monthly stipends. The second and third place winners will receive ₦10 million and ₦5 million scholarships respectively.
All top 9 finalists will receive laptops and other cash prizes, ensuring that outstanding performance at every level is recognised and rewarded.
Importantly, the impact extends beyond the students. Teachers of the top 9 participants are also awarded cash prizes, highlighting the vital role educators play in shaping future innovators. It is a holistic approach that celebrates excellence across the entire learning ecosystem.
As a programme, InterswitchSPAKs reflects a broader vision, one where merit, curiosity, and hard work are rewarded, and where every student has a fair chance to succeed. Its transparent, technology-driven process ensures a level playing field for participants across Nigeria.
For students, this is an opportunity to test their knowledge, build confidence, and gain national recognition. For parents, it is a chance to actively support and unlock their children’s potential. And for schools, it remains a powerful platform to showcase academic excellence.
Sometimes, all it takes is one decision and one application to change the trajectory of a future. With the ongoing school holidays providing more time and fewer distractions, this is the ideal moment to get started. Registration for InterswitchSPAK 8.0 is open until May 24, 2026. Eligible students are encouraged to register at www.interswitchspak.com.
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