Apex Network has celebrated its fifth anniversary with an industry forum in Lagos centred on strategies for building infrastructure to support Africa’s next billion digital users.
The forum, themed “The African Digital Economy: Building the Infrastructure for the Next Billion Users”, brought together technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to discuss scalable systems, policy frameworks and partnerships for inclusive digital growth.
Benjamin Onyebuchi, Product Design Lead at Apex Network, said user-centred design is critical to making digital systems inclusive and scalable.
“For Africa’s next billion digital users, scalability is not just about infrastructure, it is about ensuring products are intuitive, accessible and trustworthy for very diverse groups,” he said. “That means designing for low-bandwidth environments, supporting multiple languages, and enabling features such as USSD and mobile money.”
Onyebuchi added that artificial intelligence will play an increasing role in simplifying complexity across digital finance and other sectors. “AI will make products easier to use by handling some of the complicated processes in the background. For designers, the focus will be guiding AI to ensure outcomes are simple, safe and fair,” he said.
Commenting on Apex’s expansion into new African markets and regulated jurisdictions, Onyebuchi explained that modular design systems help balance compliance with local realities. “The core product remains consistent, but regional layers can be adapted for language, currency, or compliance without rebuilding from scratch,” he said.
Abraham Efemena, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Apex Network, described the company as “a secure platform that allows its users to buy, sell and swap cryptocurrency with ease.” He added that digital platforms have created new income opportunities for young people, though regulation remains a challenge.
Addressing artificial intelligence (AI), Efemena said it has “done more good than harm”, highlighting its potential to simplify complex information and reduce barriers to access. He advised innovators to first establish their products in local markets before scaling internationally, noting that Apex operates in over seven African countries and is assessing compliance requirements in more regulated jurisdictions.
Other Apex executives and guest speakers at the forum highlighted the roles of artificial intelligence, payments innovation, and cybersecurity in shaping Africa’s digital economy. The event also featured product showcases from Basewallet, Lenco and Zorvia.