The Interswitch TechConnect 5.0 series successfully concluded in Lagos, culminating a multi-city journey dedicated entirely to strengthening collaboration across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Hosted by Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, the grand finale served as a powerful platform where regulators, financial institutions, fintech innovators, and technology leaders convened to collectively advance conversations on shared purpose, innovation, and compliance.
The Lagos edition, held at the Federal Palace Hotel, embodied its theme: “United Frontiers: Growth Powered by Innovation, Collaboration and Compliance.” This event reinforced Interswitch’s unwavering commitment to fostering synergy and establishing foundational partnerships among all ecosystem stakeholders, aiming to build a more trusted, inclusive, and innovation-driven financial landscape together.
In his keynote address, Akeem Lawal, Managing Director, Payment Processing & Switching (Interswitch Purepay), emphasized the collaborative spirit of the platform.
“At Interswitch, we’ve always believed that innovation thrives best in an environment built on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Through TechConnect, we’ve created a vital space for regulators, banks, fintechs, and innovators to connect, exchange ideas, and collaboratively explore how compliance can become a true enabler of scalable growth. When we talk about powering Africa’s digital economy, it’s not just about technology, it’s about people, partnerships, and purpose. This is how we collectively build the frameworks that will define Africa’s digital future and ensure that the progress we make today sets the foundation for inclusive growth tomorrow,” Lawal stated.
Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Corporate Communications, Interswitch Group, welcomed participants by highlighting TechConnect’s role as a nexus for partnership.
“Over the past few weeks, TechConnect has journeyed through Enugu and Abuja, sparking ideas, strengthening partnerships, and connecting innovation with policy in powerful ways… This year’s theme, ‘United Frontiers,’ embodies what TechConnect stands for. It’s not just an event, it’s a catalyst that unites the innovators shaping Africa’s future, the regulators ensuring safe, sustainable growth, and the businesses transforming lives through technology. Through platforms like TechConnect, we continue to drive collaboration, trust, and shared growth across the ecosystem,” Eromosele affirmed.
A key focus on partnership was evident during a fireside chat featuring Ajakaiye Itanola, Deputy Director, Payments System Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He underscored the critical importance of continued collaboration between the regulator and industry stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s payment systems and accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda.
“At the CBN, we are committed to developing clearer and more inclusive regulations, a deliberate shift from the old ways of doing things. We are now involving more industry players in the process… We believe that well-defined regulations serve as a catalyst for innovation, helping to shape the future and ensure that collective efforts remain sustainable and impactful,” Itanola noted, stressing the CBN’s willingness to partner with the industry.
The day’s discussions centred on frameworks for joint success. The panel session, “De-risking Innovation with Regulatory Compliance and Strategic Partnership for Growth,” explored how institutions can collaboratively balance agility with accountability. The second session, “Compliance as a Catalyst: Unlocking Scalable Innovation, Growth, and Collaboration in the Financial Ecosystem,” delved into how regulatory foresight can become a foundational driver of innovation and scalability through partnership.
Industry leaders shared actionable insights on cybersecurity, open banking, artificial intelligence, and, most importantly, collaborative frameworks that enable responsible innovation and inclusive growth. The event celebrated this communal effort with an awards presentation, recognising outstanding partners and key contributors who are driving inclusion through shared innovation.
With its Lagos finale, TechConnect 5.0 cemented its place as a cornerstone of industry collaboration, successfully connecting innovation, policy, and partnership to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation journey together.