Susan Abayomi
Interswitch Group has reiterated the importance of strong digital and financial infrastructure in driving sustainable growth across Africa’s rapidly evolving fintech sector.
The company made the position known at The Borderless Experience 2026, organised by Condia and held in Lagos on Friday, August 21, where industry stakeholders discussed the future of fintech, cross-border payments and financial innovation across the continent.
Speaking during a fireside conversation on the future of African fintech, Akeem Lawal, Managing Director of Payment Processing and Switching at Interswitch Purepay, stressed the need for stronger collaboration among fintech companies, commercial banks, infrastructure providers and regulators.
According to Lawal, the responsibility for advancing financial innovation should not rest solely on fintech companies. He noted that banks and infrastructure providers also have an important role to play in creating secure, transparent and compliant systems that allow fintech businesses to innovate and expand.
Lawal’s comments highlighted Interswitch’s position that innovation within Africa’s financial sector can only achieve lasting impact when supported by reliable infrastructure.
As digital payments and financial technology continue to transform how individuals and businesses access and transfer money, the need for secure, resilient and trusted payment infrastructure has become increasingly important.
He also identified trust as a major consideration in the continued development of cross-border and contactless payments. According to him, some consumers remain concerned about the security of contactless transactions, particularly when payments can be completed without entering a PIN.
The discussion further underscored the importance of cooperation between established financial institutions, fintech innovators, infrastructure providers and regulators in building an ecosystem capable of supporting Africa’s growing digital economy.
Lawal said the future of fintech should go beyond the development of innovative products, emphasising the need to establish the infrastructure required to ensure that such innovations can scale and remain sustainable.
The Borderless Experience 2026 brought together players within Africa’s technology and financial ecosystem for discussions around fintech innovation, entrepreneurship, cross-border commerce and the infrastructure needed to support the continent’s next phase of digital financial growth.
For Interswitch, the discussions reinforce its broader focus on strengthening payment infrastructure and supporting an African financial ecosystem where technological innovation and dependable infrastructure develop side by side.
