• Verve Partners GIM-UEMOA To Unlock West African Payment Access
Traders and businessmen across the West African countries will soon begin to enjoy easy financial transactions across borders with the berthing of new payments solution arrangements.

As a result, the challenges usually faced by regional traders will soon become a thing of the past, as payments card and token brand, weVerve, has expanded its footprint into the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) region through a strategic partnership with GIM-UEMOA, the regional payment switch that connects banks and financial institutions across West Africa.

The collaboration enables Verve card acceptance across UEMOA member countries, including Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo, among others.

The parties revealed this during a media briefing in Lagos, where Verve and GIM UEMOA reaffirmed their commitment to innovation and to delivering secure, seamless payment experiences tailored to the evolving needs of African consumers.

They explained that the new deal would eliminate silos by enabling seamless cross-border payments in local currency (XOF), without the need for international switches or third-party intermediaries.

Speaking, Managing Director, Verve International, Vincent Ogbunude, described the partnership as a pivotal step in advancing inclusive, homegrown payment solutions across Africa.

He said: “At Verve, we believe in Africa’s collective potential and the power of partnerships to drive inclusive growth. Our collaboration with GIM-UEMOA marks a major leap toward regional integration, enabling cross-border payments, unlocking new opportunities, and advancing the vision of a truly unified African economy.

“Financial inclusion cannot be achieved in isolation. It demands collective action across governments, businesses, and institutions. Through partnerships like this, we’re moving closer to an Africa where economic empowerment and prosperity are within reach for all.”

Deputy General Manager, GIM-UEMOA, Serges Adingni,said: “In Verve, we have found a partner whose innovative approach complements our regional expertise.

Verve’s impressive footprint across the African continent, coupled with their cutting-edge technological infrastructure, makes them an ideal collaborator in our journey. Together, we are unlocking unprecedented opportunities for financial institutions, businesses, and consumers across our UEMOA.

“This partnership with Verve strengthens our mission to create interoperable, inclusive payment ecosystems that drive economic growth. By enabling Verve card acceptance across the UEMOA region, we’re connecting over 120 million citizens to a broader African network, advancing financial inclusion and reinforcing the vision of a single African market.

“Beyond payments, this partnership also advances the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enabling seamless intra-African commerce, travel, and investment.”

The partnership allows Verve cardholders to transact seamlessly across ATMs and POS terminals in the region, unifying the experience across countries.