FINTECH holds inaugural meeting, elects exco/governing council

The inaugural annual general meeting of Fintech Association of Nigeria held on January 26, 2018 amongst other things saw the emergence of the new members of the executive/governing council of the Association.

The following were elected to stir the ship of the Association for the next two years; Dr. Segun Aina (Chairman, Fintech Associates) President, Mr. Ade Bajomo, (ED, Access Bank) Vice-President, Mr. Isa Alade, (Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo) Secretary, Mr. Stanley Jacobs (Head, Digital Banking, Ecobank ) Treasurer, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi (CEO, Proshare) Member, Mr. Wole Oyeniran (Director, Deloitte Nigeria) Member, Mr. John Obaro (CEO, SystemSpecs) Member, Dr. Yinka David–West (Director, Lagos Business School) Member, Mr. Tunji Eleso (Managing Partner, Co-Creation Hub) Member, Mr. Taiwo Joda (MD/CEO, Accion Microfinance Bank) Member, Mr. Wale Adewunmi (GMD, Lead Capital) Member, Mrs Bunmi Lawson (Ex MD/CEO, Accion Microfinance Bank) Ex-officio, Mr. Boason Omofaye (Head, Business News, Channels TV) Ex-officio

The President, Aina while briefing the members on the activities of the Association highlighted the various engagements and strategic partnership being established with relevant regulatory agencies in furtherance of the Association’s cardinal objective of accelerating and contributing to the development of a robust regulatory and policy framework that drives the innovation and entrepreneurship of Nigerians, particularly within the financial ecosystem. . In particular, the President noted that the Association has held several meetings with the CBN, NAICOM SEC, NCC, NIMC, NSE amongst others and a compelling case is being made for a uniform approach towards the regulation of the Fintech industry. The Association has also had meaningful interactions with the National Assembly and MDAs that have some roles and or interest in Fintech related matters such as the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Commerce, Trade & Investment. In recognition of its efforts, the Association sounded the closing gong on the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange on JJanuary 24, 2018.

The Association hosted Fintech Enablers from six African Countries; South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroun, Togo and five from Europe and India in an African Fintech Network Roundtable aimed at unifying and channeling African Fintech initiatives toward creating unique African solutions to peculiar African challenges. The Association also in partnership with Fintech Associates Ltd, FintechStage and Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria Centre for Financial Studies hosted the highly successful 2nd National Fintech Conference.

The President also informed members of the plan to open up the membership of the Association to several other players within the ecosystem who had expressed intentions to join the association, a decision members unanimously acceded to.