The Unified Payments Academy, a groundbreaking talent incubation initiative by Unified Payment Services Limited, held its inaugural session kick-starting the academy with 25 interns admitted from across the nation.

The Academy, a first-of-its-kind programme in Nigeria’s Fintech industry, aims to nurture and train top-tier professionals to bridge the talent gap currently plaguing the fast-growing industry.

The first cohort of 25 talented individuals, selected from a pool of over 2,000 applicants, represent a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, united by their passion to drive technological evolution and solve complex problems through financial technology. These bright minds will undergo a six-week intensive training programme led by industry experts, followed by two years of hands-on experience and real-world opportunities.

The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Unified Payments, Dr Agada B. Apochi, while welcoming the interns to the programme, stated that the Academy is structured to serve not just Unified Payments as a company, but to train experts for the payment industry in Nigeria, Africa and the world.

“As Nigeria’s premier payment technology company, Unified Payments is proud to lead the charge in identifying and grooming the next generation of Fintech talents,” he said.

He further spoke on the increasing demand for experienced professionals within the industry, affirming that the quality of education and experience the interns would be exposed to at the Academy would equip them to deliver value in any organisation they find themselves.

Apochi, while encouraging the interns to envision a bright future, recalled his career journey, which saw him grow from a contract staff in a bank to leading Nigeria’s foremost payment technology company.

In her keynote address, Director of Corporate Services, Vivian Okolo, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to excellence and encouraged the interns to fully immerse themselves in the Unified Payments ecosystem.

Okolo highlighted Unified Payments’ position as a pioneer within the sector, with unrivalled expressions like Payattitude, Payarena, Hope PSBank, and UP Digital, underscoring the interns’ opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking innovations in the Fintech industry.

Also speaking at the event, the Group Head, Human Resources, of the organisation, Mrs. Chioma Akaniro, charged the interns to make the most of their time at the Academy by adopting and implementing the habits of highly effective people.

Unified Payments Academy represents Unified Payments Services Limited’s commitment to nurturing talent and driving innovation in Nigeria’s Fintech landscape. The academy’s selection process is both rigorous and inclusive, ensuring that only the best and brightest minds are chosen to embark on the transformative journey.

For more information about Unified Payments Academy and its initiatives, please visit www.up-ng.com