The Managing Director of PalmPay Group, Chika Nwosu, has called on Africa’s Fintech industry to make the next priority moving beyond financial inclusion to financial integration.
Nwosu made this submission at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum (AEMF 2026), held on July 29-30, 2026, in Abuja, while speaking on the research paper titled “Deepening Regional Economic Integration Through Cross-Border Payments, Fintech, Infrastructure, and Policy Coordination.”
Sharing his perspective on the need for greater investment in interoperable payment infrastructure to support Africa’s next phase of economic transformation, he said, “The opportunity is no longer just connecting more people to financial services. It is connecting African markets through financial services. True regional integration means making it easier for businesses to pay suppliers, receive payments, and grow across borders with confidence.”
The forum brought together policymakers, regulators, development institutions, and private sector leaders to examine how stronger regional collaboration, digital innovation, and coordinated financial systems can deepen economic integration across the continent.
The PalmPay boss also emphasized that reliability must remain at the center of Africa’s digital transformation. As payment ecosystems become increasingly interconnected, strengthening cybersecurity will be critical to sustaining growth and building confidence in digital finance. The company reaffirmed its commitment to building a safer digital financial ecosystem through continued investment in consumer education, industry partnerships, and its robust security architecture.
The company’s position aligned with broader discussions at the forum.
Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, called for Africa to move beyond being consumers of technology and become creators of solutions designed for the continent’s specific challenges. In a LinkedIn post by the CBN, the governor also emphasized the need to unlock women’s full economic participation, noting that “Africa cannot fly with one wing.” This aligns with PalmPay’s commitment to drive inclusive finance. In 2025, the company supported more than 3,000 women entrepreneurs in Kano and Kaduna with digital banking tools and capacity-building opportunities, while continuing to expand access to digital financial services for SMEs and other underserved communities. Reaching underserved groups is PalmPay’s core priority.
During a fireside discussion, WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also urged African leaders to prioritize implementation, strengthen regional integration, and create conditions that attract greater domestic investment, noting that sustainable development begins with confidence from local investors.
For PalmPay, this reflects a broader belief: Africa’s next economic transformation will be defined not only by the agreements it signs, but also by the systems it builds.
PalmPay said it will continue to strengthen Nigeria’s payment infrastructure and work with regulators, financial institutions, and ecosystem partners to support a more connected, secure, and inclusive digital economy.
About PalmPay Group
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Hong Kong, PalmPay Group is a multinational fintech company providing digital financial services to financially underserved, high-growth emerging markets across Africa and Asia.
PalmPay Group provides individuals and businesses with essential financial services such as payments, savings, insurance, credit, and payment acceptance tools. Where smartphone ownership is the barrier to digital finance, PalmPay finances the device itself, often giving people their first phone and first financial account at once.
The Group has been recognized by TIME, the Financial Times, CNBC, and more as one of the world’s top finance companies. Its contributions to financial inclusion have also received official acknowledgement from the central bank regulatory authorities in its core operating markets.
