Stakeholders seek adaptive financial infrastructure for Nigeria’s digital economy

Interswitch, a leading African payments and digital commerce company, has called for stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions and technology providers to build adaptive financial infrastructure capable of supporting Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

The call was made at the sixth edition of its TechConnect industry engagement series, held in Abuja on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, where stakeholders examined the role of technology, digital payments and policy in driving sustainable economic growth.

The event, themed “Built for What’s Next: Designing Adaptive Financial Infrastructure for a Dynamic Market,” brought together representatives of government, the financial services sector, technology companies and businesses to discuss how connected and resilient financial systems could respond to changing market demands.

The Abuja event followed the opening of TechConnect 6.0 in Owerri on September 24, with subsequent engagements scheduled for Ibadan on October 22 and Lagos on October 27.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji, the agency’s Chief of Staff, Tayo Koleosho, said financial infrastructure was becoming increasingly important in connecting consumers, businesses, financial institutions and government.

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He noted that the expanding adoption of digital technologies had broadened the role of financial infrastructure beyond facilitating payments to supporting economic activities and improving service delivery.

Koleosho also stressed the importance of interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection and trust in developing a reliable digital ecosystem.

According to him, these capabilities are essential for securing transactions, strengthening compliance and enabling institutions to respond effectively to changing market requirements.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Tyoyila Aga, Vice President, Business Innovation and Growth at Interswitch, said TechConnect provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and identify practical opportunities for collaboration as the digital economy evolves.

“The future of financial infrastructure will be shaped by how effectively we connect technology, institutions and people around the needs of a changing economy,” Aga said.

She added that building infrastructure for the future required not only the adoption of emerging technologies but also partnerships, interoperability and a shared understanding of how to translate innovation into scalable solutions.

“TechConnect provides a platform for these conversations, bringing stakeholders together to exchange ideas and explore how we can collectively build infrastructure that supports sustainable digital growth,” she said.

The event featured a fireside chat titled “The Digital Economy at Scale: Technology, Payments and the Future of Business in Africa,” which examined how technological innovation and digital payment systems were creating new business models, expanding commercial opportunities and increasing participation in the digital marketplace.

A panel session, themed “Building Nigeria’s Digital Economy: Connecting Government, Payments and Industry for Inclusive Economic Growth,” also explored the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors in strengthening digital infrastructure.

Participants discussed how government agencies, payment providers and businesses could develop interconnected systems that allow more citizens and enterprises to benefit from the opportunities created by digitalisation.

The discussions highlighted the need for financial infrastructure that is secure, interoperable, resilient and adaptable to changing consumer expectations and business requirements.

Stakeholders also emphasised that sustained engagement between government and private-sector players would be crucial to translating technological innovation into practical solutions that can be deployed at scale.

Interswitch showcased some of its solutions and capabilities at the event, demonstrating how payments technology and digital infrastructure could help organisations respond to evolving customer demands and navigate changes in the business environment.

The company said the Abuja edition built on discussions initiated in Owerri and would inform subsequent engagements in Ibadan and Lagos.

Through the TechConnect series, Interswitch aims to bring together stakeholders across the digital economy to exchange knowledge, explore emerging opportunities and advance conversations on developing financial infrastructure that can support Nigeria’s evolving economic needs.