Interswitch, the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and other industry stakeholders have called for stronger, more secure and interconnected financial infrastructure to support Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
The call was made at the sixth edition of TechConnect, Interswitch’s flagship industry engagement series, which explored the theme, “Built for What’s Next: Designing Adaptive Financial Infrastructure for a Dynamic Market.”
Participants highlighted the need for reliable payment systems, stronger cybersecurity, data protection and greater interoperability to enable businesses, financial institutions and government agencies to respond to changing market demands.
In a keynote address, Dr Zacch Adedeji, NRS Executive Chairman, said financial infrastructure plays a critical role in connecting consumers, businesses, financial institutions and government, extending beyond payment processing to support wider economic activities and improve service delivery.
Adedeji, who was represented by Tayo Koleosho, the NRS Chief of Staff, identified interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection and public trust as essential to building a dependable digital ecosystem.
He noted that as digital adoption increases, financial infrastructure must evolve to support secure transactions, strengthen regulatory compliance and help institutions respond effectively to emerging opportunities and challenges.
Speaking on the importance of the engagement, Tyoyila Aga, Vice President, Business Innovation and Growth at Interswitch, said TechConnect provides a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and identify practical opportunities for collaboration.
“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 explained that preparing for the future requires more than adopting new technologies. It also demands partnerships, interoperable systems and a shared understanding of how innovation can be translated into scalable solutions.
According to her, the platform enables stakeholders to examine how collective efforts can produce infrastructure capable of supporting sustainable digital growth.
A fireside chat titled “The Digital Economy at Scale: Technology, Payments and the Future of Business in Africa” examined the trends shaping digital business across the continent.
Discussions focused on how technology and payment systems are creating new business models, opening up commercial opportunities and enabling more enterprises to participate in the digital marketplace.
Another session, “Building Nigeria’s Digital Economy: Connecting Government, Payments and Industry for Inclusive Economic Growth,” explored the importance of cooperation among government agencies, payment providers and other industry players in strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
Participants considered how connected systems could expand access to digital services and help businesses and citizens benefit from the growth of the digital economy.
Speakers also emphasised the need for financial infrastructure that is secure, resilient, interoperable and adaptable to changing market conditions. They stressed that sustained engagement between public and private sector stakeholders would be crucial to translating technological advances into practical solutions that can be deployed at scale.
The event also featured demonstrations of Interswitch’s solutions and capabilities, highlighting how payment technology and digital infrastructure can help organisations respond to evolving customer expectations and business needs.
