Digital Payments, Key To Microfinance Banking Growth, Innovation, Experts Say

Leaders and experts in the financial technology sub-sector have said digital payments hold the key to the success and stay of Nigeria microfinance banking sector of the country’s economy. The experts spoke at Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch TechConnect event held in Port-Harcourt where they explored the transformative impact of digital payments in the microfinance sector. Keynote speaker and Group Head, Financial Services Business, Digital Infrastructure & Managed Services (Interswitch Systegra) Tyoyila Aga emphasized the pivotal roles latest trends in digital payment solutions, such as mobile wallets, QR codes, and contactless payments play in shaping the future landscape of microfinance banking. Aga noted that digital payments innovation is big for the microfinance sector as it comes with opportunities for growth, and ultimately, financial inclusion, hence the reason Interswitch is at the forefront of driving the growth of digital payments across the country and beyond. He said, “We are excited to have come this far in propagating the good news around what digital payment innovation holds for our microfinance sector. At Interswitch, we are all about innovation and as a company committed to driving the digital transformation of Nigeria’s financial services, we are proud to play a leading role in shaping the future of microfinance banking.” Attendees who spoke to our correspondent said they gained valuable insights into the technological advancements that are revolutionizing financial services and the potential these innovations hold for financial inclusion and economic empowerment. The event also featured panel discussions, where industry leaders engaged in conversations on different strategies for growth in the microfinance sector, sharing their perspectives on leveraging digital technologies to drive growth in the financial sector. The discussion covered topics ranging from cybersecurity and regulatory compliance to the integration of emerging technologies, providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted aspects of digital transformation.

Again, equity market sheds N96bn

The local stock market closed trading on Thursday on a negative note, shedding N96 billion with the anticipated rise in exchange rate and fuel prices.The market capitalisation of listed equities declined further by 0.27 per cent to N35.273 trillion from N35.369 trillion reported the previous day.The decline led the benchmark index, NGX ASI, to witness a decline of 176.32 basis points, concluding at 64448.96 points from 64,625.28 points reported on Wednesday.An analysis of the investment showed that JohnHolt led gainers table in percentage terms, gaining 10 per cent to close at N1.32 per share, CWG followed with a gain of 9.76 per cent to close at N3.60 per share, Prestige insurance gained 8.33 per cent to close at N0.52 per unit, Cutix Plc added 8.00 per cent to close at N2.70 while Linkage Assurance gained 7.69 per cent to close at N0.98 per unit.On the contrary Guinness Nigeria Plc topped losers chart, dropping by 8.57 per cent to close at N0.32 per unit, RTBriscoe trailed with 8.16 per cent to close at N0.45 per unit, Chi Plc loss 7.61 per cent to close at N0.85 per share, SUNU Assurance dipped by 6.98 per cent to close at N0.80 per unit, Deep Capital declined by 6.67 per cent to close at N0.28 per share.The volume of trades increased by 28.63 million, representing 9.82 per cent as investors traded 320.346 million shares valued at N3.729 billion in 5176 deals against 291.714 million shares costing N7.432 billion in 6213 deals.Transactions in the shares of Fidelity Bank led market activities with 80.045 million shares valued at N595.543 million, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria followed with 34.268 million shares worth N137.206 million, United Bank for Africa traded 24.398 million shares cost N340.020 million , Universal Insurance traded 22.429 million shares worth N5.062 million , FBNHoldings exchanged 19.096 million shares cost N353.481 million.