Against this backdrop, leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch, has concluded the sixth edition of its flagship industry engagement platform, TechConnect, with a call for stronger collaboration and innovation across Nigeria's financial services and technology sectors.
The grand finale, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, marked the culmination of a nationwide tour that covered four major cities: Owerri, Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos.
The initiative brought together financial services professionals, fintech innovators, business executives and other industry stakeholders to examine emerging trends, exchange ideas and explore how financial infrastructure can support sustainable business growth and the expansion of digital commerce.
With the theme, “Built for What’s Next: Designing Adaptive Financial Infrastructure for a Dynamic Market,” TechConnect 6.0 focused on the importance of developing secure, interoperable and resilient payment systems that can accommodate evolving business models and consumer demands.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Payment Scheme and Network (Verve International), said the future of digital finance would depend on building systems that can accommodate innovation without compromising security and consumer confidence.
“Building for what’s next extends beyond just adopting new technologies to creating financial infrastructure that can evolve with changing consumer expectations, support new business models and enable innovation without compromising the trust on which digital finance depends,” he said.
Ogbunude added that the increasing digitisation and interconnectedness of payment systems made it necessary for industry players to strengthen interoperability, security and resilience while creating more flexible payment experiences.
“As payments become increasingly digital and interconnected, we must continue to strengthen interoperability, security and resilience while creating room for new payment experiences that give consumers greater choice and businesses more flexibility,” he stated.
The four-city engagement also provided an opportunity for Interswitch to deepen conversations around regional market realities and the partnerships required to strengthen Nigeria's digital economy.
Robinta Aluyi, Chief Sales Officer at Interswitch, said the platform was designed to bring together stakeholders across different sectors to share experiences, identify opportunities and develop practical solutions to industry challenges.
“TechConnect is about bringing stakeholders across the financial services, technology and business ecosystems together to share perspectives on the realities of our market, the opportunities ahead and the partnerships required to move the industry forward,” she said.
Reflecting on the nationwide tour, Aluyi noted that discussions across the four locations reinforced the need for financial infrastructure that responds to changing commercial and consumer requirements.
“As we conclude this year’s edition, the conversations across our four-city journey reinforce the need to build financial infrastructure that responds to changing business and consumer needs, supports innovation and creates a strong foundation for sustainable growth,” she added.
AI, tokenisation dominate Lagos discussions
At the Lagos grand finale, discussions centred on emerging technologies and their growing influence on financial services, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), tokenisation and real-time payments.
A major highlight was a panel session titled “Adaptive Frameworks: Digital Financial Services in an Era of AI, Tokenization and Real-Time Payments,” which examined how these technologies are reshaping payment systems and the wider financial services landscape.
Industry experts explored the infrastructure, technical capabilities and strategic partnerships required to develop more responsive financial ecosystems capable of supporting the next phase of digital commerce.
Another key session was a fireside chat, “Tokenization: The Next Chapter for Digital Payments,” which examined how tokenisation could strengthen payment security, support digital transactions and provide additional protection for card-based payments.
Participants also witnessed a live demonstration of a tokenised transaction, offering practical insight into how the technology can secure digital payments in real time.
The event further featured an official announcement concerning Google's entry into Nigeria, highlighting the roles of Interswitch, Verve and their ecosystem partners in facilitating greater integration with global digital commerce platforms.
Adding an industry research perspective, international research firm Kantar delivered a presentation titled “From the Queue to the Tap: Twenty Years of How Nigerians Pay.”
The presentation examined changes in consumer payment behaviour over the past two decades, tracing the transition from traditional payment methods to increasingly digital and contactless experiences while offering perspectives on emerging commerce trends.
L–R: Damọla Bolodeoku, Divisional Head of Payments Business, Wema Bank; Robinta Aluyi, Chief Sales Officer, Interswitch; Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Payment Scheme and Network, Interswitch; Titilola Shogaolu, Vice President, Business Operations, Interswitch Group; and Dr Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Corporate Communications, Interswitch Group, at the TechConnect 6.0 grand finale held recently in Lagos. 
L-R: Vincent Ogbunude, MD, Payment Scheme and Network, Interswitch; Titi Shogaolu, VP, Business Operations, Interswitch, and Damola Boladeoku, Divisional head of payments business, Wema Bank at the grand finale of Techconnect 6. 0 held in Lagos
Partners recognised for industry contributions
L-R: Obinna Onuekwusi, Divisional Head, Implementation Delivery and Innovation, Interswitch; Lanre Ogundare, Group Head, Card Business and Solutions, Providus Bank; Dọtun Daniel Adekunle, Chief Operating Officer, Opay; Abidemi Asunmo, Group Head, e-Business and Transaction Banking, Premium Trust Bank and Chairman Committee of e-Business Industry Head (CeBIH), Olukayode Olubiyi, Group Head, Digital Banking, UBA; and Eyitayo Awe, Vice President, Business Development, Interswitch at the TechConnect 6.0 Grand finale in Lagos.
Beyond the discussions on technology and financial innovation, TechConnect 6.0 also provided a platform for Interswitch to showcase its range of payment products and services designed to support financial institutions, corporate organisations and individual consumers.
The event highlighted how integrated payment solutions can improve transaction experiences, strengthen business operations and expand access to digital financial services in an increasingly connected economy.
An awards presentation was also held to recognise outstanding contributions by Interswitch partners across the financial services and technology ecosystems.
The recognition underscored the importance of collaboration among industry participants in developing payment solutions and strengthening the infrastructure supporting Nigeria's digital economy.
With the conclusion of its sixth edition, Interswitch reaffirmed its commitment to fostering industry collaboration, advancing payment innovation and supporting the development of adaptable financial infrastructure.
Through platforms such as TechConnect, the company continues to create opportunities for stakeholders to exchange ideas, explore emerging technologies and build partnerships aimed at strengthening digital commerce.
As Nigeria's financial services landscape continues to evolve, the conversations and collaborations fostered through the initiative highlight the growing importance of secure, interconnected and scalable payment systems in supporting businesses, consumers and the wider African digital economy.