Serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, has declared that foremost financial institution, Access Bank Plc is eminently equipped to take advantage of the impending disruption aided by the rise of financial technologies (FinTech) which is expected to unleash an era of innovative change in the financial services sector.

He made this assertion on the sidelines of the inaugural edition of Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech conference tagged AFF disrupt held at Eko Convention Centre on Wednesday, December 14, 2017.

Ekeh, who featured as one of the guest speakers at the event, noted that Access Bank’s establishment of Africa FinTech Foundry (AFF), a new financial industry that applies technology to improve financial activities, is a bold move that has further demonstrated the bank’s readiness to take the lead in the race to leverage financial technologies (FinTech) in the sector.

“I can now see why the young men at Access Bank exude so much confidence to lead in the financial sector in the near future at a time the Nigeria banking sector is almost ready for a certified leader.

“I commend Access Bank on the launch of the Africa FinTech Foundry which will not only boost technological innovations in the financial services sector, but will also offer young African tech start-ups and entrepreneurs access to much-needed capital, capacity-building, world class partnership opportunities and a useful platform to launch innovative products and solutions on a global scale. We all expect the Nigeria government to use platforms like this to build a new generation of Nigerians who can defend their wealth.

“This is an era in which you either disrupt or stand the risk of being disrupted. This reality is much more pronounced in the banking and financial services sector, hence the growing popularity of financial technologies or FinTech, as it is widely known.

“The landmark step taken by Access Bank shows the bank’s readiness for the future of disruption in the sector which is already here with us,” he stated.

The Zinox Chairman – who featured as a panelist in one of the discussions, From growth to sustainability – How FinTech can survive and thrive – also gave attendees a plethora of insights and useful tips drawn from his over 35 years’ journey as arguably Africa’s biggest technology entrepreneur during a Fireside chat moderated by Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Managing Partner at Grand Central, Nigeria.

The inaugural edition of the Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech conference had in attendance the best startups building products and solutions in the Financial Technology (FinTech) space, alongside investors, financial and technology partners, and a global audience of delegates from disparate industries to showcase next generation technologies and innovative solutions relevant to the financial services industry. Sessions on the day included a keynote address, fireside chats, masterclasses, partner exhibitions and panel discussions.

Speakers at the event included former Minister of Communication Technology and Senior Partner at TLcom Capital, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; CEO, SystemLogic Group, South Africa, Audrey Mothupi; Founder, SASWARE Nigeria, Collins Onuegbu; Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Nigeria, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele; Investment Officer, West Africa at Accion Nigeria, Ashley Lewis; Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation Nigeria, KyariBukar; Managing Director, SystemSpecs Nigeria, John Obaro; Managing Director/CEO, InfoGraphics Nigeria, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu; Chief Investment Officer, Coronation Capital, Ahovi Kponou; Managing Director, Accenture Financial Services, Toluwaleke Adenmosun, among many others.

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