Telecom
9PSB, Seerbit Partner to Provide Seamless Customer Experience
Nigeria’s pioneer and foremost Payment Service Bank, 9Payment Service Bank (9PSB) and SeerBit, a pan-African enterprise payment platform, have entered into a strategic partnership that will facilitate seamless access to financial services for individuals and businesses in Nigeria.
L-R: Omoniyi Kolade, Chief Executive Officer, SeerBit; Branka Mracajac, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, 9 Payment Service Bank at the recent MoU Signing Ceremony for their partnership to build and deploy solutions for enhancing financial inclusiveness in Nigeria.
9PSB and SeerBit will co-create a seamless payment and omnichannel banking ecosystem that aggregates and simplifies transactions for banking agents, merchants, end consumers, and businesses. This partnership creates a unique opportunity to deploy a home-grown solution that sets out a roadmap for the digitisation of payments and enables the ecosystem for closing the financial exclusion gap.
Speaking on the partnership, Branka Mracajac, CEO of 9PSB remarked that 9PSB is committed to building a strong financial ecosystem that is driven by collaboration.
She said, “The core of our business is to provide easy, convenient, and seamless financial transactions to the unbanked, under-banked, and under-served.
“To achieve this, collaboration is central to our strategy – with technology leaders and partners on this long journey with the ultimate goal to move Nigeria from a cash to cashless society. Thus, expanding on our promise to deliver relevant financial products.
“Through this partnership we will be providing our agents, partners, and customers with a single point of entry to enjoy various products and services.”
On his part, Omoniyi Kolade, Founder and CEO of SeerBit, stated that in alignment with SeerBit’s vision of providing innovative technology solutions tailored at bridging payment gaps, the collaboration with 9PSB will ensure that African businesses reap the full benefits of the digital payments boom in the region.
“The collaboration also consolidates SeerBit’s position as a frontline player in the digital payment ecosystem in Africa.
Our goal has always been to grow a new wave of prosperity in Africa by creating more avenues for businesses in Africa to accept payments and we are happy to do this in partnership with 9PSB. We will empower millions of businesses to accept digital payments, charting the course for the new direction for digitization in Africa.” he said.
This synergy aligns with efforts to ensure interconnectivity and interoperability amongst stakeholders in the financial sector, which is vital to accelerating the financial inclusion drive.
By providing secure and reliable electronic payment solutions, the partnership will contribute to the transformation of the informal sector to formal, support the drive for economic growth by empowering SMEs and deepen inclusion through innovative financial products and services for individuals, businesses and the fintech ecosystem in Nigeria.
In recent times, Africa has witnessed an exponential growth in digital financial services, driven by increasing mobile penetration. More than half of Africans remain without formal bank accounts but most own mobile phones through which they access basic financial services.
In its latest annual State of the Industry report, GSMA, reveals that the value of mobile money transactions passed the $1 trillion mark in 2021 with Africa accounting for nearly 70% of the total amount of transactions recorded.
With this partnership, both companies are set to positively contribute to this trend by expanding accessibility and last-mile delivery of digital payment solutions on the continent while further driving its impressive growth.
On a mission to Bank9ja, 9PSB is committed to product innovations that support ease of access to financial services. The digital bank has created a custom-tailored solution, Bank9ja, a bank agnostic mobile App and web platform, designed to service both the totally excluded as well as the included but underserved in society, by allowing easy access and connection by all banks and other FinTech’s willing and ready to partner with 9PSB.
As part of this Mission, 9PSB recently completed a total upgrade of its USSD channel – *990# and relaunched and rebranded its mobile App – now called Bank9ja – with the sole aim of empowering users with more options to bank with ease, quicker onboarding, low transfer charges and no extra charges on bills payment.
MTN Nigeria recently celebrated the graduation of the third cohort of its Media Innovation Programme (MIP), awarding a total of NGN 2.5 million in cash prizes to three outstanding fellows. The graduation ceremony took place at the Pan-Atlantic University in Ibeju-Lekki, highlighting MTN’s commitment to fostering innovation in the media sector.
Launched in partnership with the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, the MIP is designed to equip media professionals with essential skills in traditional journalism while emphasizing the importance of technology in storytelling. Over six-months, fellows engaged in a comprehensive curriculum that included topics such as media entrepreneurship, ICT in media, and ethical journalism.
During the graduation ceremony, three fellows were recognized for their exceptional contributions including the MTN Nigeria Chairman Award for Innovation awarded to Augustus Aigbe of Cool FM; the MTN Foundation Chairman Award for Innovative Reportage to Moninkanola Ogidan of Adaba 88.9FM, Akure and the MTN Award for Best Reporting awarded to Chiemelie Ezeobi from ThisDay Newspapers.
The Executive Director of MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, emphasized the importance of the media innovation and adaptability in media, stating that these awards represent an investment in the future leaders of journalism. “At MTN, we believe a lot in excellence, which is why the partnership with Pan-Atlantic University is still ongoing. We recognise that the future of media lies in innovation and adaptability.
“These awards do not just celebrate the Fellows’ achievement; we are investing in the next generation of media leaders. In an era where digital platforms redefine how stories are told, media practitioners must be equipped with the skills and resources to thrive.”
Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean of the School of Media and Communication, highlighted the significance of investing in future media professionals to drive positive societal change while maintaining ethical standards. “In recent times, technological innovation, social media, Artificial Intelligence and the likes have been viewed as dangerous, due to their misuse, although they are not in themselves bad.
“And this is one thing that drives our programs for media practitioners. Our vision is to train and equip competent and professional persons who will use these technological advancements and platforms as a means to contribute to the good of the society.”
The ceremony ended with the Class President, Nifemi Oguntoye expressing his gratitude towards MTN and Pan-Atlantic University for providing a transformative experience that fostered cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and South Africa. “We’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the best minds in the industry. The lessons learnt during our study trip, discussions and engagements have been invaluable. We are eternally grateful to Pan-Atlantic University and MTN for the commitment to empowering Nigerian journalists. A number of our colleagues look forward to having this experience in the next cohort and we know they will not be disappointed”, he said.
To date, MTN Nigeria has invested over NGN 300 million in the media. MIP not only aims to enhance the skills of individual practitioners but also seeks to contribute to a more robust media landscape capable of navigating the complexities of a digital economy projected to reach $18.3 billion by 2026. The event reflects MTN’s ongoing dedication to bridging the digital divide and enhancing media capabilities within Nigeria’s rapidly evolving landscape.
MTN Group and MTN Nigeria have expressed delight at participating in the 11th South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission held in Cape Town on Tuesday, during which the strong bonds between the two countries were reinforced and plans were made to accelerate cooperation.
MTN Group CEO/President, Ralph Mupita and MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe with President Tinubu
The MTN delegation – led by Group President & CEO, Ralph Mupita, MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Olutokun Toriola – was honoured to engage with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the sidelines of the meeting, which was hosted by South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Hon Parks Tau.
MTN Nigeria is an important MTN subsidiary, accounting for some 27% of all MTN subscribers and some 23% of Group service revenue.
MTN has long established itself as a company that is a proud supporter of the Nigerian economy, remaining committed to contributing to the nation’s progress across several fronts.
“We believe in the Bi-National Commission’s objectives and the pivotal role of the digital economy in driving inclusive growth in Nigeria. We look forward to continuing our support for economic development initiatives,” says a MTN LinkedIn post.
Digital Realty Nigeria’s CEO, Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, has received a prestigious Presidential recognition from the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) at the 7th .ng Awards.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani
This accolade recognizes his significant contributions to the growth and evolution of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem over the past three decades.
“Nnamani was honored for his innovative spirit and leadership in shaping the future of the digital landscape,” said NiRA President, Adesola Akinsanya, while commending him and other awardees for their exceptional work in driving digital transformation in Nigeria.
A visibly humbled Nnamani dedicated the award to his dedicated team at Digital Realty Nigeria, acknowledging their pivotal role in the company’s success. He expressed gratitude to NiRA and the broader industry for recognizing his contributions.
This latest recognition adds to Nnamani’s impressive list of accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards and the prestigious Titans of Tech Hall of Fame.
The 7th .ng Awards, a biennial event, celebrated the achievements of individuals and organizations that have made significant strides in Nigeria’s digital landscape.
The two-day event featured insightful discussions on emerging technologies, digital trends, and the role of the .ng domain in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
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