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A Cashless Economy Can Be a Win-Win for Businesses, Nigeria’s Economy

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By Yvonne-Faith Elaigwu, Head of Operations and Governance, OnePipe

Consider a typical day in the life of Mr. Chukwu, a small business owner in Lagos. His morning ritual invariably starts with a visit to the bank to withdraw the amount of cash to sustain his shop operations for the day or deposit the excess amount of cash from the previous day’s sales. From catering to customers’ change needs to safeguarding his earnings from potential theft, the tangible presence of cash, while familiar, also brings with it a unique set of challenges.

Now, imagine a different scenario. A scenario where Mr. Chukwu no longer has to worry about these issues. This is the promise of a cashless society. In such a society, his daily transactions would be seamless, immediate, and secure, freeing up his time and mental bandwidth to focus on what he truly loves – serving his customers and improving his business.

Moreover, a cashless economy can provide businesses like Mr. Chukwu’s with a new kind of asset – data. Every digital transaction tells a story, providing valuable insights about consumer behaviour. Businesses can tap into this data to understand their customers better, tailor their offerings, and make informed, data-driven decisions. This, in turn, can help businesses drive growth and foster customer loyalty. Companies like OnePipe, for instance, are at the forefront of this data revolution, leveraging technology to help businesses unlock the potential of their transaction data.

But the impact of a cashless society extends beyond individual businesses. On a macro level, it promises to usher in significant benefits for the Nigerian economy. Cashless transactions can help formalise the economy, bringing a larger share of transactions under the purview of the banking system and thereby increasing the taxable base. This could lead to an increase in government revenue, enabling more effective fiscal policies and contributing to overall economic growth.

Moreover, a cashless society has the potential to democratise access to financial services. Take the example of Amina, a resident of a remote village in Sokoto. Her interaction with the financial system has always been limited due to her physical distance from banking institutions. But in a cashless economy, all Amina needs is a phone and a bank account. This would allow her to participate in the financial system, providing her with access to credit, the ability to save and invest, and a host of other financial services that were previously out of her reach.

The transition to a cashless society, however, isn’t a walk in the park. It requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders – the government, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals. It requires significant investments in digital infrastructure, consumer education, and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure that the transition is smooth, secure, and inclusive.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of a cashless society make the journey not just worthwhile, but necessary. Businesses stand to gain from increased efficiency and access to data. Businesses, like Mr. Chukwu’s and customers like Amina, will enjoy a seamless and inclusive financial experience. And on a larger scale, the Nigerian economy stands to benefit from increased formalisation and financial inclusion.

As we stand on the brink of this transformation, it’s time to embrace the promise of a cashless Nigeria – a future where every transaction is seamless, where businesses are empowered by data, and where every Nigerian, regardless of where they live or what they do, can participate in and benefit from a vibrant and inclusive economy. It’s a bold vision, but with the combined efforts of all stakeholders, it’s a vision that we can make a reality.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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SLTV to Create Jobs, Shore Nigeria’s Forex- Nwafor

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Metrodigital Ltd., homegrown satellite pay television and owners of Silver Lake Television (SLTV), has promised to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians and shore up foreign exchange for the country.

SLTV to Create Jobs, Shore Nigeria’s Forex- Nwafor

Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor, the company’s managing director who stated this in an interview in Abuja, said that the plan is to create thousands of jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths, adding that dealers were already springing up across the country.

“Each dealer will have his own installer and offices would be opened in this regard. So, SLTV is going to help in creating a lot of jobs and will also create another platform for innovations,” he said.

The businessman said Nigeria’s focus was on leading the world’s industry. He noted that the Nigerian music industry was already making waves worldwide and expressed hope that Nigeria’s indigenous pay-TV industry would also experience the same quickly.

‘’The success will bring in foreign exchange earnings for the country,’’ he said.


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How Virtual Accounts Can Help Businesses Manage Finances Efficiently

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Efficiently managing your business finances isn’t just a task, it’s the key to scaling your business for sustainable growth.

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Several tools exist today to help businesses achieve their financial management goals and establish themselves in a very competitive market.

One such tool is the virtual account, offering several benefits for multinational corporations, startups and SMEs, helping these businesses achieve their financial management goals while scaling sustainably.

In our article, “What is a virtual account and why you need it for your business,” we explained the basic concept of virtual accounts, including the types of virtual accounts, and benefits. Taking it forward with this SeerBit article, we explain the various roles that virtual accounts can play in ensuring businesses achieve efficient financial management.

  • Cash Flow Management

Virtual accounts offer a level of precision and agility that the traditional bank account does not offer businesses in today’s world. Virtual accounts give businesses more control over their funds, as they can easily segregate or compartmentalise funds for various expenses, regulate their cash flow in real-time and ensure safety for the business’ cash reserve. The ability to segregate funds for different short-term needs, such as supplier payments, tax payments, staff payments, and other long-term investments allows the company to make wiser financial decisions and ensures there will always be capital when it is needed.

  • Streamlined Reconciliation

Virtual accounts help to streamline reconciliation for your business, making the process seamless and fast by matching transactions with corresponding records for each unique virtual account. Every virtual account has a unique identifier, making it easy to match both outgoing and incoming transactions on the account with the business’ accounting records. This process is automated, consequently saving valuable time and reducing the possibility of human errors. Hence, you get accurate financial reporting in real time to make informed business decisions, thereby resolving disputes quickly and improving customer satisfaction.

  • Risk Mitigation

Virtual accounts play a crucial role in risk mitigation for businesses by providing an extra layer of security and control over financial transactions. The ability to segregate funds for specific purposes minimises the risk of mixing funds and potential misuse. Additionally, virtual accounts offer customisable access controls and permissions, allowing businesses to restrict access to authorised personnel only, thus reducing the risk of fraud and unauthorised transactions. This heightened level of security not only safeguards financial assets but also enhances trust and confidence among stakeholders, ultimately contributing to more efficient financial management practices.

  • Cost Optimisation

Virtual accounts contribute significantly to cost savings for businesses by streamlining banking operations and reducing associated fees. Through the consolidation of funds into virtual accounts, businesses can negotiate better terms with banks and optimise their banking relationships, potentially leading to reduced transaction costs and account maintenance fees. Furthermore, virtual accounts eliminate the need for maintaining multiple physical accounts, thereby reducing administrative overhead and freeing up resources for other strategic initiatives. By leveraging virtual accounts, businesses can achieve greater efficiency in their financial management processes while simultaneously lowering operational expenses, ultimately boosting their bottom line.

  • Adaptable and Scalable

Adaptability and scalability are other features of virtual accounts that make them effective for managing your business finances. They are customisable and flexible, and this allows them to adapt to whatever preferences or needs that your business has. It also means that you can configure your virtual accounts to meet specific objectives and requirements of your business. So whether you are just starting your business or already growing, virtual accounts can meet every business need at different points, even when you start to scale. This adaptability is good for your business, especially if you’re experiencing fluctuating sales volume.

Conclusion

Virtual accounts are an effective and versatile tool for your business to optimise the financial management process and enhance control and efficiency in the cash management system.

Switch to virtual accounts today!

 

 

 


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Instagram Celebrates African Women in ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ 2024 Campaign

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In celebration of Africa Day on May 25, Instagram has launched its international and pan-African campaign ‘Made By Africa, Loved by the World’. In a first, this year’s Instagram campaign celebrates women of impact, spotlighting four trailblazing women from the continent and diaspora – all of whom have built a global presence through their exceptional talents and passions across sports, entertainment and music.

Now in its fourth year, the women featured in this year’s 2024 campaign hail from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and for the first time Egypt. Eniola Aluko, Bontle Modiselle, Victoria Kimani and Tasneem Elaidy tell their inspiring stories in four beautiful short films highlighting their successes, challenges and passions. Shot in collaboration with five rising filmmakers, Haya Khairat from Egypt, Michael Rodriques from South Africa, Nyasha Kadandara from Kenya and London based Nigerian Aaliyah Mckay alongside co-director Shehroze Khan, these films amplify the unique voices and stories of women who are changing the way Africa is viewed on the international stage.

As part of the campaign, Instagram is also partnering with local African content creators to host the third edition of its community challenge, ‘#ShareYourAfrica,’ bringing together emerging and established content creators to create a movement and celebrate what it means to be African.

Speaking about the campaign, Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET) at Meta, said, “For the fourth year running, we’re incredibly excited to shine a spotlight and celebrate just some of the amazing women from across the continent and beyond, who are having a remarkable impact globally. These are women who are contributing to positively shaping the female African narrative and inspiring change across football, music, entertainment and culture. At Instagram, we’re deeply rooted in culture and connection, and we know our platform provides the perfect space to showcase passions and creativity, whilst inspiring a worldwide audience.”

Meet the stars of ‘Made by Africa and Loved by the World’ 2024:

●      Bontle Modiselle (South Africa): An award-winning dancer and influential figure in the South African entertainment industry, Bontle has won numerous awards, including a ‘Africa Movie Academy Award’ and has travelled the world showcasing her impressive dance skills

●      Eniola Aluko (Nigeria): A trailblazer in women’s football whose contributions to the women’s game has made her a significant figure in the world of sports. Eniola has played for some of the world’s leading football clubs, and recently made history by becoming the first African female to make the board of Italy’s female top-flight football club FC Como Women.

●      Victoria Kimani (Kenya): A singer, songwriter and entertainer known for her distinctive blend of R&B, Afropop and Hip-Hop. Victoria has carved a successful path in the African music scene and beyond, collaborating with well-known local and global artists, and was once referred to by the Grammy Awards as ‘Kenya’s Best Kept Secret’.

●      Tasneem Elaidy (Egypt): A singer and songwriter with strong vocals whose songs have earned her international recognition, Tasneem started out on social media, releasing cover songs and original music. She went viral after releasing her version of a popular song and today, she has a growing audience of nearly 2 million followers on Instagram, 3 million on TikTok and over 100 million combined views for her music!

To view each short film, follow the four women featured on Instagram or via the Meta Africa Facebook Page.


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