E-Financial
Western Union, Vieira Team Up to Support UNICEF Education Project
Patrick Vieira on Monday visited a UNICEF-supported school, PAH-U7, in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, during a visit to the country to lend his support to the Western Union PASS initiative.
The global payment service company is harnessing both its position as a Global Partner of the UEFA Europa League and the power of football to deliver much-needed funding for secondary school education for disadvantaged young people in Senegal, focusing on increasing the transition rate of adolescents from primary school to secondary school.
In collaboration with UNICEF, who is working with partners to deliver education programs in Senegal and other countries, Western Union’s PASS initiative is converting every successful pass during its three-year Global Partner sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League into better education for vulnerable children around the world.
“Our Education for Better program, of which our PASS initiative is a part, recognizes that one of the main reasons our consumers send money is for education”, said Patrick Gaston, president, Western Union Foundation. “We are proud to support UNICEF, using the power and contribution of football so that children here in Senegal and around the world gain better access to a quality education.”
In Senegal, great efforts have been made to improve children’s access to school; currently, the enrollment rate for free primary school is 94 percent.
However, last year, just 58 percent of children in Senegal enrolled in junior secondary school (grades 7-10), and only 29 percent are enrolled in senior secondary school (grades 11-13). Secondary school costs, which include registration fees, as well as the cost of uniforms and transportation to and from the classroom, average $300 per year.
This represents approximately 20 percent of the average annual family income of $1500.
“Western Union’s PASS funding will increase school access, attendance and completion of junior secondary school for disadvantaged young people in Senegal. It will also help raise awareness to address specific obstacles that prevent thousands of girls from completing their education”, said Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF Senegal Representative.
“We are grateful for Western Union’s support in helping UNICEF increase enrollment rates and ensure that more young people – especially those from poorer households – have the opportunity to complete their education, enabling them to have a better future.”
Funds from Western Union’s PASS initiative will support the transition of 200 adolescents from primary to secondary education in three targeted regions– Matam, Kedougou and Tambacounda–with grants of $300 provided to each student per year for two years.
The funds will help students to overcome financial barriers that hinder their access to school, covering registration fees and costs including learning materials, uniforms, meals at school and transport to and from school.
Schools and students will be selected in close cooperation with the Office of Academic Inspection within the Ministry of Education as well as school directors, targeting the most vulnerable and poor children in remote areas where access to and retention of students in junior secondary school is challenging.
The academic inspectors will work closely with school directors to track the distribution of the grants and local parent-teacher associations will closely monitor participating students’ progress through home visits.
The Western Union PASS funds will also help UNICEF Senegal promote an awareness campaign targeting approximately 3,000 young girls in the three regions on the importance of junior secondary education and the prevention of early marriage and pregnancy, two obstacles that can stop girls from completing their education.
Approximately 35% of girls in the most disadvantaged regions are forced into early marriage as a source of revenue for their families.
“I have been proud to support the Western Union PASS initiative since September 2012 and I am really happy to come back again to Senegal to learn more about the initiative and see the impact of UNICEF education programmes. Senegal is a young country and providing a quality education for the country’s youth is critical for Senegal’s growth and development”, commented World Cup winner Patrick Vieira, who also has his own Foundation in the country, during his visit to the PAH-U7 school and its 550 primary students in a suburb of Dakar.
“This funding is significant because it will help more children stay in school and complete their secondary education, allowing them to reach their potential. It’s great to see PASS funding being spent in Senegal and football making a real difference in young people’s lives. I loved meeting all the teachers and children at PAH-U7 school and hearing the impact of education on their lives, and I saw talented young footballers too when we played together in the school yard.”
Through the PASS initiative, Western Union aims to support the delivery of one million days of education through its partnership with UNICEF.
It is a key part of Western Union’s broader Education for Better program, launched at the UN General Assembly in September 2012, which includes philanthropic grants from the Western Union Foundation, advocacy, products, volunteer and marketing support for secondary and vocational education.
To date the total number of passes contributing to the PASS campaign stands at 356,564. Funding has already been delivered on the ground to UNICEF in Jamaica, Nigeria and Turkey, with support from Western Union for education programs in Brazil, Senegal, Morocco and China scheduled for this year.
Remita, a leading digital payment platform, has called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and financial inclusion to ensure that more Nigerians benefit from the country’s growing digital economy.
The company said bridging the digital divide was critical to unlocking economic opportunities for millions of Nigerians who remain excluded due to limited connectivity, affordability challenges and inadequate access to digital services.
Lanre Idowu, Divisional Head, Financial Industry Partnerships at Remita, made the call during the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference held in Lagos.
Idowu said that although Nigeria’s digital economy was projected to reach $18.3 billion by the end of the year, the benefits would remain unevenly distributed unless barriers limiting digital access were addressed.
He described the country’s digital transformation as representing “two Nigerias” — one recognised globally for technological innovation and another still struggling with poor broadband infrastructure, high connectivity costs and unequal access to digital services.
According to him, Nigeria has developed one of Africa’s fastest-growing fintech ecosystems, with instant payments becoming increasingly popular among individuals, businesses and government institutions.
He noted that Nigerian technology startups had continued to gain international recognition, but warned that uneven broadband penetration and limited digital access in underserved communities were slowing inclusive growth.
“The country’s digital divide should be viewed as an opportunity divide because millions remain excluded from education, healthcare, financial services and economic opportunities,” Idowu said.
He stressed the need for digital solutions to be designed with diverse users in mind, including people with different languages, literacy levels, income capacities and device limitations.
Idowu identified connectivity, affordability, digital literacy, access to devices and trust as the five major factors affecting inclusive digital transformation in Nigeria.
The Remita executive said trust remained a major factor influencing the adoption of digital financial services, noting that failed transactions and weak dispute resolution systems often discourage users from embracing digital platforms.
He recalled that Nigeria’s banking sector had evolved significantly from an era when customers relied heavily on manual processes, paper documentation and long queues in banking halls.
He noted that financial services had been transformed through innovations such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), mobile banking, agency banking, USSD services and digital payment platforms.
Idowu said previous banking processes, including clearing outstation cheques that took between five and 15 working days, had gradually been replaced by faster digital alternatives.
“The future of Nigeria’s digital economy depends not only on innovation but also on inclusion. When technology becomes accessible to everyone, regardless of geography or income level, we truly begin to bridge the digital divide,” he said.
Idowu attributed the growth of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem to collaboration among government agencies, regulators, banks, telecommunications operators, fintech companies, consumers and the media.
He said government institutions had provided policy direction, while regulators created frameworks that supported responsible innovation.
He added that banks pioneered digital financial services, telecom operators expanded connectivity, and fintech companies introduced solutions that improved access to financial services.
“No single institution built Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem alone. Government, regulators, banks, telecommunications operators, fintech innovators, consumers and the media all contributed to the progress we see today,” he said.
The Remita executive also highlighted the importance of USSD banking in extending financial services to Nigerians without smartphones or internet access.
However, he expressed concern that rising USSD transaction charges could discourage low-income users and undermine efforts to promote financial inclusion.
Idowu called for continued collaboration among stakeholders to build a digital economy that is secure, affordable, accessible and beneficial to all Nigerians.
When people and businesses gain genuine access to financial services, they gain the ability to transact securely, build savings, and access credit. That access creates the conditions for progress: more stable revenues, better business decisions, and the capacity to grow. Progress, sustained over time, is what produces financial happiness. This framework is how Moniepoint measures its impact.
According to Moniepoint 2025 Impact Report, titled creating financial happiness; “Financial happiness is the feeling of confidence and ease that comes with financial freedom and well-being. It is a condition that develops over time and requires a specific set of enablers to take hold.
For millions of people and businesses across Nigeria, those enablers, like tools and solutions to manage their finances, have historically been out of reach. Moniepoint was built to change that, and this change, for us, begins with inclusion”.
Across the world, access to digital tools is a key driver of financial inclusion. The World Bank’s Global Findex 2025 report finds that more than 60% of adults in low- and middle income economies now make or receive digital payments. In Nigeria, this figure is around 54%. Moniepoint has been a key driver in expanding this access with its POS terminals. “Our terminals also drive financial inclusion for individuals.
The report stated that, in 2025, Moniepoint enabled 100 million people to make payments via their POS terminals across the country. For customers in communities where bank branches are scarce or non-existent, a Moniepoint terminal at their local shop, market stall, or fuel station provides reliable access to digital financial services.
They can make purchases, withdraw cash, and manage their money without travelling long distances or depending solely on physical currency. Critically, customers without cards can complete transactions through direct bank transfers to the terminal’s account.
Beyond practical benefits, Moniepoint terminals have also introduced a new layer of trust to everyday commerce. “When network issues make it unclear if a payment went through, the Moniepoint terminal’s loud beep provides instant confirmation for everyone, building trust in digital payments with every transaction”.
Moniepoint POS terminals operate across all 774 local governments in Nigeria, ensuring that small sellers and large stores can accept payments reliably, regardless of location.
In 2025, millions of Nigerians, businesses and individuals alike, accessed Moniepoint services through its mobile app. Top among them are groups like women and low-income earners, who have historically been excluded from formal banking. Inclusion of women is particularly important, as they typically manage household spending and informal savings but are frequently left out of structured financial systems. “Through our app, they are gaining financial independence and greater control over their economic decisions,” the report added.
For millions of Nigerians, debit cards represent a move away from the limits of cash transactions. They enable safer, more reliable everyday payments, particularly as more local businesses begin to accept digital payments.
Moniepoint debit cards are designed to meet this need. In 2025, Moniepoint customers completed over 300 million card transactions at physical locations, largely driven by essential, food-related purchases. Most of this spending took place at neighbourhood provision shops where households buy everyday items such as rice, cooking oil, and soap.
“We’ve made access to our cards intentionally simple. Customers can get a Moniepoint debit card by requesting it within their mobile app or from neighbourhood agents, without lengthy paperwork or waiting periods. By lowering these barriers, more people are able to access financial tools and participate in the formal financial system.
“Our cards also safeguard our customers’ financial information. They don’t carry special markings or any identifiers that could expose our customers or put their financial security at risk. In the event of loss, this reduces the likelihood of targeted fraud or misuse.
“When people can pay with their debit cards at their neighbourhood stores, they can manage their spending, reduce cash handling, and transact more securely. Merchants also benefit, recording higher transaction volumes and more consistent customer activity.
“Moniepoint helps millions of businesses and individuals across Nigeria access seamless payments and banking, every day. The widespread adoption of our tools and services, as highlighted, demonstrates our critical role in expanding financial access, supporting everyday commerce, and enabling more Nigerians to participate safely and consistently in the digital economy,” the report noted.
ChatPay has launched Africa’s conversational banking platform, enabling individuals and businesses to access financial services through WhatsApp.
The Lagos-based fintech startup, is in controlled rollout, connecting WhatsApp to linked-bank management, airtime and supported electricity payments through simple conversations.
The company said the platform is designed to enable users to send money, pay bills, buy airtime and manage business transactions within WhatsApp conversations, subject to the completion of regulatory approvals and integration with licensed banking partners.
According to ChatPay, the platform is operated by CP Technology Limited and is currently undergoing a phased rollout ahead of its planned public launch.
The company said the initiative is intended to simplify access to financial services by leveraging WhatsApp, which it estimates is used by more than 50 million Nigerians monthly.
Speaking on the idea behind the platform, Adeoluwasubomi Odebunmi, product lead and co-founder, said the concept emerged while she was studying Software Engineering at Babcock University.
“I saw the gap while I was still in school—how much friction there was just to move money. I didn’t want to just study the problem. I wanted to help fix it,” she said.
Odebunmi said she had previously worked on software solutions spanning e-commerce, real estate management, school administration and artificial intelligence applications before co-founding ChatPay.
Aseoluwa Siyanbola, growth lead and co-founder, said his experience managing Nigerian bank accounts while studying abroad highlighted some of the challenges users face with digital banking services.
According to him, difficulties such as one-time password (OTP) failures and inconsistent banking applications inspired the team to explore conversational banking solutions.
“We each encountered similar challenges and came together to build a solution that simplifies everyday financial transactions,” he said.
cAbraham William, tech lead and co-founder, said the company is focused on improving access to financial services through a platform that many Nigerians already use daily.
“We want to make financial services easier to access by allowing people to carry out transactions through a familiar messaging platform,” he said.
William said he oversees the company’s engineering, technology strategy and system architecture.
ChatPay said its services will be introduced in phases as regulatory requirements are met and integrations with banking partners are completed.
The company added that its newly launched “Founding 2,500” programme will enable selected early users to test features, provide feedback and participate in product development before the platform’s wider rollout.
According to the company, interested users can register for the waitlist and the Founding 2,500 programme through its website.
Founded by Odebunmi, Siyanbola and William, ChatPay said its long-term goal is to expand conversational banking services beyond Nigeria into other African markets after its domestic rollout.
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