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TechAdvance Secures $1million Funding to Support its FinTech Ambitions

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Nigerian payment application development company TechAdvance has secured US$1-million in funding to support its FinTech ambitions and expansion into emerging markets.

Founded in 2009, TechAdvance develops and deploys niche payment apps to serve the needs of large public and private sector organisations in Nigeria, overseeing subsidiaries such as GPay Africa, PayElectricityBills, Advance BancCorp Digital MicroFinance Bank and others.

The company has been bootstrapped to date, but has now raised a US$1-million round from Bahrain-based investment holding company Lamar Holding, at a valuation of US$$20-million.

This will be used to support its business transformation and expansion in emerging markets.

TechAdvance is transforming its model and aims to shift from being a technology Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) provider to a key player in the digital financial services and payment infrastructure space.

The company, through its subsidiaries, recently acquired a microfinance bank and obtained an approval in principle for a Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) license from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

It has also received the same approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain, signaling its intentions to grow beyond Nigeria and Africa.

TechAdvance founder and chief executive officer Edmund Olotu said: “The payments space in emerging markets abounds with opportunities yet faces a lot of challenges, especially regarding personal finance, accessing loans, maximising savings, and financial education for the unbanked and last-mile users.

“These funds will allow us to shift our focus to these opportunities -especially the launch of our digital bank, without compromising our existing business lines.”

Lamar Holding, an established developer and long-term operator of projects across Saudi Arabia’s national energy infrastructure network, sees the investment as a means to deepen its foray into the global tech industry and secure a foothold in Africa.

The company’s vice president Hani Abdulhadi said, “This is an opportunity for Lamar and TechAdvance to collaborate and distribute its expansive suite of digital solutions to emerging markets in Africa and the Middle East.

“We were seed investors in one of TechAdvance portfolio companies since 2011, and it is impressive what Edmund and the team has been able to achieve since then.”


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E-Financial

Kuda Bank Teams Up with Lovers & Frnds for Inclusive Valentine’s R&B Bash

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Kuda Microfinance Bank partnered with Lovers & Frnds for a Valentine’s edition event on Sunday, February 15, at Space Hub Lekki, Lagos, redefining celebrations around love, friendship, and social connections beyond romance.

Kuda Bank Teams Up with Lovers & Frnds for Inclusive Valentine’s R&B Bash

Kuda Bank

The R&B-themed gathering drew couples, friend groups, and solo attendees with music sets from DJs like TGarbs, games, gift exchanges, and colour-coded tags—red for relationships, yellow for mingling singles, orange for non-minglers—to spark easy interactions.

Kuda activated a branded photo booth, merchandise giveaways, prize activities, and complimentary drinks for Premium loyalty tier customers, while vendors used Kuda Business POS terminals for seamless cashless payments.

Senior Brand Manager Emmanuel Femi-Adejobi said: “We partner with experiences matching our customers’ lifestyles in music and entertainment, creating spaces they genuinely connect with—we’ll keep supporting how they live and celebrate.”


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CBN Cuts MPR by 50bps to 26.50% as Inflation Eases for 11th Month

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has lowered its Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points to 26.50 percent from 27 percent, a unanimous decision announced by Governor Olayemi Cardoso at the end of the 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

CBN Cuts MPR by 50bps to 26.50% as Inflation Eases for 11th Month

CBN

Cardoso cited 11 straight months of decelerating headline inflation—reaching 15.10 percent in January 2026 per National Bureau of Statistics—as key, driven by prior tightening lags, naira stability, food supply gains, steady petroleum prices, export earnings, remittances, and balance of payments strength.

Liquidity ratio stays at 30 percent, CRR unchanged at 45 percent for commercial banks (16 percent merchant banks) and 75 percent non-TSA public deposits; standing facilities corridor now +50/-450 basis points around MPR.

The MPC retained other parameters, welcoming Executive Order 09 redirecting oil/gas revenues to the federation account for fiscal boost, last cutting rates in September 2025 after November’s hold.


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Retiree Slams N50m Suit against over Alleged Privacy Breach, Unauthorized Accounts

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Abiodun Olokunjuwon, a retired civil servant based in Ibadan has instituted a N50 million lawsuit against Moniepoint Microfinance Bank at the Oyo State High Court, alleging that the fintech company opened unauthorized bank accounts in her name without her knowledge or consent.

Retiree Slams N50m Suit against over Alleged Privacy Breach, Unauthorized Accounts

Filed in February 2026, the suit is among the first significant cases testing the enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 against a Nigerian fintech institution.

According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff became aware of the alleged unauthorized accounts only after her legitimate bank account was restricted pursuant to a garnishee order linked to a debt she denies incurring.

The restriction reportedly prevented her from accessing funds needed for essential transactions.

The claimant alleges that Moniepoint opened two separate accounts in her name using her National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) without proper authorization or verification.

Following the discovery, she submitted a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) under the NDPA 2023. Documents allegedly provided by the bank, according to the suit, revealed significant verification lapses.

The plaintiff claims the accounts were opened using falsified documents, including what she describes as a fake NIN slip and contact information unrelated to her.

She further alleges that the accounts listed a Lagos residential address where she has never lived.

The suit contends that Moniepoint failed to implement adequate identity verification and address confirmation procedures before creating and operating the accounts. It further alleges breaches of statutory obligations under the NDPA 2023, including:

  • Failure to ensure personal data processed was accurate and lawfully obtained
  • Failure to implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures
  • Failure to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent processing of personal data

The claimant maintains that these alleged lapses resulted in serious personal and financial harm.

The plaintiff is seeking N50 million in damages for emotional distress, health complications, and disruption to her financial life.

She is also asking the court to order the permanent closure of the allegedly unauthorized accounts.

No date has been fixed for hearing on the matter.


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