No African should be left out of the financial ecosystem -MoMo Ghana boss

By Eugene Davis

CEO of MobileMoney Ltd, Shaibu Haruna, has called for the creation of a system that empowers every African to seamlessly participate in the financial ecosystem.

He stressed that access to affordable and convenient digital financial services should not depend on one’s location, device, or circumstances. “Whether you live in the most remote part of Africa or use the simplest device, you should be able to access financial services with ease,” he said.

Data shows that digital payments have nearly doubled in Africa since 2014, with 51% of adults making or receiving digital payments by 2024. Over the same period, the number of active fintech companies rose to 1,263, with payments solutions dominating the market.Speaking during a panel session on “Leading Through Disruption: The CEO Perspective on Regulation, Innovation, and Financial Inclusion,” Shaibu Haruna, CEO of MobileMoney Ltd, called for digital inclusion that ensures access to financial services regardless of location, device, or circumstance. “Financial inclusion is about giving every African the power to be part of the financial ecosystem in a convenient and accessible way,” he said.

Other panellists emphasized the role of technology and data in expanding access to credit. Mudassar Aquil, MTN Group Fintech Executive for Banktech, noted: “Financial inclusion is not a privilege but a right. We are using digital tools and data intelligence to provide affordable, transparent, and fair credit across Africa.”

Panellists included Richard Yego (CEO, MTN MoMo Uganda), Alain Claude Nono (CEO, MTN MoMo Cameroon), and Kagiso Mothibi (CEO, MTN MoMo South Africa).

Serigne Dioum, CEO of MTN Group Fintech, said the summit marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s fintech growth. “Our theme ‘Take-Off’ reflects where strategic groundwork meets execution, and innovation meets scale,” he noted.

The summit was structured into two streams – a Regulatory & Policy Forum and a Commercial & Ecosystem Forum – exploring strategies to strengthen regulatory frameworks, enhance cross-border remittances, balance data sovereignty with compliance, and promote responsible innovation.

Nikiwe Tanga, Chief Legal Officer at MTN Group Fintech, added that the company’s ambition goes beyond commercial goals, aiming to foster trusted digital ecosystems that align with evolving legal and regulatory standards.

The MTN Group Fintech Summit 2025 is expected to become a cornerstone platform for Africa’s digital transformation, driving collaboration and sustainable growth in financial inclusion.