The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, joined global industry leaders at the Money20/20 Middle East Fintech Summit, where he spoke on unlocking Africa’s $3 trillion economy through financial technology.
The high-level panel explored how innovation is breaking borders, driving cross-border liquidity, and scaling solutions for MSMEs, remittances, and institutional flows.
In his intervention, Inuwa highlighted Nigeria’s deliberate policies and programmes—including the cashless policy, the Nigeria Startup Act, and NITDA’s innovation and talent development initiatives—that have propelled the country’s fintech ecosystem. He noted that these measures have helped Nigeria produce five of Africa’s eight unicorns, cementing its status as the continent’s fintech powerhouse and a model for ecosystem development.
Reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to supporting startups, he stressed the importance of harmonising regional regulations and deepening public–private partnerships. He added that Nigeria would continue working with partners across Africa to strengthen cross-border payment systems and unlock inclusive, sustainable economic growth.
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