Remita calls for deeper collaboration to drive Africa’s digital future

Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL), Nigeria’s leading digital payment ecosystem, has called for purpose-driven collaboration to build a resilient and inclusive digital future for Africa.

This was disclosed by Remita’s Chief Technology Officer, Mujib Ishola, at the recently concluded FITC Fintech Nigeria Technovation Conference, themed “Innovation as a Catalyst: Reshaping Cross-Sector Collaboration.”

Delivering a compelling call to action, Ishola urged Africa to reclaim ownership of its data narrative and move beyond being passive consumers of foreign technology solutions.

Speaking during a plenary session moderated by Catherine Onelum, with panellists Adeyinka Adekoya (Interswitch Group), Tomi Badejo (Flutterwave), and Dr Yele Okeremi (Precise Financial Systems), Ishola outlined how financial institutions and fintechs can leverage technology, data, and AI to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.

Ishola stressed the urgent need for Africa to take control of its digital future.

“The narrative of Nigeria as a consuming nation is now extending into the digital space. We must reclaim ownership of that narrative and resist cycles of technological dependency,” he said, warning of the growing risk of digital colonisation.

Tracing the continent’s long-standing relationship with data, he noted that Africa has always maintained unique epistemological frameworks for managing information.

“From hieroglyphics to traditional knowledge systems, Africa has always interpreted and preserved data in ways that reflected our realities. These frameworks should shape our modern digital infrastructure,” he explained.

On governance and data-sharing frameworks, Ishola highlighted key principles needed for secure and trusted collaboration.

“Any framework must clearly define data veracity, ownership protocols, secure storage, and consent-based sharing. These fundamentals are critical for responsible stewardship,” he said.

Warning that AI will amplify existing vulnerabilities if Africa relinquishes control of its data, he added:

“The biggest risk is entrusting our data to external custodians and then paying indefinitely to access insights drawn from our own information capital.”

Ishola also underscored Remita’s pioneering role in Nigeria’s open banking evolution.

“Remita built open banking architecture before the terminology became global. True innovators identify transformative paradigms long before they gain market recognition,” he noted.

He lamented that African tech talent remains under-celebrated despite powering global innovation.

“African technologists are foundational contributors to major global advancements. Our ability to solve problems in challenging environments places us at the forefront of innovation,” he said.

Calling for genuine partnership across the ecosystem, Ishola urged stakeholders to move from rhetoric to meaningful action.

“Collaboration has become diluted. What we need is an authentic, transparent partnership that advances our collective mission, not corporate theatre,” he emphasised.

Reaffirming Remita’s commitment to national development, he added:

“At Remita, impact takes precedence over short-term gain. Every national project we undertake is driven by purpose and a commitment to sustainable value creation for Nigeria.”

Closing the session, Ishola challenged the assumption that Africa is merely catching up in technological innovation.

“The question ‘Can Africa lead?’ presupposes we are not already leading. Nigerian fintechs, PFS, Interswitch, and Remita have contributed significantly to global innovation. We must abandon narratives of waiting for external validation,” he declared.