Interswitch has called for greater collaboration among financial institutions, technology providers and businesses to build adaptable digital infrastructure that can support Nigeria’s economic growth and expand access to financial services.
The payments and digital commerce company made the call at its TechConnect 6.0 event in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, where industry stakeholders examined ways to develop resilient financial systems that can respond to changing market demands.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the event, themed “Built for What’s Next: Designing Adaptive Financial Infrastructure for a Dynamic Market,” brought together representatives from government, financial services, technology and business to discuss how shared infrastructure could improve efficiency and support business expansion.
The Ibadan gathering formed part of Interswitch’s nationwide TechConnect 6.0 series, following earlier engagements in Imo and Abuja, with the discussions focusing on how interconnected systems could turn financial inclusion into measurable economic benefits, particularly for underserved communities.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole, stressed the need for scalable solutions that enable businesses to innovate, expand operations and contribute to sustainable economic development.
Kolawole said businesses needed an enabling ecosystem that combined technology, collaboration and reliable infrastructure to navigate market uncertainties and respond to emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The emphasis on shared infrastructure comes as Nigerian businesses increasingly rely on digital payments and technology-driven services to reach customers. However, expanding digital access alone may not guarantee economic gains if businesses cannot depend on systems that work together efficiently and reliably.
Interswitch’s Vice President of Business Innovation and Growth, Tyoyila Aga, said sustainable digital growth depended on infrastructure that could evolve alongside business operations and customer expectations.
“Building for what’s next requires more than adopting new technologies; it requires connected infrastructure that can evolve alongside changing business needs and customer expectations,” Aga said.
He added that collaboration and shared solutions would be essential to building secure, resilient and inclusive systems as Nigeria expands digital services and economic participation.
Aga said Interswitch was using the TechConnect platform to bring stakeholders together to identify practical ways to convert technological innovation into sustainable business growth and extend its benefits to more people and communities.
A panel session titled “Building for Scale: Shared Solutions and Infrastructure for Business Growth” examined how businesses could use common infrastructure and cross-industry partnerships to expand more efficiently.
Participants discussed how connected systems, technology adoption and collaboration among financial institutions, technology providers and businesses could reduce operational barriers, improve efficiency and help organisations develop solutions capable of serving larger markets.
The discussions also highlighted interoperability, the ability of different systems to exchange information and work together, as an important factor in reducing friction across digital services and supporting business expansion.
For small businesses, which often operate with limited resources, more reliable and compatible payment and technology systems could reduce the difficulties associated with managing transactions across multiple platforms. However, the economic value of such infrastructure will depend on its affordability, reliability and accessibility to businesses beyond major commercial centres.
Another session, a fireside chat titled “From Financial Inclusion to Economic Impact: Reaching the Underserved at Scale,” explored how digital financial services could deliver more meaningful benefits to individuals and communities with limited access to formal financial systems.
The discussion examined how accessible, reliable and relevant services could help households, small businesses and local economies participate more fully in economic activity.
Speakers stressed that financial inclusion should go beyond opening accounts or providing access to digital payment channels. Its broader impact depends on whether people and businesses can use those services consistently to conduct transactions, manage their finances and pursue economic opportunities.
Across both sessions, participants highlighted the need for secure, adaptable and interoperable financial infrastructure, alongside sustained cooperation among stakeholders, to ensure that digital transformation addresses practical business and societal needs.
TechConnect Ibadan also showcased Interswitch’s solutions and capabilities, demonstrating how payments technology and digital infrastructure could help organisations respond to changing customer expectations and operate in an evolving digital economy.
As the TechConnect 6.0 series approaches its grand finale in Lagos, the discussions have placed a central question before Nigeria’s digital economy: how can investments in financial technology translate into more productive businesses, broader economic participation and tangible benefits for underserved communities?
The answer will depend not only on the technologies businesses adopt, but also on the strength of the systems connecting them and the extent to which those systems remain accessible as the economy evolves.
