Fidelity unlocks Africa’s trade potential at FNITCC
Fidelity Bank Plc says financial technology holds the key to unlocking Africa’s trade potential and boosting commercial ties with the United States, as it prepares to host a fintech-focused panel at the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC) conference in Atlanta, USA. The high-level session, themed: “Digital Railroads: Powering U.S.–Africa Commerce Through Fintech”, […]
Fidelity Bank Plc says financial technology holds the key to unlocking Africa’s trade potential and boosting commercial ties with the United States, as it prepares to host a fintech-focused panel at the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC) conference in Atlanta, USA.
The high-level session, themed: “Digital Railroads: Powering U.S.–Africa Commerce Through Fintech”, is scheduled for Friday, 19 September 2025, at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park. It will bring together some of the brightest minds in digital finance to explore how fintech is transforming cross-border trade through seamless payments, improved access to finance, and financial inclusion across Africa and the diaspora.
Panelists include Aisha N. Ahmad, CFA, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Seyi Ebenezer, founder of Payaza Africa and a seasoned fintech entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience scaling payment gateways across 20 African countries, Canada, the United States and the UAE; and Charles Oligbo, founder and CEO of Sawport, an AI-powered platform designed for real-time customer engagement in the diaspora and on the continent.
Isaiah Ndukwe, Divisional Head, Agric. and Exports, Fidelity Bank Plc, said the session would spotlight fintech’s practical role in overcoming trade barriers.
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“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is projected to boost intra-African trade by more than 50% by 2030. But challenges like fragmented payment systems, currency conversion, and limited trade finance continue to hold businesses back. Fintechs are uniquely positioned to address these gaps—enabling real-time, low-cost cross-border payments, offering alternative financing for SMEs, creating digital identities for exporters, and facilitating diaspora remittances and investments. This is why we’re putting fintech at the heart of discussions at FNITCC Atlanta,” he said.
Organised in partnership with AFRICON—the global gathering of African innovators and changemakers—the FNITCC conference will run from 18 to 20 September. It is expected to attract more than 3,000 participants, including investors, trade agencies, exporters, and diaspora professionals, with projected trade and investment deals exceeding US$400 million.
Now in its third edition, after successful outings in London (2022) and Houston (2023), FNITCC has become a key platform for driving trade, investment and creative exchange between Nigeria and the rest of the world. Fidelity Bank says the Atlanta edition underscores its commitment to leveraging fintech as a catalyst for commerce while opening opportunities across commodities, technology, and the creative industries.
The growing significance of fintech on the continent is backed by projections from the African Development Bank, which estimates that Africa’s fintech revenues will reach US$30 billion by 2025. Fidelity Bank says this shows that digital finance is not only powering transactions but also “rewriting the future of trade.”