In an eagerly awaited event, the 2023 Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Conference is poised to host influential personalities from Nigeria’s financial and regulatory sectors.
Set to unfold on September 16 and 17, the conference will be held at the Orchid Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, revolving around the theme, “Fortifying Digital Infrastructure for More Effective and Innovative Payment Systems in Nigeria.”
According to a joint statement signed by Mr. Chima Titus Nwokoji, the National Chairman of FICAN, and Mr. Sam Diala, the National Secretary of the Association saying, the conference boasts an impressive roster of distinguished guests. Leading the lineup is Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who will serve as the Keynote Speaker. Professor Umar Danbata, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is slated to be the Guest Speaker, while Mr. Bello Hassan, the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), will be the Special Guest.
This event is set to unite regulators, key stakeholders from the telecommunications and financial services sectors, as well as payment service providers and switching companies. Their shared mission is to delve deeply into the pressing matter of fortifying Nigeria’s payment ecosystem through enhanced digital infrastructure—a necessity that came into sharp focus during the initial months of 2023 amidst challenges confronting the e-payment landscape.
FICAN, representing a collective of journalists and editors specializing in finance and the economy across print, electronic, and online media, has orchestrated this conference as a pivotal capacity-building initiative. With over 150 finance journalists and business editors hailing from various media platforms poised to attend, this event promises to be a significant rendezvous for the exchange of knowledge and networking.
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, stepping in as the Gold sponsor, is leading a consortium of sponsors for the conference. Among these notable contributors are the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Parthian Partners, the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), NSIA Guaranty Trust Bank, and others.
This collaborative endeavor underscores the paramount importance of enhancing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure to ensure the efficiency and innovation of payment systems in the ever-evolving landscape of the country’s financial sector.
In additions, Telecommunications plays an absolutely pivotal role in the functioning and development of the financial payment ecosystem. This dynamic synergy between the two sectors has significantly transformed the way financial transactions are conducted, managed, and secured, ushering in a new era of convenience and efficiency for consumers and businesses alike.
In summary, the role of telecommunications in the financial payment ecosystem cannot be overstated. It underpins the modern financial landscape, enabling the seamless flow of funds, access to banking services, and the security and efficiency of transactions. As technology continues to advance, the relationship between telecommunications and finance will evolve further, ushering in new opportunities and challenges for both industries.
