Lead
The Vice President of Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR), Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff‑Ayedun, called on fintech stakeholders to prioritise fairness—not just volume—in digital payments, emphasising that transparency, reliability, accessibility and trust are essential for building an inclusive financial system in Nigeria.
Context and Setting
Dr. Sharrieff‑Ayedun delivered her remarks at the third Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON 3.0), where she framed the event as “a defining moment” for promoting economic inclusion, financial dignity, and independence for millions of Nigerians, as reported by TechBuild Africa and Nigerian Communications Week, respectively.
At the forum, she highlighted Nigeria’s rapid growth in instant payment transactions, noting significant increases according to data from the Nigeria Inter‑Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). She also noted that financial inclusion has increased in Nigeria, while underscoring that a substantial portion of the population remains excluded, citing EFInA data.
Key Themes
- Fairness over volume: Dr. Sharrieff‑Ayedun argued that without transparency, reliability, and accessibility, digital payments do not deepen inclusion but can erode it.
- Trust as currency: She described trust—built on these pillars—as a crucial foundation for meaningful inclusion in financial systems.
- Data as identity: She stressed that payment data can be translated into financial footprints, serving as a bridge between payments and credit and unlocking financial inclusion.
- CreditRegistry’s role: As MD/CEO of CreditRegistry, she underscored the company’s mission to transform transactional data into credit intelligence and financial visibility—what she framed as “dignity.”
Analysis
This focus on fairness signals a strategic shift. Industry observers note that Nigeria’s fintech sector has long emphasised scale—transaction counts and speed—as markers of success. Dr. Sharrieff‑Ayedun’s stance suggests a maturation toward sustainable inclusion, where system integrity and user experience matter.
This framing also elevates the role of financial infrastructure providers like CreditRegistry: transforming raw data into actionable credit profiles strengthens institutions’ lending decisions and builds consumer financial identity. It positions fintechs not merely as payment gateways, but as enablers of economic mobility.
Conclusion
Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff‑Ayedun’s intervention at PAFON 3.0 reframes the fintech conversation in Nigeria by asserting that fairness—not just volume—is foundational to growth. By emphasising trust, accessibility, and data-driven credit infrastructure, she charts a path toward a digital financial ecosystem that empowers all Nigerians, including those still on the margins.