African Central Bank President, Others to Speak at Cashless Africa Conference

Financial inclusion, job creation and other measures that will take the over 12 million unemployed youths in Africa out of the street is expected to dominate discussions at the upcoming Cashless Africa Conference. The conference opens in Abuja on Monday next week.
President of Cashless Africa Dr. Alex Itkin, who disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, in a media chat to herald the conference, also hinted that e-Naira initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as the agent banking, the POS terminals operators, introduced in 2013 which has grown from 155,000 to 1.1 million opened up a new frontier of financial services, created jobs for youths who provided financial services to clients in remote, unbanked, and under banked parts of the continent.
He said that about 500 participants from 50 countries are expected to take part in the conference while there will be 50 Fintech solutions exhibition booths, five presentations, 10 expert speakers, six group projects as well as panel discussions.
The Cashless Africa boss went further to announce that His Excellency Buah Saidy, President of African Governors of Central Bank and governor of Central Bank of Gambia will at the occasion present a Certificate of Distinction to the CBN governor on behalf of Cashless Africa and Foreign Investment Network (FIN).
Some of the dignitaries expected at the event include Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Dr. Ernest Addison, Governors of the Central Banks of Nigeria and Ghana, Godwin Emefiele and Dr. Ernest Addison respectively.
Some other expected personalities included: Dr. Isa Ali Pantami Minister of Trade and Digital Economy; Mrs. Vera Esperance, Minister of Finance Angola; Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful Minister of Communications and Digitalisation Ghana; Abdulrasheed Bawa Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Engr. Umar Danbatta Executive Vice-Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Michael Miebach CEO Master Card; Mr. John Alan Kyeremanten Minister of Trade and Industry Ghana; Mr. Solomon Nwamba CEO Majestic Coin; Miebaka Kenneth Akodi Chairman Nairanet Technologies Limited; Akin Fayomi Vice President Citi Group UK and Nnamdi Ekeh CEO of Konga, a leading eCommerce Store.
Through more light on some of the expectations at the conference, he continued, “While 10 to 12 million youths in Africa graduate into the labour market each year, only 3.1 million jobs are created, leaving a vast number of youths vulnerable and unemployed.
“The event will serve as a launching pad for the international business community to explore investment opportunities in Africa and other emerging markets. It will stimulate wider investment exchange between countries/organizations towards a prosperous Africa and also serve as a platform for states to build partnerships, foster business relationships, improve financial inclusion, strength local currencies, improve global financial operations and create balanced economic policies.
“The fulcrum of the second edition of Africa Cashless Payment Systems Conference is to trigger conversation around the development and implementation of safe, reliable and efficient payments systems and Financial Market Infrastructures (FMIs) in Africa which is very crucial in achieving a secured, affordable, accessible payment solutions as well as expand financial inclusion, foster development and support financial stability in the continent”.
He said that the conference will be an venue for a productive dialogue among digital financial solutions stakeholders where digital product vendors, consumers, the academia, and regulators will brainstorm on issues of mutual concerns and challenges to efficient product deliverables. It will seek to foster collaboration and debate on key Fintech topics including fair regulation and financial inclusion.
The maiden edition which held at the Plush Movempick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, in 2021, was attended by government officials, policy makers, captains of industries, Fintech companies and start-ups. It was a market place for business exchange and policy decision on the opportunities and challenges of digital financial platforms in Africa and how it can enhance intra-continental trade within the context of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
About 38 Tech leaders, Start-Ups, Financial Solution Providers, Captains of Industry, Business leaders and organizations who have distinguished themselves in Corporate Social Responsibility, Financial Inclusion and Job creation were honoured.
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