Digital Pay Expo 2026: PalmPay Calls For Trust, Infrastructure And Responsible AI To Drive Payment Ecosystem Innovation
Industry leaders, regulators, and payment experts have called for stronger infrastructure, responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, and deeper cross-sector collaboration to unlock the next phase of growth in Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem.
The stakeholders made the call during the 2026 Digital Pay Expo held in Lagos on June 17 and 18, 2026. This year’s event focused heavily on the transformative role of AI, cybersecurity, cross-border transactions, and deepening financial inclusion across Africa.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Rekiya Yusuf, Director of the Payment System Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), represented by Chika Ugwueze, Deputy Director, stated that Nigeria’s payment ecosystem is rapidly evolving beyond digital adoption into deeper digital transformation.
According to Yusuf, artificial intelligence is emerging as a critical driver of this shift, particularly in real-time fraud detection and expanding access to underserved populations. “The goal is to make financial transactions seamless. AI is now driving innovation, helping in real-time fraud detection and helping to expand access,” she said.
She noted, however, that important gaps remain, particularly around infrastructure and inclusion. Building a resilient digital market system in the AI era requires reliable connectivity, robust infrastructure, intentional talent development, and sustained capacity building.
Echoing the regulator’s call for robust ecosystem support, Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, said trust, access, and practical financial support remain critical to helping small businesses participate more meaningfully in the formal economy.
He noted that while micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute an impressive 40 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), limited access to credit and reliable payment infrastructure continues to slow their ability to grow and scale.
To drive true innovation, Nwosu argued that financial inclusion must move beyond simply opening accounts and enabling basic transactions; it requires building a foundation of trust and tangible economic empowerment.
“SMEs contribute 40 per cent of the country’s GDP. For us at PalmPay, we don’t just provide payment solutions to them, we also support them with financial tools they need to expand and create jobs,” he said. .
Nwosu further emphasised the importance of digital literacy, noting that stronger understanding of digital tools and AI-enabled systems will be essential to buildling long-term trust and participation across the ecosystem.
The discussions at Digital Pay Expo 2026 reflected a growing consensus across the industry: the future of African digital payments will depend on getting the fundamentals right. That means stronger infrastructure, responsible use of AI, better cybersecurity, and closer collaboration between regulators, fintechs, and other ecosystem players.
For PalmPay, the event reinforced the importance of building a payments ecosystem that is more resilient, more secure, and better equipped to support inclusion and growth at scale.
