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Open Vector CEO at Lagos Fintech Week speaks on opportunities for Startups

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BY: Nmerichukwu Igweamaka

Startups in the Financial Technology (FinTech) space will redefine service offering experiences to customers, says the Chief Executive Officer of Open Vector Limited, Carlos Figueredo.

Figueredo who delivered a paper at the opening of Lagos Fintech Week on Tuesday at Oriental Hotel, said in an interview with TechEconomy.ng that open banking system offers startups and others in the ecosystem a level playing fields to grow the economy, especially through financial inclusion.

Open Vector was established in 2017 with the purpose of leveraging the extensive knowledge achieved in the UK with the creation, implementation and go live of the first in country open banking strategy worldwide.

It is Open Vector’s remit to use this experience to become the “center of expertise for Open API”.

In his words, Figueredo said, “For me, the startups will define the new dynamics in banking and that is what Open Banking brings to the table. It offers all a level playing field which is an opportunity that startups never experienced before now. Open Banking means that through new collaborations and innovations young fintechs can now create solutions and services and can be able to sell them to large institutions.

“So, I encourage fintechs in Nigeria to tap into this space. I have seen amazing talents here in the country.

Discussing on how fintechs can bridge the financial inclusion, especially among the rural dwellers, he said, “I think the fintechs and financial institutions have not yet understood the commercial opportunity of reaching out to the villages – people that are outside the cities. Even the Deputy Governor of the CBN who spoke earlier expressed the same thing. I think there are huge opportunities among those people; it is just that the fintechs and banks have not been able to create those services and products that will incentive those people to want to consume those products. I think that is where the opportunity is.

Speaking on security concerns with regards Open Banking system, the Open Vector’s CEO noted that, “The operators in the open banking ecosystem are working hard to ensure hitch-free operations. Anything financially based would always attract the attention of the cyber attackers. But the greatest risk revolves around lack of education.

“If you are completely educated on how to do what you do, things are going to be a lot easier and protected. To give you an example, in the way we use our passwords for banking, if you are not educated on how to do it, you put yourself in risk, because you share your information. But if you can protect your password, it is also applicable to the open banking system, he added.

On regulations that need to be in place to drive the ecosystem, he suggested that regulations that are solid enough to protect the consumer must not be neglected.

He further said that the consumer deserves the right to make choices while using third-party or payment providers’ platforms.

On what the consumer stands to gain from open banking, Figueredo, said “Everything. This is an amazing opportunity for the consumer to make choices. Before now, products were designed (without sounding negative) to somehow protect the banks and not really the consumer but in today’s world, the banks will have to compete with ‘banks of all sizes’; the digital banks, small banks, big banks, etc. So, new services and products will grant consumers easier access to services and products through their devices. 

Lagos Fintech Week (LFW) which continues today, is an invigorating week of distinct FinTech events that delivers exciting discussions, stimulating demos and insightful debates.

The Week is for startups, technology companies, investors, financial institutions, research institutes and innovation professionals.

Other panelists include: Jameel Taiwo, MD/CEO Credit Registry; Faith Adesemowo, CEO, Social Lender; Tunde Popoola, MD/CEO, CRC Credit Bureau; Damilola Salawu, Partner, Olaniun Ajayi. The session will also be moderated by Onajite Regha, CEO, EPPAN.

Source: TechEconomy.ng

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Tinubu Launches Personal Income Tax Calculator to Improve Compliance, Fairness

By ORJI ISRAEL

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Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has launched a Personal Income Tax Calculator to help Nigerians work out their tax obligations under the new tax law.

The tool is expected to make compliance easier and improve transparency in the system.

In a post on his X page, the president said the calculator shows how the recent reforms protect low-income earners while ensuring fairness.

“A fair tax system must never punish poverty or weigh down the most vulnerable. With the new tax laws I recently signed, taking effect from January 2026, we have lifted this burden and created a path of equity, fairness, and true redistribution in our economy,” Tinubu said.

Some months ago, he signed four major tax bills into law to bring Nigeria’s scattered tax system under one framework. These include the Nigeria Tax Administration Law, which sets out a uniform process for tax administration across federal, state, and local governments; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, which replaces the current Federal Inland Revenue Service Act with a stronger, more independent revenue agency; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, which creates a formal structure for cooperation between revenue bodies at all levels.

The introduction of the tax calculator, together with these reforms, is expected to reduce confusion for both individuals and businesses, while also making it easier for them to meet their obligations and contribute to national growth.

Tinubu added that the reforms are part of building renewed hope for the economy and urged Nigerians to trust in the country’s future for themselves and their families.

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FIRS e-Invoicing Hits 20% Adoption in Two Weeks

Reporter: SANDRA ANI

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VAT controversy | FIRS e-Invoicing

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says that no fewer than 1,000 companies, representing 20% of total eligible firms, have begun integrating its newly launched electronic invoicing  (e-invoicing) system less than two weeks after it went live.

The FIRS e-invoicing platform, which went live on August 1, 2025, after a successful pilot phase that began in November 2024, was designed to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration, curb evasion, and enhance transparency in revenue generation. It also provides the FIRS with real-time visibility into commercial transactions, ensuring authenticity and completeness of invoices.

According to a statement by Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser on Media to FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, at least 1,000 companies, representing 20% of more than 5,000 eligible firms, have already adopted the system and begun integrating with the FIRS platform.

Adekanmbi noted that the initiative, also known as the Merchant-Buyer Model, will be rolled out in phases. “Large taxpayers, which are companies with annual turnover of N5 billion and more, are expected to be the first to be onboarded on the platform,” he said.

FIRS revealed that MTN Nigeria was the first taxpayer to transmit live electronic invoices to the platform, while Huawei Nigeria and IHS Nigeria have concluded test transmissions and are expected to go live soon.

The agency added that the initial compliance deadline of August 1, 2025, has been extended by three months to accommodate companies currently facing onboarding challenges. The new deadline is now November 1, 2025.

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NGX Boss, Umaru Kwairanga, to Chair Business Journal Fintech Roundtable 2025

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NGX Boss, Umaru Kwairanga
NGX Boss, Umaru Kwairanga

Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) will Chair the 2nd Business Journal Fintech & Financial Inclusion Roundtable 2025 scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2025 at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos. Time is 10-am prompt.

The theme of the Roundtable is: Fintech & Financial Inclusion: The Opportunities & Challenges for Nigeria.

In a statement, Prince Cookey, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Business Journal Media Group said the choice of Umaru Kwairanga to chair the event is a reflection of his immense and chequered journey in the Nigerian economic system over the years.

“Dr. Umaru Kwairanga is a noted player in the Nigerian economy and financial services sector. Over the years, he has carved a positive niche in driving the narrative in national policy formulation, implementation and review. He remains a worthy point of reference and role model to current and future players in the Nigerian economy.”

Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, Sarkin Fulani Gombe and Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), is a notable player in the Nigerian corporate world, a thorough-bred professional and a prominent community leader in Gombe State and the North East region.

He has served at the highest levels of the banking, pension, investment, manufacturing and commercial sectors of Nigeria’s economy. He is the current Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Nigeria’ oldest stock exchange and also Chairman of Tangerine General Insurance Limited.

The NGX Chairman is also a Director on the Boards of First Bank Senegal Limited, Tangerine Apt Pensions Limited and the Group Managing Director of Finmal Finance Services Limited.  

He is a past Chairman of Ashaka Cement plc and previously served on the Boards of Jaiz Bank Plc, Central Securities Clearing System Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc and First Bank Mortgages Limited to mention a few.

Professionally, Alhaji Kwairanga is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria, the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria and the Abuja Commodities and Securities Exchange.

He is also a Council Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers; the Chartered Institute of Directors and he is the current President of the Certified Pensions Institute of Nigeria.

Kwairanga is a holder of the prominent traditional title of Sarkin Fulani Gombe and has led several initiatives for peace and development in Gombe State and the North East region in general.

He has also been involved in policy and strategy formulation in the public sector as a Member of the Vision 2020 Committee, the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan and several committees of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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