Finance
Speakers, delegates explore the future of banking, tech disruptions at #AFFDisrupt2019


BY: Justice Godfry
The much publicised Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Disrupt Conference 2019 took place on Thursday in Lagos with emphasis on how banks and other industries can remain relevant in the face current and impending technological disruptions.
Keynote address:
A Futurist, Author, and Chief Executive Officer, Moven, United Kingdom, Brett King, he reiterated that technology is moving much faster than before, stressing that in such an environment of rapid change, “you either disrupt or get disrupted.”
King emphasised that by 2025, there will be more robots than human beings. So, “Be nice to robots.”
In the financial services sector, the Futurist hailed Nigeria as having a more modern payment system even than the United States.
But he warned, “Disruption is central to the survivability of the banks and other sectors”, stressing that “with technology like Machine learning, artificial intelligence opening more bank branches will become unfashionable”
“We are in era the car has more information than the human driver; this is the big disruption”.
He described Artificial Intelligence as having three phases:
1. Machine Learning;
2. Artificial General Intelligence &
3. Strong AI
“By 2025, there will be more robots than human beings. Be nice to robots.”
“AI in the future will be able to tell you this person or that person wants to scam you; when he or she have no money which they pretend to have”
“So, disruptions are no respecter of persons or industries. For instance, China is 10 years ahead of the USA. With AI technology the Chinese government can recognize its 1.4billion population with CCTV cameras”
Access Bank CEO
Also speaking, the MD/CEO of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe stressed on how technology is demystifying services and products.
He said that this is more about data and its transferability, noting that being an intelligent Bank is no longer an option, but a necessity.
In his words, “There was a time when payments could only be made through Cheques. Now, through technology, transactions worth billions can be made in seconds. That is how much the world has changed.”
“This is more about data and its transferability. The payment system like all other system is benefiting from it. There has been a massive improvement in collection, processing and transferability of data. That is the improvement worth celebrating.”
“Being an intelligent Bank is no longer an option, but a necessity. Today, Internet of Things, Blockchain, and artificial intelligence are disruptions changing the dynamics in banking sector.
“Late Chief MKO Abiola used to exhaust 3 cheque books every morning. Today, nobody uses more than 3 cheque books in a year.
“Where will we be in 10/15 years from now? Technology is changing. We are to change with it.


Panel session:
First panel discussion on “Venture Capital; Securing Seed and Growth Funding for Start ups in Nigeria and Africa”, featured
The CEO, Venture Garden Group, Bunmi Akinyemiju; CEO, Trium Networks Ltd, Adedeji Olowe; and General Partner, Savannah Fund, USA, Paul Bragiel and moderated by the Partner & Lead for Digital Transformation, KPMG Nigeria, Boye Ademola.
Quotes from the panellists:
“In Nigeria, the average investor wants to control the business. We hope to get to a level where investors allow founders control the business, since they are the experts,” Adedeji Olowe.
Is crowdfunding a failure on the part of Venture Capitalists? “No, crowdfunding platforms give founders options to raise funds for their business”, Paul Bragiel.
“Sometimes we jump too fast into entrepreneurship. Get a job, learn and obtain domain expertise”.
“Acquiring significant knowledge and domain expertise as an employee is also a great advantage for founders”.
“Investors respond to the operating environment and the opportunities available. Nigerian investors are getting bullish on the tech scene and we expect more investments in this space”, Bunmi Akinyemiju.
From the panel, startups should learn to avoid mistakes such as not having the right process like project management
No communication with investors
No long-term plan and outlook
The Second panel dwelt on ‘The Future of Gaming & AI’ featuring
The EVP (Gaming) at Microsoft, USA, Phil Spencer and the Technical Fellow, AI perception at Microsoft, USA, Alex Kipman while the Partner &Lead for Digital Transformation, KPMG Nigeria, Boye Ademola, was the Moderator
Quotes from the panelits:
“Innovation can come from anywhere, disruption can come from everywhere”, Alex Kipman.
“Half of the internet connected worlds today play video games and so gaming opportunities are transforming from local to cloud based opportunities”, Phil Spencer.


“Be a technology innovator and not a consumer”, Alex Kipman.
There were also sessions like Hard Talk, Women in Technology and pitching by startups.
Source: Techeconomy.ng
Finance
Tinubu Launches Personal Income Tax Calculator to Improve Compliance, Fairness
By ORJI ISRAEL


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.


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.
Finance
NGX Boss, Umaru Kwairanga, to Chair Business Journal Fintech Roundtable 2025
By Our Correspondent


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).
-
Education5 days ago
Delta-Five and Oborevwori’s education vision
-
News2 days ago
PRCAN Mourns the Passing of NIPR Council Member, Bashir Chedi
-
Sports3 days ago
Hope Uzodimma Backs Chiney Ogwumike’s Vision for Girl-Child Empowerment Through Sports
-
Energy1 day ago
Gov Mbah Revamps, Upgrades Nigergas after 30-year Dormancy
-
Culture1 day ago
Okhma hosts high-level investment pitch for 70 brands ahead of Carnival Calabar 2025
-
News5 days ago
Mbah to NBA: “Law, the Conscience of the Nation, Justice Sector Reform, a Cornerstone of Our Administration”