Unity Bank, AfriGo to accelerate E-payment adoption, financial inclusion in Nigeria

Onome Amuge

Unity Bank Plc is intensifying its drive for electronic payment adoption and broader financial inclusion across Nigeria through a partnership with AfriGo, the domestic card scheme provider. The collaboration aims to boost card usage among Unity Bank’s extensive retail customer base.

The commitment was reaffirmed during a high-level strategic engagement between the executive management teams of both institutions.

Ebenezer Kolawole, managing director and chief executive of Unity Bank, underscored the bank’s dedication to the initiative.

“We are committed to making the AfriGo Card a primary delivery channel for Unity Bank. As a national domestic card scheme, it deserves to be promoted both internally and externally as a local solution with significant potential to redefine Nigeria’s card payment landscape,” he stated.

Kolawole pledged Unity Bank’s continued support for the widespread adoption of AfriGo cards across its network, while simultaneously urging AfriGo to amplify its awareness campaigns to cultivate greater market acceptance.

Ebehijie Momoh, managing director of AfriGo, lauded Unity Bank for its instrumental support, noting that the bank ranks among the top five adopters of the AfriGo card. He underscored the scheme’s expanding impact in enhancing financial inclusion and improving access to electronic payments, particularly in underserved markets.

Momoh detailed AfriGo’s ongoing technological innovations, including features supporting instant payments and offline capabilities, designed to ensure broader access to e-payment systems. He also pointed to successful partnerships, such as with Tap & Go solutions, which have accelerated contactless payment adoption, offering increased convenience for cardholders engaged in daily commutes, business, or leisure activities.

Expressing optimism for deeper collaboration, Momoh spoke on the potential of Unity Bank’s extensive retail network to drive a substantial increase in e-banking penetration nationwide.