UK Government Officials Meet Interswitch to Explore Fintech Partnerships in Nigeria
Interswitch Group, a leading African digital payments and commerce company, has hosted a high-powered delegation from the UK Government in Lagos as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and explore fintech partnerships in Africa. The visit underlines the growing global interest in Nigeria’s fintech sector and its potential to drive financial inclusion and innovation across the continent.
The delegation was led by the British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, alongside the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green. The team also included senior representatives from the UK Department for Business and Trade. Their visit focused on strengthening bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and the UK, as well as identifying opportunities for collaboration that could support Interswitch’s international growth strategy.
Discussions centered on how Nigeria’s rapidly expanding fintech ecosystem could benefit from deeper partnerships with UK businesses. The talks also highlighted the importance of leveraging innovative digital payment solutions to improve financial access for underserved communities.
Founder and Group Managing Director of Interswitch Group, Mitchell Elegbe, emphasized the importance of such collaborations in building sustainable financial ecosystems in Africa. He said: “As we continue to scale our operations and deepen our impact across the continent, collaborations with global partners like the UK present invaluable opportunities to accelerate growth, expand access, and deliver transformative financial solutions.”
The UK delegation included several high-ranking officials such as Ceri Smith, Director General of Investments in Africa; Ben Ainsley, His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner in Africa; Mark Smithson, Country Director for the Department for Business and Trade; Morayo Adekunle, Deputy Country Director and Investment Officer; and James Harding, Private Secretary to the DG Investments.
On Interswitch’s side, the delegation was welcomed by Elegbe alongside top executives including Akeem Lawal, Managing Director of Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay); John Maguire, Group Chief Financial Officer; Chinyere Don-Okhuofu, Managing Director of Interswitch Industry Ecosystems (Interswitch Indeco); Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director of Verve International; Ndifreke Nkose, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Chief of Staff; and Adaobi Okerekeocha, Chief Innovation Officer.
The meeting reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment to fostering strategic investments in Nigeria, particularly in financial technology, digital infrastructure, and innovation. The UK delegation expressed optimism that stronger trade ties and collaboration with Nigerian firms like Interswitch would not only accelerate growth in the fintech industry but also drive broader economic development.
This engagement marks another significant step in UK-Nigeria relations, positioning fintech as a critical sector for future trade and investment. It also signals growing confidence in the role of African payment giants like Interswitch in shaping the future of financial services globally.
