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By Chinenye Anuforo
Platnova Technologies Limited, has called for the development of a unified payments system across Africa to accelerate cross-border transactions and deepen the continent’s digital economy.
The call was made at the BusinessDay Fintech Summit 2026 held in Lagos, where regulators, fintech operators, banks, investors and policymakers gathered to examine the future of Africa’s financial services landscape.
Organised by BusinessDay Media Limited at the Oriental Hotel, the summit focused on the theme: “The Next Financial Frontier: Intelligence, Infrastructure & Inclusion in Africa’s Digital Money Economy.”
Speaking during a panel session, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Platnova, Benjamin Oyemolan, identified fragmented financial infrastructure as a major barrier to growth across Africa.
According to him, disconnected systems continue to slow transactions, increase costs and limit efficiency in cross-border payments.
“Our systems are largely fragmented. If Africa is serious about scaling its digital economy, then financial systems across countries must be able to communicate seamlessly,” he said.
Oyemolan stressed that the goal should be to make cross-border payments as fast and seamless as digital communication, noting that while information now moves instantly, money transfers across African borders still face delays and multiple charges.
He added that deeper collaboration among fintech players, banks and regulators would be critical to building interoperable systems capable of supporting the continent’s growing digital trade.
“Africa does not necessarily need more products, but stronger partnerships and shared infrastructure. When institutions build together, the ecosystem grows faster,” he said.
Platnova, which provides cross-border payment and multi-currency services, used the summit to highlight its role in enabling seamless transactions for Africans both within and outside the continent.
In his opening remarks, Publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun, represented by Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Innocent Unah, said Africa’s fina
