People & Money

Abidjan to Host Largest Fintech Gathering in Francophone Africa

Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire, is gearing up to host the 5th edition of the Next Fintech Forum (NFF), the largest event in Francophone Africa dedicated to Fintech. The event scheduled for November 16 and 17, 2023 is organized by Africa Fintech Forum and will bring together players from the Francophone African Fintech ecosystem.

The Africa Fintech Forum was founded by Alex Sea, a Fintech expert and entrepreneur who wanted to create a platform for Fintech players and enthusiasts in Francophone Africa to network, learn, and collaborate. The forum’s mission is to promote access to digital finance for all players in the value chain, especially those in the informal sector who are often excluded from traditional financial services.

Also Read: Nigerian Fintechs Raise $913 Million in 2022 – Olaniwun Ajayi 2023 Fintech Outlook

With the theme: “Fintech and Commerce: How Fintech will shape commerce in Francophone Africa”, the forum also aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and education in the Fintech sector, as well as to influence the regulatory and policy environment to support its development. By organising the annual event, the forum hopes to showcase the achievements and potential of the Fintech industry in Francophone Africa, as well as to facilitate the dialogue and exchange of best practices among the various stakeholders.

The NFF exhibits the Fintech industry in French-speaking Africa, which has witnessed a significant growth in recent years. According to a report by Disrupt Africa, the number of fintech startups active in Africa has increased by 125.2 percent between 2017 and 2023.

In the statement released on Monday, November 6, by Carême Assamoi, the NFF’s press contact, Next Fintech Forum will also feature a Fintech Academia Summit, a platform designed to bring together African students and scholars who are passionate about financial services and technology. The organsation says it is giving avenue for small businesses to leverage the opportunity for the growth of their startups.

“At the heart of the NFF’s mission is the promotion of inclusive finance for all, including players in the informal sector, notably market traders. The forum serves as a platform for all branches of Fintech, but is also the preferred meeting place for all those who shape the Fintech ecosystem. This year, associations of small traders are particularly eager to discover the opportunities offered by digital finance to stimulate their growth,” the statement reads in part.

Also Read: Afrifin Fintech Summit 2022: Unfolding The Future Of Fintech 

“Another major innovation of this edition is the Blockchain Hackathon, which will bring together blockchain technology enthusiasts to tackle the challenge of proposing innovative solutions with potential for implementation and funding.

“It is a space for innovation, collaboration, mutual learning, and exploration of the latest trends and innovations in fintech, providing participants with the opportunity to collectively and responsibly shape Africa’s financial future, catalyze the digital transformation of the financial sector through research, education and cooperation, and develop curricula adapted to the job market.”

The forum also features around 20 discussions, workshops, panels and master classes led by about 50 speakers, addressing themes such as digital payments, mobile money, e-commerce, financial inclusion, regulation, innovation, entrepreneurship, among others. It is targeted to attract more than 750 participants from various sectors.

Abdullah Tijani

Abdullah Tijani studied Law at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, and has over five years journalism experience, including writing on business and economy.

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