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A local voice for financial wisdom is close at hand

A local voice for financial wisdom is close at hand

IN his journey from analysing blood samples to pioneering financial inclusion, the story of Olubayo Adekanmbi seems on the surface to be one of an unconventional career transition. Yet in many ways, the object of his metamorphosis was evident right from the earliest days of his very first job. “The truth is that when you enable a woman financially, you literally help a family and thereby build a nation," he said. Growing up in Abeokuta in southwest Nigeria, like other boys, Adekanmbi aspired to be a medical doctor. He ended up as a biochemist, working in a local hospital. Today,…
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Fintech revolution: A window for Africa to leap through

Fintech revolution: A window for Africa to leap through

CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD NEWSROOM From Seychelles to Somalia, smaller African nations are rapidly expanding financial inclusion and making huge strides in cashless payment technologies and in the process helping to build Africa as a global centre of fintech excellence, a new report reveals. More and more African countries are joining the top 100 global league of fintech hubs, as a wave of innovation washes over the continent. The latest global rankings show Africa topped the list of new entrants, with seven out of 18 new fintech hubs found in Africa. Seychelles is among the new entrants, shooting to position 59,…
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Africa’s huge strides in financial inclusion

Africa’s huge strides in financial inclusion

SETH ONYANGO MORE Africans are accessing mainstream financial services thanks to rapid growth in mobile money services on the continent. Markets such as Kenya and Nigeria are leading in the development of innovative products tailored for the historically underserved demographics by the formal financial sector. International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates show Africa has more digital financial services users than any other region in the world, accounting for nearly half of the 700 million individual users globally. In 2011 the level of financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa was just over 23 percent and jumped to almost 43 percent in 2017, buoyed…
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