*First Bank of Nigeria Limited discloses its sponsorship of the recent Canada-Africa FinTech Summit 2025, in Toronto, highlights its commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration, financial inclusion and forward-thinking innovation in the global FinTech landscape

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In line with its commitment to inclusive Financial Technology (FinTech) innovation across the continent, First Bank of Nigeria Limited sponsored and participated in the recent Canada-Africa FinTech Summit (CAFS 2025), held in Toronto, North America.

Organised by Dr. Segun Aina, President of the African FinTech Network, the summit has been described as a landmark event that united FinTech leaders, regulators, startups and investors from Africa and Canada, to explore scalable digital solutions, encourage investment, and promote inclusive economic development across both continents.

FirstBank, a leading commercial bank in Nigeria, is regarded as a legacy financial institution with over 131 years of leadership in financial services across Africa, Europe and the Americas.

The bank stated that its sponsorship of CAFS 2025 further highlighted its commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration, financial inclusion and forward-thinking innovation in the global FinTech landscape.

The summit was also said to be part of Canada鈥檚 broader Africa Strategy, aimed at promoting economic partnerships, digital cooperation, and innovation exchange.

Mr. Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, stated: 鈥淥ur support of CAFS 2025 reflects our belief that collaboration between African and Canadian FinTech ecosystems can lead to transformative innovations.

“FirstBank is proud to help shape that future.鈥�

Speaking at a high-level panel discussion with MPP for Mississauga鈥揕akeshore, Rudy Cuzzeto and Country Director for the United Nations World Food Programme (Nigeria), David Stevenson, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive for E-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, emphasised the importance of digital collaboration in the financial ecosystem on the African continent.

The bank further noted Ezirim stated: 鈥淲e are building APIs that understand regulatory bifurcation, who has access to what, and why. Technology is the easy part.

“The real challenge lies in maintaining security, consent, and performance.

鈥淚n Nigeria, FinTech has evolved beyond disruption to convergence, integrating banks, FinTechs and regulators into an agile and accountable ecosystem.”

Rachel Adeshina, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at FirstBank, in another panel discussion,

shared insights on harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance credit access for the underbanked.

Adeshina said: 鈥淲e are addressing data poverty by using AI to interpret alternative data, allowing us to lend to individuals who might otherwise be invisible to the traditional credit system.”

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