MTN fintech calls for faster African growth

by AKANI CHAUKE 
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – AFRICA’S fintech revolution is entering a new phase, with speed, trust and collaboration emerging as critical to ensuring digital financial services deliver sustainable benefits across the continent.

That was a key message from the three-day MTN Group Fintech Summit 2026 in Johannesburg, held under the theme “Maximum Velocity, As One”.

The summit brought together regulators from the 14 markets where MTN Group Fintech operates, as well as payment processors, fintech innovators, technology partners and other industry stakeholders to examine the rapid evolution of digital finance and the challenges accompanying its growth.

While mobile money has already transformed financial inclusion, speakers highlighted the need to build stronger ecosystems and infrastructure to support Africa’s next stage of digital development.

Digital financial services are increasingly enabling underserved communities to participate in the formal economy, while supporting e-commerce, small businesses and new economic opportunities.

Mobile money, in particular, has become a major driver of economic participation, facilitating billions of transactions across the continent.

However, greater scale brings greater responsibility, with trust identified as one of the sector’s most valuable assets.

Cybersecurity, data protection and resilient digital infrastructure will be essential as financial services become more interconnected and embedded in consumers’ everyday lives.

Cloud capabilities, modern payments architecture and robust networks will also be needed to ensure services remain reliable during disruptions.

Regulation was another central issue. MTN Group Fintech said Africa needs agile frameworks capable of protecting consumers and maintaining financial stability without restricting innovation.

The company also pointed to the changing role of mobile money, which is moving beyond basic payments towards services that can help consumers save, invest and manage their finances, while responsibly expanding access to digital credit.

MTN Group Fintech chief executive Serigne Dioum said the company was evolving from providing financial access into an intelligent digital ecosystem.

The journey began with simple digital transactions before expanding through open APIs that enable partners to integrate services with MTN platforms, he said.

The next phase will increasingly harness artificial intelligence and big data to improve customer experiences.

“Partners are integral to this journey,” Dioum said, as MTN accelerates its strategy to improve lives across the communities it serves.

With more than 60 million active users across 14 African markets, MTN Group Fintech believes the continent’s next leap will depend on more than technology.

Africa’s digital future, the summit concluded, will ultimately be shaped by the trust surrounding new services, the ecosystems supporting them and the ability of industry and government to work together to turn innovation into tangible value.

– CAJ News