Keyplayers from Nigeria’s financial services and technology sectors convened at the Business Day Fintech Summit 2026 in Lagos, held under the theme “The Next Financial Frontier: Intelligence, Infrastructure & Inclusion in Africa’s Digital Money Economy.” The two‑day event examined how innovation, data and emerging technologies are reshaping the continent’s financial ecosystem.
The summit brought together fintech founders, representatives of banks and other financial institutions, regulators and ecosystem partners to discuss digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) and broader financial inclusion. A central focus was the role of AI in improving risk assessment, fraud detection and delivering hyper‑personalised customer experiences across Africa’s evolving digital economy.
During a panel titled “Intelligent Finance: How AI, Data and Automation are Rewriting Financial Services,” Blessing Ehize, Chief Technology Officer of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), outlined the bank’s AI strategy. Ehize said AI is no longer a future concept but a driver of efficiency, personalisation and smarter decision‑making in banking. “The real value lies in how effectively we harness data to deliver smarter, faster, and more inclusive financial services,” he stated.
Ehize reaffirmed FCMB’s commitment to responsible innovation. He noted that the bank’s AI adoption follows a deliberate, risk‑aware approach that safeguards customer privacy, regulatory compliance and trust. “This is why FCMB is ISO 42001 certified. Technology must work for the customer, not against them, and must always align with ethical standards and human oversight,” he added.
The CTO also highlighted FCMB’s alignment with global best practices. He explained that the bank is building systems that are not only intelligent but also secure, scalable and inclusive, ensuring that technological advances expand, rather than restrict, access to the financial system. “Globally, AI is taking centre stage, whether you are a bank or not. It is coming to enable businesses and change lifestyles,” Ehize said.
The summit underscored the accelerating pace of digital transformation across Africa. Participants agreed that continued investment in cutting‑edge technologies and data‑driven insights is essential for expanding service delivery and financial inclusion on the continent. FCBN’s ongoing AI initiatives exemplify a broader industry shift toward ethically grounded, data‑centric banking solutions.
As the African digital money economy matures, the outcomes of the Business Day Fintech Summit signal a collective push toward resilient, inclusive financial infrastructure capable of supporting the continent’s growth trajectory.
