FirstBank has sponsored the Canada-Africa Fintech Summit (CAFS 2025), which was held from August 5 to 8 at the Sheraton Centre in Downtown Toronto, Canada.
The summit, convened by president of the African Fintech Network Dr Segun Aina, brought together fintech leaders, regulators, startups and investors from Africa and Canada to explore digital solutions, encourage investment and promote inclusive economic development across both continents.
Acting group head, marketing and corporate communications at FirstBank, Olayinka Ijabiyi, said the bank’s support for CAFS 2025 was driven by its belief that collaboration between African and Canadian fintech ecosystems could lead to transformative innovations.
At a panel session with Mississauga–Lakeshore MPP Rudy Cuzzeto and United Nations World Food Programme (Nigeria) country director David Stevenson, FirstBank’s group executive, e-business and retail products, Chuma Ezirim, said regulatory clarity was vital for building public trust and attracting investment in fintech.
He noted that fintech in Nigeria had moved beyond disruption to convergence, integrating banks, fintechs and regulators.
He also stressed the need to maintain security, consent and performance while building systems that recognise regulatory differences.
FirstBank’s chief technology officer Rachel Adeshina, speaking at a separate panel, discussed the use of artificial intelligence to improve credit access for the underbanked.
She said the bank had used AI to interpret alternative data and had disbursed over N1 trillion in digital loans with a repayment rate above 99 percent.
Mrs Adeshina also said connecting Africa’s 54 markets through interoperability would be key to scaling digital finance solutions.
CAFS 2025 formed part of Canada’s Africa Strategy, aimed at boosting economic partnerships, digital cooperation and innovation exchange.
