The Managing Director for Payments Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay) at Interswitch, Mr Akeem Lawal, has said Africa’s tech ecosystem has moved beyond emergence, noting it is now in acceleration mode.
He stated this in his speech at the Moonshot by TechCabal 2025 held in Lagos recently. The event brought together several tech visionaries and digital builders.
However, Mr Lawal warned that to sustain the momentum, the continent must invest in secure, scalable, and interoperable systems that evolve alongside its growth, submitting that innovation sparks progress, but enduring systems sustain it.
He disclosed that Interswitch continues to play a defining role in the ecosystem, especially from Verve to Quickteller, and across its switching and processing capabilities.
The company has spent over two decades building the digital rails that power millions of transactions daily, not just enabling payments, but cultivating confidence in every connection. Behind every successful transaction lies assurance.
Beyond technology, Interswitch champions collaboration because no ecosystem thrives in isolation. Africa’s progress, as explored at Moonshot, depends on how effectively it mobilises both public and private capital to turn ideas into impact.
With over $1.1 trillion in domestic capital available through pension and sovereign funds, the potential is massive. The challenge, as Mr Lawal noted, lies in unlocking those resources and converting them into the infrastructure that can propel Africa’s innovation into the future.
The atmosphere at Moonshot was electric, a fusion of optimism, ambition, and action. Amid the buzz, Interswitch’s message stood out, echoing a truth that cut through the noise: Africa’s digital growth is not just about speed; it’s about sustainability. The systems we build today must be strong enough to carry tomorrow’s dreams.
By powering everyday connections, enabling seamless payments, and strengthening the digital foundations that fuel progress, Interswitch continues to light the path for Africa’s journey toward a truly connected economy.
For the company, it has never been just about transactions, it has always been about building trust, systems, and connections that help Africa go further, together.