Unity Bank, AfriGo explore collaboration to deepen access to electronic payments
Orisemeke Benjamin
Unity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing electronic payment adoption and financial inclusion by partnering with domestic card scheme provider, AfriGo, to boost card usage across its retail customer segments.
This pledge was made during a high-level strategic business engagement held at Unity Bank’s head office in Lagos on Friday, with AfriGo’s Executive Management team.
Speaking during the session, Unity Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ebenezer Kolawole, stated: “We are committed to making the AfriGo Card a primary delivery channel for Unity Bank. As a national domestic card scheme, it deserves to be promoted both internally and externally as a local solution with significant potential to redefine Nigeria’s card payment landscape.”
Mr. Kolawole also pledged the Bank’s continued support for the adoption of AfriGo cards across its network, while urging AfriGo to intensify awareness campaigns to drive greater market acceptability.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of AfriGo, Ebehijie Momoh, commended Unity Bank for the support it has given the scheme, stating that the Bank ranks among the top five adopters of the AfriGo card and highlighted its growing impact in expanding financial inclusion and improving access to electronic payments.
He noted that AfriGo has continued to innovate with technologies that support instant payments and offline capabilities, ensuring broader access to e-payment systems across underserved markets. He added that partnerships with solutions like Tap & Go have helped boost contactless payment adoption, improving convenience for cardholders who commute for work, business, or leisure.
Momoh expressed optimism about the potential of Unity Bank’s extensive retail network to drive deeper collaboration aimed at enhancing e-banking penetration nationwide.
This collaboration underscores Unity Bank’s enduring culture of digital innovation and its commitment to financial inclusion through homegrown technology. Over the years, the Bank has introduced several digital solutions that demonstrate this commitment.
Notably, Unity Bank pioneered USSD banking, *7799#, in local languages, an initiative aimed at deepening access among underserved rural and semi-urban populations. It also launched Unifi, a youth-focused digital banking platform designed to meet the lifestyle and financial needs of the younger demographic. Most recently, the Bank unveiled GenFi, a gamified mobile banking solution tailored for children and teenagers to cultivate smart money habits from an early age.
