Episode 16: From Cash to Code: Powering a Digital Nation (June 2026)

July 3, 2026 Matteo Rizzi Breaking Banks Africa 0:31:38 Comments Off on Episode 16: From Cash to Code: Powering a Digital Nation (June 2026)

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In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi sits down with Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), to explore how digital payment infrastructure is transforming Africa’s largest economy. Premier shares how NIBSS powers Nigeria’s payment ecosystem behind the scenes, driving interoperability, resilience, and innovation through instant payments and open APIs. The conversation covers the launch of the National Payment Stack, the role of digital public infrastructure, and why zero-cost instant payments could accelerate financial inclusion and economic growth. They also discuss the importance of trust, digital identity, financial literacy, and collaboration between banks, fintechs, regulators, and entrepreneurs. Looking beyond Nigeria, Premier outlines the actions needed to strengthen cross-border payments and build a more connected African financial ecosystem. This episode offers valuable insights into the future of payments, inclusion, and fintech innovation across the continent.

Author, Co-Founder of FTS Group, BBE Executive Producer
About the Author
Matteo Rizzi is an unconventional entrepreneur with two decades of experience in Financial Services, constantly referred amongst the top executives in the industry. He spent 13 years at SWIFT - where he co-founded Innotribe, the innovation arm of the cooperative, launching the first global startup challenge. Since 2013, he has had a FinTech Investor and/or Venture Partner role with global VCs and CVCs (20+ deals, 5 exits). In 2015, he co-founded FinTechStage (FTSGroup.eu) - a platform for Investors and Innovators to boost FinTech innovation globally. In 2019, Matteo founded Timepledge a global initiative to foster financial inclusion and entrepreneurship. In 2025, Matteo aligned FTS and Timepledge’s into a single mission and founded the African Talent Academy. In 2019, he also launched Breaking Banks Europe (as the Executive Producer) and in 2025 the spin-off Breaking Banks Africa. In 2023, he was appointed Senior Advisor for Elevandi (MAS) now GFTN.com. He is the author of "The FinTech Revolution" and "Talents & Rebels" and is fluent in 5 languages. X:https://twitter.com/matteorizzi Website: https://matteorizzi.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matteorizziofficial Linkedln:https://www.linkedin.com/in/matteorizzi/ Provoke: https://provoke.fm/author/matteo/
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