L-R: Group Head, Business Development and Strategy, 9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Akeem Salam; Economic Inclusion and Gender Equity Advocate, Lehle Balde Cameron; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, 9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Branka Mracajac; Managing Director, Intermac Consulting, Adeyinka Adeyemi; Team Lead Marketing and Communications, 9PSB, Inemesit Ekong and Director, Intermac Consulting, Ope Adesanya at the 2024 Digital Pay Expo recently held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island Lagos
9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Nigeria’s leading digital payment service bank focused on financial inclusion, highlighted the remarkable progress made by female professionals and entrepreneurs in the fintech sector and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) at the 2024 Digital Pay Expo and Exhibition. The event took place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s event, themed ‘Redefining Payment,’ explored and analyzed the payment habits of Millennials and Gen Z—the largest generational cohorts. The discussions underscored the significant impact these groups have on the payment industry and the need to develop solutions that cater to their preferences and capture their loyalty.
During the session titled Women in Fintech, themed Inclusive Finance for SMEs, 9PSB’s Managing Director and CEO, Branka Mracajac, emphasized the significant strides women have made in the fintech sector and SMEs in recent years. She noted that while women still face competition from their male counterparts, many are now occupying key executive positions in finance, fintech, and other fields. Mracajac highlighted the fintech industry’s ongoing efforts to address gender disparity, inclusivity, and financial inclusion to ensure equal growth opportunities.
“Women are founding numerous business entities and SMEs,” Mracajac stated. “It’s essential to have the right mindset, work hard, educate yourselves, acquire the necessary skills, network, and find inspiration. The opportunities will follow. We need more prominent women leaders in fintech to inspire young girls. In my time, we didn’t have this, but the dynamics have changed. Women should stay focused, connected, and seek out opportunities to kick-start their careers.”
Joining her at the session were other female CEOs from the fintech sector, including Ronke Kuye (Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities Limited, SANEF, Nigeria), Dr. Markie Idowu (Xpress Payment Solutions Limited), Kemi Okunsanya (Hydrogen, Nigeria), and Yemi Keri (Heckerbella Limited). They offered advice to the attending female undergraduates from various institutions in Lagos State, stressing the importance of having mentors, building rapport, enhancing social capital, utilizing social media for communication, and demonstrating their skills and experience. They also encouraged the young women to add value to any organization they join and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, as future connections can be unpredictable.
The Digital Pay Expo is an annual event that brings together industry regulators, fintech executives, and innovators to collaborate and advance the fintech and payment solutions industry. The expo serves as a platform for industry players to discover innovative cases and technologies that will drive growth in the fintech ecosystem.
