L-R: Head of Partnership, PalmPay, Chibuzor Melah; Managing Director/CEO, AfriGOPay Financial Services Limited, Ebehijie Juliet Momoh; Managing Director, PalmPay, Chika Nwosu; Vincent Ogbunude, MD, Payment Tokens (Verve); Femi Hanson, Head, Marketing and Communications, PalmPay at the recent 5th Anniversary celebration of the fintech in Ikeja, Lagos.
PalmPay, a leading fintech company in Nigeria, marked its 5th anniversary with a celebratory event in Lagos, where the company’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, delivered an inspiring speech that reflected on the company’s journey, its challenges, and the way forward.
“Good morning to you all, and happy 5th anniversary; our 5th birthday!” Nwosu began, addressing an audience of distinguished guests, colleagues, partners, and members of the PalmPay family. He expressed his delight at welcoming them to commemorate what he called an “incredible milestone” in PalmPay’s journey.
Launched five years ago into Nigeria’s highly competitive fintech landscape, PalmPay had set out with the ambitious dream of becoming Africa’s largest financial services platform. Nwosu acknowledged the difficulties they faced early on but highlighted how the support of a dedicated team and loyal users helped the company persist and eventually thrive.
“I want to take a moment to appreciate the people who make this dream a reality: the PalmPay team,” Nwosu said. “You’ve worked tirelessly, not just in Nigeria but across Africa, impacting the lives of over 30 million users. This is no small feat, and it is certainly worth celebrating!”
Nwosu spoke about the company’s immense growth over the past five years, emphasizing PalmPay’s role in solving problems, thinking innovatively, and enabling Nigeria’s financial economy. PalmPay has launched a wide range of financial products and app features while expanding the accessibility and reliability of its payment solutions.
“We are bigger, stronger, and better in every way,” he stated, proudly mentioning the company’s recognition as one of the World’s Top 250 Fintech Companies by CNBC & Statista. “If someone had told us five years ago that we’d be standing here today, I might have smiled and said, ‘Well, let’s see how we can make that dream a reality, one transaction at a time!’”
Today, PalmPay serves over 35 million users and is supported by a vast network of over one million mobile merchants and agents. The company has become a thought leader in Nigeria’s fintech sector, offering trusted financial tools like money transfers, bill payments, credit services, and savings options to millions of Nigerians.
PalmPay’s contributions to Nigeria’s financial inclusion were highlighted as well, with the country achieving a 74% inclusion rate as of last year. Nwosu also underscored the company’s recent launch of its USSD code, *861#, a solution designed to bring financial services to Nigerians without smartphones. “This is innovation driven by our understanding of local needs and our commitment to delivering real solutions,” he said.
Looking ahead, Nwosu expressed excitement about the next chapter for PalmPay. “The next five years are about scale, innovation, and deepening our impact. We want to drive financial empowerment in every corner of Nigeria, and soon, beyond.”
He promised that PalmPay would continue to prioritize security, innovation, and user experience, with a focus on enhancing AI-driven anti-fraud features and collaborating closely with regulators to ensure a seamless experience for users.
Nwosu concluded with a heartfelt message of gratitude: “Thank you to every single person who has been part of this incredible journey. You believed in us, sometimes more than we believed in ourselves, and that’s why we’re standing here today, celebrating this milestone together.”
As PalmPay celebrates its 5th anniversary, the company remains focused on expanding its services and making a lasting difference in Africa’s financial ecosystem.
