More than 40 leaders in the banking industry in West Africa region will gather in Lagos, Nigeria between the coming 23 -24 April, to discuss efforts aiming to increase financial inclusion across West Africa region by 2020 in the Future Banking Tech West Africa Summit.

The first of its kind event focuses on the future of digitizing banking services is front and center for Central Banks. Leveraging off experiences of similar regions can aid in the adoption of best financial inclusion practices, as it is becoming incumbent on banking stakeholders to be rapid yet savvy in incorporating disruptive mobile money platforms, automated banking systems, tailored credit facilities and crypto-currencies for this dynamic market.

The Future Banking Technology Summit will address over two days of panel discussions and case studies showcasing, the full value chain of the region’s banking and financial sector to best achieve financial inclusion and sustainable banking sector growth.

The summit brings together under one roof; ministries of finance,  central, commercial, investment, and microfinance banks, along with telecommunications FinTech and E- Commerce operators in West Africa countries to exchange visions on ways of achieving progress in financial inclusion, that is becoming highly sought for recently to cater the demand of population, and the rapid penetration of latest telecommunication technologies by customers.

A 2018 survey conducted by McKinsey’s found that nearly 40 percent of all African banking customers preferred digital channels for transactions Africa is the global leader in mobile money. Africa has emerged as the world’s No. 2 banking market in terms of both growth and profitability.

Commenting on holding the Future Banking Tech West Africa Summit Umar EL Farouk, Chief Information Officer, Ghana Commercial Bank said: “the summit represents a platform to converse about risk, rewards, security and transparency. How are you coping as a financial services provider with the Board of Directors, with Regulators, with Cyber-security, with Technology integration, with internal Auditors and Compliance, with internal stakeholders and customers, with Market and Competition?”.

He added the following call to action: “ Surfing The Digital Transformation Waves Of Financial Services. Are You A Leader Or A Follower?