OPay has declared that the next phase of Africa’s fintech revolution will be driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), arguing that the technology can do more than automate payments by expanding financial inclusion, fighting fraud and connecting millions of underserved people to the formal financial system.
The fintech company made the case at the Digital PayExpo 2026 in Lagos, where it served as the headline sponsor of the two-day industry conference that brought together regulators, banks, fintech companies and technology experts to discuss the future of digital payments.
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The message signals a shift in Africa’s fintech industry. While the last decade focused on bringing more people into the financial system through digital wallets and mobile payments, industry leaders now believe AI will determine which companies can deliver faster, safer and more personalised financial services at scale.
Speaking during a keynote titled “The African Fintech Frontier: Leveraging AI to Unlock a Unified Digital Economy,” Dotun Adekunle, OPay’s chief operating officer and chief technology officer, said Africa has a unique opportunity to lead global fintech innovation because of its young population and rapidly growing digital economy.
According to Adekunle, AI can help reduce payment delays, strengthen fraud detection, improve regulatory compliance and expand access to credit for millions of individuals and small businesses that remain underserved.
“The first chapter of African fintech was about inclusion. The next chapter is about integration. AI is the bridge that can connect 1.4 billion people into a single digital economy, and the decisions we make today will determine whether Africa consumes that future or creates it,” he said.
His comments come as fintech firms across Africa increasingly invest in AI-powered fraud detection, customer service, risk management and credit assessment to improve efficiency while keeping pace with rising digital transactions.
Adekunle also urged regulators, investors and financial institutions to work together on building interoperable payment systems, trusted digital identity infrastructure and stronger data governance, describing them as critical foundations for an AI-driven financial ecosystem.
During another session on merchant payments, OPay joined industry leaders to discuss how AI and payment data can help businesses better understand customer behaviour, improve operations and support expansion into new markets.
On the second day of the conference, the company hosted a panel on “Leadership in the AI Era: Building Responsible and Inclusive Digital Finance.” Experts from the fintech industry examined how organisations can adopt AI responsibly while protecting customer trust, strengthening governance and ensuring financial inclusion is not left behind.
The discussions also highlighted the growing importance of ethical AI, transparency and accountability as financial institutions increasingly rely on intelligent systems to make business and customer decisions.
Beyond the conference sessions, OPay used its exhibition stand to showcase its digital payment services and engage businesses and customers on its expanding financial ecosystem.
Adekunle said AI should not only make financial products more intelligent but should also make them more accessible, secure and inclusive.
Industry observers say OPay’s AI strategy reflects a broader shift in Africa’s fintech sector, where competition is moving beyond digital payments to intelligent financial services. As digital transactions continue to grow across the continent, companies that successfully combine AI with trust, security and responsible innovation are expected to shape the next phase of Africa’s digital economy.
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