June 23, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has announced the appointments of Mrs. Ebehijie Juliet Momoh as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Ugo Obasi as Chief Operating Officer of AfriGOPay Financial Services Limited (AFSL), a subsidiary of NIBSS.
These appointments mark a significant step forward in the mission to transform the payment landscape and improve the financial experience for businesses and consumers throughout Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
A press statement by the NIBSS, on Sunday, said Mrs. Momoh brings an impressive breadth of experience and a forward-thinking vision to her pivotal role as MD/CEO, with over 30 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry.
She began her career at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and has held strategic leadership positions at Diamond Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc), First City Monument Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and most recently, as Senior Vice President and Country Head, West Africa at Mastercard. Her extensive background is marked by a proven ability to drive growth, foster innovation and implement strategic initiatives that align with the nation’s financial objectives and values.
In her new role, according to the NIBSS, Momoh will lead the development, operations and acceptance of AfriGO Card. The card scheme is designed to deliver a seamless, secure and efficient payment system that meets the diverse needs of the populace. By facilitating faster transactions, reducing costs and enhancing the overall user experience, the AfriGO Card Scheme aims to position Nigeria at the forefront of the digital payment revolution.
Momoh holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Lagos, and an MBA from the University of Benin and Bangor University. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Member, Chartered Banker Scotland & Wales, Member, Chartered Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration.
The NIBSS also said Mr. Obasi joins AfriGOPay Financial Services Limited as COO, bringing over 20 years of exceptional leadership experience in banking, information technology, and payments across West Africa. His career is distinguished by a series of strategic roles in which he led and implemented transformative payment solutions throughout the region.
Before joining AFSL, Mr. Obasi served as the Director responsible for Business Development and Bank Partnerships at Ceviant Payments. His extensive background also includes pivotal roles at Unity Bank Plc, Ingenico, and other card schemes where he oversaw operations across Anglophone West Africa and played a crucial role in implementing transformative payment solutions.
As the COO of AfriGOPay Financial Services Limited, Mr. Obasi will be instrumental in driving operational excellence and innovation. He will oversee the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that aim to enhance the efficiency, security and user experience of AfriGO Card.
Commenting on the appointment, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Premier Oiwoh, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ebehijie as the MD/CEO and Ugo as the COO of AfriGOPay to lead our national domestic card scheme. Their proven leadership, innovative mindset and extensive experience in the financial and payment industry are exactly what we need for this transformative initiative, which is proudly Nigerian. We are confident that under their leadership, we will reach new heights in delivering cutting-edge card and payment solutions to our citizens.”
Mrs. Momoh expressed her excitement about the new role, stating: “I am honoured to join AfriGOPay at such a pivotal time. The launch of the national domestic card scheme underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in the financial sector. I look forward to collaborating and working with our talented team to advance our vision to live and make a significant impact on the way payments are made across Nigeria, Africa and beyond.”
The new leadership is set to advance the initiative launched by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2023, which introduced the National Domestic Card Scheme. This robust in-country scheme is tailored to provide exciting offerings and address specific requirements of Nigerians, including the recently introduced General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC) with payment and national identity functionality.
Powered by AfriGO and led by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc, the GMPC initiative integrates payment and identity services with features such as biometric authentication, offline capability, and a Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ).
AfriGO Card is Nigeria’s national domestic card scheme, dedicated to empower businesses and consumers through innovative technology and exceptional solution offerings to Banks and other financial institutions such as debit, credit, pre-paid, virtual, loyalty, Zakat, tokenised cards and Card Management Systems (CMS). Committed to excellence, the scheme strives to create products and services to improve financial access and support the growth of a robust and inclusive digital economy while enhancing the financial well-being of the citizens.
The implementation of the national domestic card scheme is a monumental development, providing numerous benefits for the industry and the nation. It enhances transaction security, ensures data sovereignty and offers better pricing opportunities in local currency. The scheme reduces interchange fees, lowers demand for foreign exchange and alleviates pressure on the Naira.
Additionally, it fosters the development of local skills and opens new opportunities for the card business ecosystem. With the NQR code as a key feature, AfriGO Cards facilitate contactless payments, micropayments and credit, extending the advantages even further. The cards enhance financial inclusion, support government payments and improve identity management, as well as the transportation, health and agriculture sectors.
The scheme boosts both domestic and international interoperability and offers flexibility, being acceptable on all ATMs and POS terminals. As Africa’s most promising domestic card scheme amid Nigeria’s rapid electronic payment growth, the AfriGO Card, being 100% owned by Nigerians, stands as a source of national pride.
The launch of Nigeria’s National Domestic Card Scheme presents a new payment era in the Nigerian financial ecosystem and reveals the unique opportunities presented by the industry as Nigeria embraces digital transformation. AfriGO Card stands as a symbol of progress, offering a more inclusive and efficient payment ecosystem for all Nigerians, NIBSS said in the statement.
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