Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON), one of Nigeria’s most influential convening platforms for the fintech and digital payments system, has set the stage for high-level discussions on artificial intelligence (AI), trust, and inclusive financial systems as regulators, banks, and fintech firms prepare to converge in Lagos for its third edition (PAFON 3.0). The fast-growing digital payments sector in Nigeria will face a critical moment next month as industry stakeholders gather to address rising concerns around access, regulation, and trust within the financial sector.
The forum, scheduled for April 24 in Lagos, is expected to bring together more than 600 participants and over 20 speakers, positioning it as one of the country’s key platforms for shaping the future of digital finance. The gathering comes at a time when Nigeria’s payments ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, driven by mobile technology and fintech innovation, even as it grapples with persistent challenges in financial inclusion, cybersecurity risks, and regulatory alignment.
Organisers say PAFON 3.0 will provide a rare opportunity for direct engagement between policymakers and private sector operators, with agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) expected to interface with fintech startups, banks, and telecom operators.
A key focus of the event will be building a more inclusive payments system in a country where millions remain outside the formal financial sector despite strong growth in digital transactions. One of the headline sessions, “Fair Digital Payments as a Catalyst for Deepening Financial Inclusion in Nigeria,” will explore how technology and policy can work in tandem to expand access, particularly for small businesses and underserved communities.
The forum will also examine the growing role of artificial intelligence in financial services, including its application in fraud detection, customer experience, and risk management, as well as the regulatory questions it raises. Cybersecurity is expected to feature prominently, as increased digital adoption has heightened exposure to fraud and data breaches, placing pressure on both regulators and service providers to strengthen safeguards.
In addition to policy discussions, the event will feature product exhibitions and live demonstrations, where companies will showcase innovations ranging from digital wallets to advanced point-of-sale systems. Industry participants will also engage in business-to-business meetings to foster partnerships across the payments value chain, including merchant aggregators and infrastructure providers.
Nigeria is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading digital payments markets, but stakeholders say sustaining that position will depend on stronger collaboration between regulators and industry players. PAFON 3.0 is powered by TechCastle Foundation and supported by Techeconomy, a technology and business analysis platform.
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Registration for the event remains open to stakeholders across finance, technology, and the media as discussions intensify on how to steer one of the country’s most dynamic sectors at a pivotal stage of its development.
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