Lagos is positioning itself as a major hub for Africa’s emerging digital finance economy as GITEX Nigeria announces the launch of MINT AFRICA, a new platform designed to bring together financial institutions, regulators, technology companies, investors and fintech innovators. The platform, which will debut during GITEX Nigeria Week 2027 in partnership with the Lagos State Government, is expected to focus on the technologies and infrastructure shaping the next phase of financial services across Africa.
MINT AFRICA will focus on emerging areas including tokenised real world assets, stablecoins, artificial intelligence, digital identity, digital currencies, next generation payments, cybersecurity and cross border financial infrastructure. According to GITEX, Africa’s digital payments economy could reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, highlighting the scale of the market emerging around digital financial services. The platform is therefore being positioned as a meeting point for stakeholders seeking to develop and scale new financial technologies across the continent.
The development also reflects the growing importance of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem, particularly Lagos, which has become a major centre for financial technology businesses, digital payments and technology investment. Figures cited by GITEX show that adult account ownership in Nigeria increased from 45.3 per cent in 2021 to 63.3 per cent in 2024. However, only 9.1 per cent of Nigerians were reported to have borrowed through formal financial channels, highlighting the continuing gap between access to financial accounts and access to formal credit.
Beyond fintech innovation, stakeholders say the success of Africa’s digital finance ambitions will depend on reliable infrastructure, digital identity, cybersecurity, connectivity, regulation and access to investment capital. GITEX Nigeria’s platform brings these issues together with the wider technology ecosystem, while its official programme identifies MINT AFRICA as a dedicated platform for digital payments, digital banking, digital assets, open finance, financial inclusion and cross border innovation. For Nigeria, the initiative places Lagos at the centre of a wider conversation about how technology can reshape financial services and expand participation in the digital economy.