IT goes without saying that the days of carrying cash around in Nigeria will soon become ancient history. Our economy is fast becoming a bona fide citizen of today’s cashless world. The Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, have replaced cash-carrying travelling bags, and Mobile money has taken the place of brown envelopes, spelling a new form of convenience and safety for users.
BY JULIET EBIRIM
IT is with this cashless revolution in mind that Intermarc Consulting and the Coalition for epayment in Nigeria have concluded arrangements to host Card, ATM & Mobile Expo 2014. The event is scheduled to take place at the new expo center of the Eko-Hotel and Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos from June 17-19, 2014.
The forthcoming event is the 14th edition as the first edition took place in Lagos in 2001. The theme for this year is “Financial Inclusion: A better future for Africa starts here”. This is coming at the time when the adoption of electronic payment has been on the upswing in most parts of Africa.
For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria has been implementing the pilot phase of the cashless policy in line with the Nigeria Financial Inclusion Strategy as contained in the payment vision 2020. These has therefore been emphasis on how the unbanked can be brought into the mainstream of the financial system in different parts of Africa. The effect has been driven by governments and financial Institutions as well as donor organizations in different part of Africa.
But beyond the theories of modernisation, access to finance and innovation, payment technologies need to start impacting on the real sector of electronic growth such as Manufacturing, Education, Oil& Gas, Aviation, Health, Agriculture, Transportation etc in a way that will help boost efficiency and profitability as well as create gains for the macro economy.
This is the focus of Card, ATM and Mobile Expo 2014 and to achieve the objective, over 50 companies, including banks, Card companies from the local and international payment community have thrown their weight behind the event. The companies will be participating as sponsors and exhibitors at this event. Noble among them are Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank, SecureID Limited, First Bank, Chams Group, Visa International, Eco-Bank, Altech West Africa, Skye Bank and Union Bank.
Other international Exhibitors include HPS, S2M, Vanstone China, Shenzhen Takecere China, Network International Dubai, SIBS International Portugal, Iveri Payments South Africa, BITS South Africa etc.
Government agencies that have also put their weight as partners on this event are CBN, LAMATA, NIMC, NIBSS, NITDA and LASRRA.
The 2014 edition of Card, ATM & Mobile Expo promises to live up to its reputation as the biggest card exhibition in Africa. The event also features VIP Cocktail to welcome all guests on the 17th June 2014, while it closes with the ebusiness industry awards dinner on the 19th June 2014.
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