Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has charged Nigerian fintech players to ensure that their technology innovation is complemented with strong governance and consumer protection.
Speaking during a strategic session with fintech CEOs on the sidelines of the 2025 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington D.C, on the theme “Shaping the Future of Fintech in Nigeria: Innovation, Inclusion, and Integrity” the apex bank governor maintained that the fintech top shots must also uphold the integrity and trust of the country’s financial system as innovation continues to reshape financial services.
Cardoso restated the apex bank’s commitment to fostering innovation, which must be matched by strong governance, consumer protection, and effective risk management.
He stressed: “As we embrace new technology, it is our responsibility to uphold the integrity of the financial system — maintaining strong governance, consumer protection, and risk management so that trust in our institutions remains firm.
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“At the CBN, we are committed to creating an environment where new ideas can flourish under prudent oversight, and where inclusion is at the heart of our endeavours,” Cardoso added.
The CBN governor stressed that collaboration and open dialogue between the CBN and fintech stakeholders remained crucial to shaping policies that support sustainable growth and protect consumers.
The session, which held as a closed-door listening forum and featured fintech founders, investors, regulators, and policy leaders in the nation’s financial ecosystem, created a platform for the CBN’s management to deepen its understanding of industry trends and challenges while exploring policy frameworks that balance innovation with financial stability.
A statement on CBN’s X handle indicated that discussions at the session focused on some priority themes, namely Innovation and responsible growth, Infrastructure and interoperability, Legal and policy enablement, and Compliance and financial integrity.
The statement confirmed that stakeholders at the forum agreed that a balanced regulatory environment — one that enables innovation while safeguarding market confidence — will be key to advancing Nigeria’s fintech potential, and a joint commitment by the CBN and fintech leaders to sustain continuous engagement, aligning regulatory reforms with Nigeria’s broader financial innovation agenda
