African payments and digital commerce leader Interswitch says the continent’s next technological leap will be powered by scalable infrastructure and trusted partnerships, not innovation and capital alone. Speaking at Moonshot by TechCabal 2025 in Lagos, Akeem Lawal, Managing Director of Interswitch Purepay, said Africa’s digital economy must rest on resilient systems and collaboration to ensure lasting impact.
“Infrastructure creates the foundation for partnerships. Every card tap, bill payment, or money transfer relies on trust in unseen systems,” Lawal said. “Innovation alone isn’t enough—we must modernize, integrate AI, and strengthen digital systems to meet Africa’s growing digital demands.”
He called for structured investments and public-private partnerships to scale technology effectively. Supporting his remarks, Minister Jumoke Oduwole cited IFC and Google data showing that Africa’s digital economy could add $180 billion to GDP by 2025 if infrastructure gaps are closed.
Interswitch processed 1.2 billion transactions in 2023, reinforcing its role in Africa’s digital backbone. Lawal emphasized that unlocking Africa’s $1.1 trillion in domestic capital through pension and sovereign funds will drive sustainable, Africa-led innovation.
