In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi sits down with Waleed Sadek, Founder and CEO of Fintra Holding and Paysky, to explore how interoperable payment infrastructure is transforming financial ecosystems across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Waleed shares the vision behind his group’s four businesses, from national payment systems and cross-border payment networks to digital banking platforms and Banking-as-a-Service. The conversation also examines the future of payments, digital banking, stablecoins, and financial inclusion, highlighting the importance of connecting emerging markets through scalable technology. The episode also previews Waleed’s participation as a speaker at the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum, taking place in Uzbekistan from 24–26 August, where he will discuss how emerging economies can accelerate financial innovation through interoperable infrastructure, digital banking, and cross-border collaboration, while building stronger bridges between Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi sits down with Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), to explore how digital payment infrastructure is transforming Africa’s largest economy. Premier shares how NIBSS powers Nigeria’s payment ecosystem behind the scenes, driving interoperability, resilience, and innovation through instant payments and open APIs. The conversation covers the launch of the National Payment Stack, the role of digital public infrastructure, and why zero-cost instant payments could accelerate financial inclusion and economic growth. They also discuss the importance of trust, digital identity, financial literacy, and collaboration between banks, fintechs, regulators, and entrepreneurs. Looking beyond Nigeria, Premier outlines the actions needed to strengthen cross-border payments and build a more connected African financial ecosystem. This episode offers valuable insights into the future of payments, inclusion, and fintech innovation across the continent.

In a media partnership with the 3i Africa Summit, and supported by CXO Conversations, Breaking Banks Africa brings you a special live episode from the heart of Accra. Host Matteo Rizzi sits down with two leading voices shaping Africa’s talent and innovation future: Adewale Yusuf of AltSchool Africa, and Rosy Fynn of the Mastercard Foundation.

Together, they explore how AI is reshaping education, why Africa must leapfrog traditional systems, and how skills development and entrepreneurship can unlock large-scale youth employment. From digital learning to scalable work opportunities, this episode unpacks the systems needed to turn Africa’s demographic potential into real economic power.

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, Matteo Rizzi sits down with Dr. Stanley Jacobs, President of Fintech Nigeria and VP for West Africa at the Africa Fintech Network. They explore Nigeria’s fintech evolution, the rise of unicorns, and the opportunities shaping Africa’s youthful, tech-savvy population. From ecosystem building and cross-border innovation to talent development and digital inclusion, Dr. Jacobs shares insights on harmonizing regulations, fostering financial literacy, and empowering the next generation of African digital natives. This conversation offers a front-row seat to Africa’s booming fintech landscape and the strategies driving inclusive, scalable growth across the continent.

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi interviews Martin Labbé, a development and tech ecosystem specialist at the International Trade Centre (ITC). Labbé shares his journey from marketing and trade promotion into global tech ecosystem development, focusing on emerging markets across Africa. The conversation explores how ITC supports entrepreneurship by strengthening innovation ecosystems rather than directly financing startups. Key themes include the importance of connecting startups with investors, building trust among ecosystem actors, and prioritizing sustainable business models driven by customers rather than grants. Labbé highlights structural challenges in African startup ecosystems, such as limited venture capital outside major markets and entrepreneurs’ overreliance on competitions and funding programs. He advocates longer investment timelines, alternative funding models, and venture-studio approaches adapted to frontier markets. Ultimately, sustainable ecosystems emerge when local institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs collaborate effectively, enabling startups to scale internationally and reducing dependency on development aid.

In the last episode of 2025 of Breaking Banks Africa, Matteo Rizzi interviews Shirley Mburu, Director of Advisory at BFA Global, to reflect on impact, innovation, and financial inclusion across the continent. Based in Nairobi, Mburu shares her journey into development finance and explains BFA Global’s work as a development consulting and venture-building firm supporting underserved populations. The conversation explores the tension between impact and financial returns, particularly in African investment contexts where entrepreneurs often must build missing infrastructure alongside their core businesses. Mburu highlights stark differences between urban and rural inclusion, stressing the importance of trust, financial literacy, and context-appropriate solutions. She also discusses the risks of under-supported capital deployment and BFA Global’s approach of pairing funding with tailored technical assistance. Finally, the interview spotlights climate and green fintech initiatives such as the Africa Blue Wave and TECA programs, emphasizing resilience, job creation, and long-term livelihoods as critical priorities for Africa’s future.

This episode of Breaking Banks Africa features Anie Akpe, founder of LumoHubs.com and African Women in Technology (AWIT). The conversation explores how Lumo Hubs is shaping the future of work in Africa by partnering with universities to equip students and communities with hands-on digital, vocational, and AI-driven skills. Anie highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and building solutions locally – especially as AI accelerates global change. She also discusses the challenges faced by women in tech, ongoing funding gaps, and the crucial role of community-driven support in times of shrinking foreign aid. The episode emphasizes collaboration across African regions, the power of technology to bridge language and geographic barriers, and the need to invest in rural inclusion. Anie shares how AWIT has empowered women for a decade and outlines LumoHubs’ vision to nurture future innovators across the continent.

Connect with Anie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anie-akpe-abb48312/

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, Executive Producer Matteo Rizzi sits down with Sandra Yao, Group Head: Cross Border Remittance, Payments & BaaS (Fintech) at Ecobank. With 20 years of experience driving fintech and payment innovation across Africa, Sandra brings a unique “builder’s mindset” into one of the continent’s largest financial institutions, operating in 39 markets. From pioneering mobile money to tackling fragmented infrastructure and regulatory environments, Sandra shares how interoperability, accessibility, and digital transformation are reshaping the future of payments in emerging economies. She also reveals how Ecobank is empowering young African talent, forming major tech partnerships (including Google), and creating API-first solutions to help fintech founders scale across borders. A must-watch for anyone passionate about Africa’s digital growth story, inclusive innovation, and the people turning vision into execution—from Nairobi to the world.

In the new episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Nadine Zoro explores how Wave, a mobile money company, is breaking barriers to financial inclusion across Francophone West Africa. Guest Coura Carine Sene, General Manager WAEMU Region, Wave Mobile Money, shares her journey from studying and working in France to returning to Senegal to drive change. Wave prioritizes affordability and simplicity—lowering transaction fees from as high as 12% to just 1%—to make digital finance accessible for underserved communities. Their approach builds trust by focusing on user-friendly services for people new to financial tools, many of whom are illiterate or lack smartphones. Wave innovates with solutions like QR-coded cards that work offline, enabling rural users to transact through agents. The episode also highlights the challenges of navigating regulation and partnering with telcos, stressing the importance of collaboration with regulators to scale services. Overall, Wave demonstrates how fintech can foster inclusion, economic activity, and empowerment through practical, low-cost innovation.

Connect with our guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coura-carine-tine-sene

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In episode 8 of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi speaks with Kigali-based entrepreneur Philip Ngarambe, now Entrepreneur in Residence at ALX Ventures. Philip recounts his journey with AC Group, the company that transformed urban transport in Rwanda by introducing digital “tap & go” bus payments. What began as a mobility solution quickly evolved into a driver of financial inclusion, proving how everyday services can seamlessly bring people into the digital economy.

Philip reflects on scaling a disruptive business, the importance of mentorship, and why investing in youth-led ventures is vital for Africa’s future. At ALX Ventures, he supports young founders in turning ideas into sustainable companies, while emphasizing AI, bottom-up innovation, and solving non-obvious but high-impact problems.

The episode also highlights upcoming opportunities for collaboration, including the Global SME Finance Forum in Johannesburg (September 2025)—a key event for exploring fintech, inclusion, and SME growth on the continent.

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