Group MD, Processing Africa & Co-Head, Group Processing at Network International, Dr Reda Helal has said that Nigeria’s digital transformation should go beyond simply adopting technology, stressing the need to prioritise tangible economic impact, wider financial inclusion, and stronger trust in the digital ecosystem.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Helal said Nigeria’s digital payments sector has made notable progress in recent years, especially in expanding financial inclusion and increasing transaction volumes. However, he noted that the next phase of growth must be measured by how effectively digital systems improve everyday lives and support businesses.
He noted that previous discussions around digital transformation were often centred on adoption rates, but the current priority should be measurable economic outcomes.
“Today, the focus must shift to impact, specifically how we are truly improving the lives of consumers, Nigerians, and businesses across the country,” he said.
Helal highlighted strong growth in financial inclusion, estimating that a large majority of Nigerians are now within the formal financial system, alongside massive increases in digital transaction volumes.
He pointed to improvements in everyday services such as passport processing and travel documentation as examples of how digital payments and platforms are becoming embedded in public services.
“In Nigeria, it is now reaching every aspect of people’s lives. Rather than dealing with paperwork and spending an entire day on it, these services can now be accessed easily at your fingertips,” he added.
The Network International executive said Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem is now central to the country’s broader economic agenda, aligning with regulatory and national development goals.
He explained that the next major opportunity lies in expanding digital payments across government services, SMEs, and underserved regions, including rural communities outside major commercial hubs.
Helal also emphasised the importance of trust as the foundation of digital adoption, warning that cybersecurity risks and fraud could undermine progress if not addressed.
He cited rising concerns over digital fraud and stressed the need for stronger security systems powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“Trust, cybersecurity threats, and as we introduce AI and machine learning, cybersecurity becomes more sophisticated,” he stated.
According to him, Network International is investing heavily in fraud prevention systems and digital infrastructure to strengthen confidence across the ecosystem.
Helal further explained that the company’s role is to provide scalable payment infrastructure across multiple markets, enabling banks and financial institutions to expand without bearing heavy technological burdens.
He noted that the company currently supports hundreds of financial institutions and operates across more than 50 markets, providing services spanning card issuance, QR payments, tokenisation, and transaction acceptance.
“At the end of the day, we need to empower people to have a seamless, frictionless experience in digital payments,” he said.
On Nigeria’s strategic importance, Helal described the country as indispensable to Africa’s digital payment future due to its population size, SME base, and economic influence.
“There is no way digital payment transformation will succeed in Africa without Nigeria,” he stressed.
He added that expanding SMEs into the digital economy would improve transparency, access to credit, and financial efficiency, ultimately strengthening economic growth.
Looking ahead, Helal said success for Nigeria’s digital economy would be defined by widespread adoption of secure, trusted, and seamless digital payments across both consumers and businesses.
“For me, success means Nigerians can pay seamlessly in a transparent manner within a trusted ecosystem,” he explained:
Goodness Anunobi
