By Majeed Salaam
The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc has launched NIBSS Digest, a new quarterly digital publication designed to deepen industry dialogue on the infrastructure, policies and technologies shaping the future of payments in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
The maiden edition, themed ‘Redefining the Future of Payments,’ brings together perspectives from regulators, commercial banking executives, fintech founders and other stakeholders across the financial services ecosystem.
NIBSS said the publication was created to provide a dedicated platform for industry experts and decision-makers to examine emerging developments influencing digital payments and the broader financial services sector.
The inaugural edition focuses on how interoperable, intelligent and inclusive payment infrastructure can support sustainable economic growth, while examining some of the structural and technological changes reshaping the payments landscape.
Among the issues explored are financial inclusion, operational resilience, customer experience, artificial intelligence, digital identity, payment infrastructure and cross-border integration.
The publication also examines emerging technologies and initiatives including Open Banking, application programming interfaces (APIs), sovereign payment rails and the National Payment Stack (NPS).
According to NIBSS, these developments are increasingly important as financial services move towards greater digital integration and consumers demand faster, safer and more seamless payment experiences.
Adewunmi Oshilaja, Head of Corporate Communications at NIBSS, said the publication was conceived to expand the conversation around payments beyond the mechanics of transferring money.
“NIBSS Digest was conceived to broaden the conversation around payments, shifting the focus from simply moving money to actively moving economies,” Oshilaja said.
The statement captures a wider transformation taking place within Nigeria’s financial system, where payment infrastructure is increasingly becoming an enabler of commerce, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion rather than simply a channel for transactions.
Oshilaja said the rapid evolution of payment ecosystems also made it necessary to create a platform through which regulators, financial institutions and technology innovators could exchange practical insights.
“Establishing a unified platform where regulators, financial institutions, and tech innovators can share actionable insights is vital,” he said.
The publication is therefore positioned as more than a corporate communication product. Its quarterly format is intended to provide a recurring forum for examining developments that could influence the direction of Nigeria’s payments industry.
The maiden edition comes at a time when technological innovation is rapidly altering how individuals and businesses access financial services. Artificial intelligence, digital identity, open banking and interoperable payment systems are creating new opportunities, while also raising questions around cybersecurity, data protection, operational resilience and consumer trust.
Oshilaja described the inaugural edition as a reflection of the payments industry’s ambition at a defining moment, saying it offers a forward-looking perspective on building a financial system that is more inclusive, secure and interconnected.
He also acknowledged the support of NIBSS’ Board and Executive Management, alongside the editorial team and contributors who supported the publication.
“Our sincere appreciation also goes to all contributors for sharing their expertise and commitment to building a payments ecosystem that is open enough to innovate, secure enough to trust, and intelligent enough to protect,” he said.
NIBSS Digest will be published quarterly, with each edition focusing on a central theme linked to critical developments within the payments ecosystem.
The publication is available free of charge through NIBSS’ official website and can be accessed on desktop, tablet and mobile browsers.
NIBSS has also opened submissions for the second edition, inviting regulators, financial institutions, fintech companies, academics, development partners and technology leaders to contribute articles, case studies and commentary.
Submission guidelines and details for future editions are contained in the maiden issue, providing an opportunity for a wider range of industry voices to contribute to the evolving payments conversation.
NIBSS, incorporated in 1993, is owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and licensed deposit money banks operating in the country. Its infrastructure supports interbank clearing and settlement as well as key financial services infrastructure, including the Bank Verification Number system and point-of-sale payments.
As Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem continues to expand, the role of infrastructure providers is becoming increasingly strategic. The ability to move money efficiently, verify identities, connect financial institutions and enable digital transactions is closely linked to the wider economy’s capacity to trade and grow.
Through NIBSS Digest, the company is seeking to place that infrastructure at the centre of a broader conversation about economic development, innovation and financial inclusion.
