The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), including banks, are set for this year’s cashless card exposition and conference, tagged CardExpo 2015.
Intermarc Consulting Limited, organisers of the annual CBN CardExpo Africa, said it was set to host the 15th edition of the card conference and exhibition, with special focus on Card, Mobile, Identification and payment.
Scheduled to hold in Lagos from 23rd to 25th of June,, this years’ card conference and exhibition, with the theme: ‘Innovation: The Future of ePayment’, has Diamond Bank as the Platinum sponsor, Heritage Bank as Gold sponsor, while CBN and NIBSS are partners.
Speaking at a pre-event conference to announce CardExpo 2015, General Manager, Intermarc Consulting, Lilian Ekwedike, said the conference aims to promote and deepen the adoption and usage of electronic payment in Africa.
“The focus this year is on how new and innovative technologies can meet the payment transaction needs of new markets and the unbanked. The conference and exhibition will also focus on new users as well as the service delivery strategy that will deliver the future of e-payment,” Ekwedike said.
Head, Cards, Diamond Bank, Mr. Joachin Iloemezue, explained that banks are associated with the annual card conference and exhibition, because of their roles in driving the cashless initiative of the CBN, which is already having general acceptance among Nigerians.
Head, Corporate Communications at NIBSS, Lilian Phido, said NIBSS would continue to support the process of cashless economy and ensure that cashless transactions remain safe and secured.
The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and other special dignitaries, are expected to be in attendance.
Explaining the introduction of new innovations for the 2015 CardExpo, Ekwedike said Intermarc had introduced the CBN Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS) awards, where bank customers that frequently use their cards on Point of Sales (PoS) machines from merchants and sales person, will be rewarded. She said other sectors of the industry that promote and encourage the use of card on PoS, will also be rewarded.
“We have also put together, demo sessions for pitches by young developers who will have the opportunity to present their brilliant payment technologies and innovation solutions, where the best four solution will win a price of N250, 000, which is being sponsored by Diamond Bank and MasterCard,” Ekwedike said.
She said there would be specific forum for all exhibitors and sponsors to introduce and showcase the products and services to the general public, and that speakers would be drawn from the financial sector and other key industry sectors, to discuss the future and benefit of e-payment in Nigeria.
Special forums like innovation forum, Mobile Point of Sales (MPOS) forum, card forum, Near Field Communication (NFC) forum, security forum, mobile forum, billing and revenue collection forum, Bank Verification Number (BVN) forum, Point of Sales (PoS) forum, among others, will also take place at this year’s CardExpo.
According to Ekwedike, top card and e-payment experts would be sharing inside strategies positioning and enhancing card business.
Banks and card companies will have the opportunity to win in different award categories in the 2015 CardExpo award night, that will mark the end of this year’s card exhibition and conference. The award process promises to be fully automated, incorporating online nomination and voting. The CardExpo award is being sponsored by CBN and NIBBS, while the awards will be presented by the deputy Governor of CBN, at the closing dinner.
