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Fast growing neobank Lupiya partners with Network International to launch their card product

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Network International

Fintech turns to Payments as a Service to launch innovative new digital payment offerings

LUSAKA, Zambia, September 12, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Network International (Network) (www.Network.ae), the leading enabler of digital commerce across Africa and the Middle East, has announced that Zambian fintech and neobank, Lupiya, has appointed Network as their digital payments technology partner to launch a new debit card.

The solution includes the launch of a debit card that is e-commerce enabled, together with 3D Secure and tokenization. This will help diversify Lupiya’s value proposition to include not only simplified lending, but also digital payments to its existing and growing new customer base.

“Network’s partnership with Lupiya, our newest fintech customer in Zambia, underscores our ability to enable digital financial service providers in all consumer segments and verticals. It further solidifies our ambition to expand our client portfolio, encompassing diverse financial institutions across the region,” comments Dr Reda Helal, Managing Director & Co-Head of Processing – Africa, Network International.

Innovating for financial inclusion

Zambia has taken great strides in narrowing its gap in financial inclusion. According to the latest data, levels of inclusion have improved (https://apo-opa.co/3Ba8r6Z) from 59.3% in 2015 to 69.4% in 2020. In its Second National Financial Inclusion Strategy, the Zambian government has also set a target to achieve 85% financial inclusion (https://apo-opa.co/4d5FS82) by 2028.

But a third of the population remains excluded. There’s also a prevailing gender finance gap, with women struggling to access financial products and services from regulated providers.   

Offering microloans to underserved populations, Lupiya has played a pioneering role in bridging this gap. Lupiya leverages an online platform that simplifies the loan application process, while alternative data and machine learning models further assess creditworthiness for individuals and businesses that traditional financial institutions often overlook.

This has had a particularly big impact on empowering women and supporting climate-smart agricultural practices in a country where nearly 80% (https://apo-opa.co/4d1uYAs) of farmers are women.

Supporting rapid scale

This new partnership marks a significant milestone for our company in Zambia and opens new avenues for growth and innovation

To help Lupiya tap into more local opportunities for digital payments growth, Network will deliver a comprehensive suite of card payment processing solutions. These will cover the entire lifecycle of a card payment, from issuance to settlement and even dispute resolution, with a focus on both digital and physical payment channels.

“This new partnership marks a significant milestone for our company in Zambia and opens new avenues for growth and innovation. The growing adoption in cloud technologies has perfectly primed both fintech and traditional financial institutions to turbo charge digital innovation. Working with managed service providers, like ourselves, allows both old and new institutions to quickly and simply deliver new products and services to an increasingly digitally savvy customer,” says Dr Helal.

“At Lupiya, we are driven by the mission to revolutionise financial inclusion across Africa. Our partnership with Network International represents a significant leap forward in providing secure, accessible, and innovative digital financial solutions. By launching an e-commerce enabled debit card with 3D Secure and tokenization, we are empowering individuals and businesses to participate in the digital economy more effectively,” says Muchu Kaingu, CEO of Lupiya Pay, the company behind the neobank.

“This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology that enhances convenience and security for our customers, while driving economic growth and financial independence across the continent,” he adds.

Outsourcing payments: A strategic move

Agility is crucial in the fast-paced fintech landscape where speed-to-market is a key competitive advantage. By outsourcing payments to a Payments as a Service (PaaS) provider, fintechs can significantly reduce the time required to launch new payment products and services. 

Another challenge for fintechs is navigating the complex regulatory environment for payments. PaaS providers have the expertise to ensure compliance with relevant laws and standards, allowing fintechs to focus on their core business.

According to companies like McKinsey (https://apo-opa.co/4d5RW9B), the uptake of PaaS is being fuelled by Africa’s growing cloud adoption, which it has likened to the continent’s rapid growth in smartphone ownership. According to the analysts, the rate of adoption of cloud in Africa is fast reaching parity with that of North America and China.

“Whether it’s a decades-old traditional bank, a nimble fintech like Lupiya, a retailer, or an MNO, delivering world-class digital payments, it starts with choosing the right PaaS partner. Network is proud to play a strategic role in the economic growth and financial inclusion in Africa,” says Nazo Mhango, Network International Country Manager for Zambia.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.

Events

As global power structures shift, Invest Africa convenes The Africa Debate 2026 to redefine partnership in a changing world

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Debate

The Africa Debate 2026 will provide a platform for this essential, era-defining discussion, convening leaders to explore how Africa and its partners can build more balanced, resilient and sustainable models of cooperation

LONDON, United Kingdom, February 5, 2026/APO Group/ –As African economies assert greater agency in a rapidly evolving global order, Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com) is delighted to announce The Africa Debate 2026, its flagship investment forum, taking place at the historic Guildhall in London on 3 June 2026.

Now in its 12th year, The Africa Debate has established itself as London’s premier platform for African investment dialogue since launching in 2014, convening over 800 global decision-makers annually to shape the future of trade, finance, investment, and development across the continent.

Under the theme “Redefining Partnership: Navigating a World in Transition”, this year’s forum will focus on Africa’s response to global economic realignment with greater agency, ambition and economic sovereignty.

The Africa Debate puts Africa’s priorities at the centre of the conversation, moving beyond traditional narratives to focus on ownership, resilience and long-term value creation.

“Volatility is not new to Africa. What is changing is the opportunity to respond with greater agency and ambition,” says Invest Africa CEO Chantelé Carrington.

“This year’s edition of The Africa Debate asks how we strengthen economic sovereignty — from access to capital and investment to financial and industrial policy — so African economies can take greater ownership of their growth. Success will be defined by how effectively we turn disruption into leverage and partnership into shared value.”

The Africa Debate 2026 will provide a platform for this essential, era-defining discussion, convening leaders to explore how Africa and its partners can build more balanced, resilient and sustainable models of cooperation.

Key challenges driving the debate

Core focus areas for this year’s edition of The Africa Debate include:

This year’s edition of The Africa Debate asks how we strengthen economic sovereignty — from access to capital and investment to financial and industrial policy

Global Realignment & New Partnerships

How shifting geopolitical and economic power structures are reshaping Africa’s global partnerships, trade dynamics and investment landscape.

Financing Africa’s Future

The growing need to reform the global financial architecture, new approaches to development finance, as well as the strengthening of market access and financial resilience of African economies in a changing global system.

Strategic Value Chains

Moving beyond primary exports to build local value chains in critical minerals for the green economy. Also addressing Africa’s energy access gap and mobilising investment in renewable and transitional energy systems.

Digital Transformation & Technology

Unlocking growth in fintech, AI and digital infrastructure to drive productivity, inclusion, and the next phase of Africa’s economic transformation.

The Africa Debate 2026 offers a unique platform for high-level dialogue, deal-making, and strategic engagement. Attendees will gain actionable insights from leading policymakers, investors and business leaders shaping Africa’s economic future, while building strategic partnerships that define the continent’s next growth phase.

Registration is now open (http://apo-opa.co/46b19gj).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

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Business

Zion Adeoye terminated as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CLG due to serious personal and professional conduct violations

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CLG

After a thorough internal and external investigation, along with a disciplinary hearing chaired by Sbongiseni Dube, CLG (https://CLGglobal.com) has made the decision to terminate Zion Adeoye due to serious personal and professional conduct violations. This process adhered to the Code of Good Practice of the Labour Relations Act, ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with South African law.

Mr. Adeoye has been held accountable for several serious offenses, including:

  • Making malicious and defamatory statements against colleagues
  • Extortion
  • Intimidation
  • Fraud
  • Misuse of company funds
  • Theft and misappropriation of funds
  • Breach of fiduciary duty
  • Mismanagement

His actions are in direct contradiction to our firm’s core values. We do not approve of attorneys spending time in a Gentleman’s Club. CLG deeply regrets the impact this situation has had on our colleagues and continues to provide full support to those affected.

We want to express our gratitude to those who spoke up and to reassure everyone at the firm of our unwavering commitment to maintaining a respectful workplace. Misconduct of any kind is unacceptable and will be addressed decisively.

We recognize the seriousness of this matter and have referred it to the appropriate law enforcement, regulatory, and legal authorities in Nigeria, Mauritius, and South Africa. We kindly ask that the privacy of the third party involved be respected.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CLG.

 

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The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Strengthens Partnership with the Republic of Djibouti through US$35 Million Financing Facility

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ITFC

This facility forms part of the US$600 million, three-year Framework Agreement signed in May 2023 between ITFC and the Republic of Djibouti, reflecting the strong and growing partnership between both parties

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, February 5, 2026/APO Group/ –The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (https://www.ITFC-IDB.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has signed a US$35 million sovereign financing facility with the Republic of Djibouti to support the development of the country’s bunkering services sector and strengthen its position as a strategic regional maritime and trade hub.

The facility was signed at the ITFC Headquarters in Jeddah by Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al-Aama, Chief Executive Officer of ITFC, and H.E. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of Industry of the Republic of Djibouti.

The financing facility is expected to contribute to Djibouti’s economic growth and revenue diversification by reinforcing the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Djibouti Port as a “one-stop port” offering comprehensive vessel-related services. With Red Sea Bunkering (RSB) as the Executing Agency, the facility will support the procurement of refined petroleum products, thus boosting RSB’s bunkering operations, enhancing revenue diversification, and consolidating Djibouti’s role as a key logistics and trading hub in the Horn of Africa and the wider region.

We look forward to deepening this partnership, creating new opportunities, and leveraging collaborative programs to advance key sectors and drive sustainable economic growth

Commenting on the signing, Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al-Aama, CEO of ITFC, stated:

“This financing reflects ITFC’s continued commitment to supporting Djibouti’s strategic development priorities, particularly in strengthening energy security, port competitiveness, and trade facilitation. We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Republic of Djibouti and contribute to sustainable economic growth and regional integration.”

H.E. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of Industry of the Republic of Djibouti, commented: “Today’s signing marks an important milestone in the development of Djibouti’s bunkering services and reflects our strong and valued partnership with ITFC, particularly in the oil and gas sector. This collaboration supports our ambition to position Djibouti as a regional hub for integrated maritime and logistics services. We look forward to deepening this partnership, creating new opportunities, and leveraging collaborative programs to advance key sectors and drive sustainable economic growth.”

This facility forms part of the US$600 million, three-year Framework Agreement signed in May 2023 between ITFC and the Republic of Djibouti, reflecting the strong and growing partnership between both parties.

Since its inception in 2008, ITFC and the Republic of Djibouti have maintained a strong partnership, with a total of US$1.8 billion approved primarily supporting the country’s energy sector and trade development objectives.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

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