Fintech

Global fintech firm Leatherback has been named “Banking-as-a-Service Innovator of the Year 2025” at the Brit Fintech Awards, a recognition that highlights the company’s growing influence in redefining how individuals and businesses move money across borders.

The award celebrates Leatherback’s commitment to making borderless banking simple, accessible, and inclusive for users around the world — from entrepreneurs and freelancers to large enterprises seeking faster, more flexible international transactions.

Driving Borderless Finance

Since its inception, Leatherback has focused on tackling one of the most persistent challenges in global finance — the complexity of moving money seamlessly between countries. The company’s platform provides integrated solutions that enable users to send, receive, and manage funds in multiple currencies without the friction typically associated with cross-border banking.

According to the company, this approach has not only empowered businesses to scale internationally but also supported individuals who earn or remit income across different markets.

CEO: “The Future of Finance Is Global”

Speaking on the award, Ochevhoya Ekpete, Chief Executive Officer of Leatherback, described the recognition as both a validation of the company’s mission and an inspiration to continue building solutions that promote financial freedom.

“We started Leatherback to solve a simple but universal challenge — moving money globally shouldn’t be difficult,” Ekpete said. “Winning this award reaffirms that vision and reminds us that the future of finance is truly global. We’re just getting started.”

He added that the company’s success is built on a deep understanding of customer needs, innovative technology, and a belief that financial inclusion must transcend borders.

Recognition for Innovation and Impact

Leatherback’s win at the Brit Fintech Awards underscores its leadership in Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) — a model that allows businesses to integrate financial services directly into their own platforms through APIs and other digital tools.

The fintech’s infrastructure supports businesses of all sizes, helping them receive payments, manage liquidity, and expand into new markets without the heavy cost and complexity of traditional banking systems.

Industry experts say the award reflects the increasing importance of BaaS in today’s financial ecosystem, as more companies look to embed banking services into their digital operations.

Empowering a Global Community

In a statement following the award, Leatherback said the milestone belongs to its team, customers, and partners who share its vision for a borderless financial world.

“As we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to creating products that help freelancers get paid faster, businesses grow globally, and individuals send money home easily and securely,” the company said.

About Leatherback

Leatherback is a global fintech company that provides cross-border financial solutions for individuals and organizations. Through its digital platform, users can access multi-currency accounts, manage international transactions, and make global payments with speed and transparency.

By combining advanced technology with robust financial infrastructure, Leatherback continues to drive innovation in borderless banking — making it easier for people and businesses to connect financially, wherever they are.

The Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, has commended Fidelity Bank Plc for hosting the 2025 Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC), describing the conference as a vital bridge linking African entrepreneurs with global markets.

Held over the weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, the event attracted business leaders, investors, policymakers, and creative professionals from both Nigeria and the United States. The conference showcased Nigeria’s growing non-oil export potential and highlighted opportunities for collaboration between Africa’s largest economy and one of America’s most dynamic cities.

Fidelity Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Global Competitiveness

Speaking at the event, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to helping Nigerian businesses expand globally.

She explained that FNITCC was born out of Fidelity Bank’s strategic goal to transform Nigeria into a diversified, export-driven economy. “Our journey began by empowering small and medium-scale exporters through capacity-building programs in partnership with the Lagos Business School,” she said. “Once they gained the right skills and knowledge, we created this international platform to connect them directly with global buyers. FNITCC is not just an event—it is a movement to position Nigerian businesses for global relevance.”

Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe noted that the bank’s consistent investment in non-oil sectors, particularly agriculture and creative industries, is yielding results. Fidelity Bank, she said, has emerged as Nigeria’s leading financier of non-oil agricultural exports, facilitating partnerships that strengthen the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

She also encouraged participants to take advantage of the event’s sideline sessions, which featured representatives from Nigerian and U.S. regulatory agencies discussing trade compliance, logistics, and financing opportunities.

Atlanta and Lagos Explore Sister-City Partnership

The conference also featured a high-level delegation from Lagos State, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who used the platform to promote the state as a prime destination for investment.

Governor Sanwo-Olu proposed a sister-city partnership between Lagos and Atlanta to deepen trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. “Lagos is open for business,” he declared. “We want to build partnerships that go beyond trade—collaborations that drive innovation, create jobs, and enhance the prosperity of our people.”

In his address, Mayor Andre Dickens praised the collaboration between both cities and highlighted their shared legacies. “Atlanta and Africa are bound by history, creativity, and resilience,” Dickens said. “This conference brings together leaders who are ready to shape the next phase of global business cooperation. From logistics and finance to technology and the creative industries, our similarities are opportunities waiting to be harnessed.”

He also recognized Fidelity Bank’s leadership role in organizing a platform that promotes cross-continental collaboration and strengthens the link between African entrepreneurs and U.S. investors.

FNITCC 2025: Showcasing Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Strength

Now in its third year, FNITCC has grown into one of Nigeria’s most influential trade promotion events. The 2025 edition featured exhibitions, deal rooms, networking sessions, and a gala dinner that celebrated business partnerships forged during the conference.

Discussions focused on expanding Nigeria’s export reach in the agriculture, fashion, film, and technology sectors, as well as on improving access to U.S. markets through innovative financing and digital trade solutions.

Analysts noted that the event’s success reflects Fidelity Bank’s broader mission to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and promote sustainable economic diversification.

Fidelity Bank’s Growing Reputation

Fidelity Bank Plc currently serves over 9.1 million customers across 251 business offices and multiple digital platforms in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The bank has consistently earned recognition for its innovation and customer-focused services.

Recent awards include the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation and MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay’s Banks and Financial Institutions Awards, the Most Innovative Mobile Banking App by Global Business Outlook, and Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by Euromoney Awards for Excellence.

Fidelity Bank was also named Export Financing Bank of the Year, underscoring its leadership in supporting Nigeria’s export-driven growth agenda.

The 2025 FNITCC has further solidified the bank’s reputation as a key enabler of trade, investment, and economic collaboration between Africa and the global business community.

Flutterwave’s founder and CEO, Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, is placing a strong bet on stablecoins, framing them as the backbone of Africa’s next financial transformation. Speaking at Money 20/20 Middle East and the Fluidity 2025 summit in Riyadh, Agboola said the company’s focus is shifting toward making stablecoin payments a mainstream tool for businesses and individuals across the continent.

According to him, the time is right for Africa to take this leap. The continent’s youthful, digitally savvy population has already powered a $1 trillion mobile money economy, and that same demographic is now fueling the adoption of stablecoins. “Africa’s youth are early adopters, digital natives, and entrepreneurial by nature,” Agboola told the audience, describing them as the driving force behind fintech innovation.

Youth at the Heart of Africa’s Digital Finance Growth

The CEO argued that Africa’s young population is not just a demographic advantage but a core driver of global financial change. He tied stablecoin adoption directly to this group, pointing to Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya as markets where young entrepreneurs and consumers are leading the shift.

“Africa’s youth demographic is a dividend that requires proactive support from all stakeholders,” he said. “The continent’s economic growth is directly tied to the success of its young people.” Agboola drew a clear line between the mobile money boom of 2024, valued at over $1 trillion, and the current surge in stablecoin transactions.

Building Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s Money

To support this trend, Flutterwave is rolling out new tools and integrations aimed at reducing friction in payments. The company previewed enhancements to the Flutterwave Dashboard, which will make cross-border business payments simpler and faster. Its Send App is also being upgraded to streamline remittances for individuals and families across Africa.

Beyond products, Flutterwave is forging partnerships that embed it more deeply into the global financial system. The company is a founding member of the Circle Payments Network for USDC stablecoins and has struck a deal with Global Remit to enable stablecoin conversions for cross-border transfers.

Agboola described these moves as part of Flutterwave’s vision to build “Africa’s largest infrastructure for tomorrow’s money,” ensuring businesses and consumers can transact seamlessly in digital currencies.

Positioning in Global Policy and Partnerships

Flutterwave is also strengthening its voice in global fintech policy debates. In Riyadh, Agboola joined a roundtable on the G20 Cross-Border Payments Targets and spoke on panels moderated by leaders such as Nicole Valentine, FinTech Director at the Milken Institute.

He also engaged in discussions on public-private partnerships alongside Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). These appearances highlight Flutterwave’s strategy of shaping both the technology and the policy environment for Africa’s digital future.

From Mobile Money to Stablecoins

Stablecoins, according to Agboola, are the logical next step in Africa’s fintech evolution. They promise faster, cheaper, and more reliable cross-border payments, particularly in regions where currency volatility and transaction costs remain barriers to growth. By reducing friction for entrepreneurs, securing remittances, and enabling seamless trade, stablecoins could replicate — and surpass — the impact of mobile money.

For Flutterwave, this isn’t just about betting on a trend. It is about embedding itself at the heart of Africa’s financial infrastructure at a time when the world is rethinking money. With a young population eager for digital-first solutions, Agboola believes stablecoins can help power Africa’s next trillion-dollar opportunity.