L-r: Thaibat Adeniran, former Managing Director, Hilal Takaful Insurance Ltd; Mr Johnson Chukwuma, keynote speaker/founder & Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Ltd; Alhaji (Dr). Umaru Kwairanga, Chairman of occasion/Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group; Ngozi Onyakusi, convener & Publisher/CEO, SUPERNEWS Nigeria; Ayokunle Olubunmi, Head, Financial Institutions Ratings, Augusto & Co; Adeola Adewumi-Zer, founder/CEO, ZER Consulting Africa, and Uju Ogubunka, National President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, during the AI Artificial Intelligence ’25 conference organised by SuperNews on the theme: Power of AI: enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction for better financial services experience, in Lagos, on Thursday.
Industry leaders, top regulators, and innovators from across Nigeria’s financial services sector gathered at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island on Thursday for the SuperNews Artificial Intelligence Conference 2025 (SAIC’25) — a high-level event focused on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in finance.
Themed “Power of AI: Enhancing Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction for Better Financial Services Experience,” the conference explored how AI is reshaping the delivery of banking, insurance, pension, and capital market services in Nigeria.
In her opening remarks, Ngozi Onyeakusi, Publisher of SuperNews Nigeria, said the conference was designed to increase awareness and deepen understanding of AI’s potential to enhance efficiency and drive financial inclusion.
“Artificial Intelligence has the potential to revolutionize financial services by reducing operational costs, improving customer experience, and expanding access to underserved communities,” she said. “Our goal at SuperNews is to equip Nigerians with the knowledge required to embrace and leverage technology for growth.”
She cited global data that places the value created through AI at $3.9 trillion in 2022, up from $1.2 trillion in 2018, underscoring the significance of early adoption.
Delivering the keynote address, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), praised the event as timely, describing AI as a “transformative force” that is changing the face of financial services globally.
“We are witnessing a shift where AI is no longer experimental but foundational. From robo-advisors to AI-powered fraud detection systems, these tools are already improving outcomes and deepening financial access,” Kwairanga said.
He noted that in Nigeria, the fintech ecosystem is thriving, driven by a young, tech-savvy population. Mobile banking, he added, has grown significantly — from 315 million transactions in 2019 to more than 10.7 billion in 2023.
“Digital lending platforms now approve loans in minutes, using AI to assess risk and bypass traditional bureaucratic processes. This is not just innovation—it’s impactful development,” he said.
Kwairanga also emphasized the role of AI in advancing sustainable finance. He highlighted NGX’s efforts to integrate technology into initiatives such as green bonds, climate risk reporting, and retail investor platforms like NGX Invest.
Other notable speakers at the event included:
- Mr. Johnson Chukwu, MD/CEO, Cowry Asset Management
- Dr. Uju Ogubunka, President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN)
- Mrs. Adeolu Adewumi-Zer, CEO, Zer Consulting Africa
- Mrs. Thaibat Adeniran, former MD/CEO, Hilal Takaful Insurance
- Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi, Head of Financial Institutions Ratings, Augusto & Co
The conference was supported by major corporate sponsors, including Nigeria LNG, Zenith Bank Plc, Leadway Assurance, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Guinea Insurance Plc, Stanbic IBTC Insurance, NCRIB, International Energy Insurance Plc, Ugooafunwa Investment Co. Ltd, Zonaish Global Resources, Dontex Ventures Nigeria, and Big Gate Africa.
In closing, Onyeakusi called for increased collaboration between regulators, financial institutions, and technology providers to ensure that Nigeria fully benefits from the AI revolution.
“AI is no longer a distant concept. It’s here, and the time to act is now,” she said.
The SAIC’25 Conference served as a critical platform for dialogue, strategy, and partnership as stakeholders look to harness artificial intelligence for a smarter, more inclusive financial future.
Stay informed, stay ahead with The Ameh News
Discover more from Ameh News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
