Unity Bank Plc has restated its dedication to expanding electronic payment access and driving financial inclusion through a new strategic partnership with domestic card scheme provider, AfriGo. The move aims to increase card adoption across the bank’s retail customer base.
The announcement came during a high-level business engagement held at Unity Bank’s head office in Lagos on Friday, which was attended by the executive management of AfriGo.
During the session, Unity Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ebenezer Kolawole, reaffirmed the bank’s intention to prioritise the AfriGo card as a key transaction channel.
“As a national domestic card scheme, AfriGo deserves strong backing both within and outside our organisation. It has significant potential to reshape Nigeria’s card payment system,” Kolawole said.
He also confirmed that Unity Bank would continue to promote the adoption of AfriGo cards across its branches and encouraged the card scheme operator to increase awareness efforts to broaden market acceptance.
AfriGo’s Managing Director, Ebehijie Momoh, praised Unity Bank for its consistent support, stating that the institution ranks among the top five adopters of the AfriGo card. He pointed to the growing role the scheme is playing in advancing financial inclusion and increasing access to digital payment systems.
Momoh explained that AfriGo has introduced technologies enabling instant and offline payments, which have helped bring electronic transactions to underserved areas. He cited partnerships such as Tap & Go as key to accelerating the uptake of contactless payments, adding convenience for cardholders in their daily travel, business, and lifestyle activities.
He expressed confidence in Unity Bank’s broad retail reach and the potential it holds for deepening collaboration that will push digital banking further across Nigeria.
The partnership reflects Unity Bank’s longstanding focus on digital transformation and its goal of fostering financial inclusion through locally-developed technology. Over the years, the bank has rolled out a series of initiatives aligned with this mission.
These include the launch of *7799#, Nigeria’s first USSD banking service offered in local languages, which was designed to expand banking access in rural and semi-urban communities. The bank also introduced Unifi, a youth-oriented digital banking platform tailored to meet the financial habits and lifestyle needs of younger users. More recently, Unity Bank unveiled GenFi, a gamified mobile banking app created to teach children and teenagers responsible money management from an early age.