Africa’s fintech landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, marked by rapid growth and innovation. The number of fintech companies across the continent almost tripled between 2020 and 2024, soaring from 450 to more than 1,200, according to European Investment Bank.
These companies are playing a key role in improving access to finance, and proving more effective than traditional banking institutions in driving financial inclusion. Between 2014 and 2021, the share of people with a mobile money account in sub-Saharan Africa almost tripled, surging from 12% to 33%. The share of people with a traditional financial account also grew during this period but at a much slower pace, rising from 29% in 2014 to 40% in 2021.
Growing financial access in Africa has significantly helped narrow the “digital gap”, with the share of people able to make or receive a digital payment rising to 50% in 2021 from 28% in 2014.
Access to finance in sub-Saharan African countries (traditional banking versus mobile money, % of population aged 15+), Source: Finance in Africa, European Investment Bank, Nov 2024This vibrant fintech ecosystem has fueled the rise of major industry events across Africa. These events serve as key platforms for industry stakeholders to network, stay up-to-date with the latest trends, and showcase cutting-edge fintech solutions.
As we step into 2025, we look today at some of the biggest fintech events taking place in the first half of 2025 in Africa. For this list, we focus on prominent events that are expected to bring together large crowds of industry leaders.
Top 11 Fintech Events in Africa to Attend in H1 2025
Africa Fintech Forum 2025
February 19, 2025
Johannesburg, South Africa
The Africa Fintech Forum 2025 will take place on February 19, in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and key stakeholders to explore the rapidly evolving fintech landscape in Africa.
This one-day event will offer a platform for deep insights into the African fintech sector. It will delve into strategies for navigating regulatory frameworks and adopting emerging technologies for sustainable growth. It will also provide actionable insights on overcoming challenges such as cybersecurity threats, talent shortages, and infrastructure gaps, while showcasing best practices to foster innovation and collaboration within the fintech community to drive financial inclusion.
Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of both macro and microeconomic factors shaping the industry. They will also have the opportunity to experience cutting-edge fintech solutions tailored for the African market, and connect with industry leaders.
Connected Banking West Africa 2025
February 19, 2025
Accra, Ghana
Connected Banking West Africa 2025 will take place on February 15, in Accra, Ghana, marking the 18th edition of this event series for the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector.
This summit aims to serve as a vital platform for exploring trends, strategies, and innovations that are redefining the financial landscape in West Africa, bringing together key industry stakeholders, including banks, fintech startups, digital and neobanks, insurance companies, and regulators, for in-depth discussions and networking opportunities.
This year’s Connected Banking West Africa edition will focus on:
- Crafting a cashless/cash-lite economy;
- Customer experience and digital transformation;
- Cyber resilience strategy;
- Automation to simplify core banking operations and reduce complexity;
- Synergies between traditional financial institutions and telecoms;
- Role of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and robotics in financial services;
- Security: an all pervasive model; and
- Identity and access management.
Speakers will include:
- Maxwell Opoku-Afari, First Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana
- Kwame Oppong, Director of Fintech and Innovation, Bank of Ghana
- Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director-General, Cyber Security Authority
- Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
- Kwamina Duker, CEO, Development Bank Ghana
- John Awuah, CEO, Ghana Association of Banks
- Mr. Victor Yaw Asante, Managing Director/CEO, FBN Bank (Ghana) Limited
- Abena Osei-Poku, Managing Director, Ecobank Ghana & Regional Executive, Anglophone West Africa Cluster
- Olumide Olatunji, Regional Managing Director, Access Bank (Ghana) Plc
Attendees will have access to in-depth discussions, workshops, and case studies, gaining actionable strategies to drive innovation, address regulatory challenges, and foster sustainable growth. The event will also feature an award ceremony that celebrates groundbreaking innovation, inspiring collaboration, and transformative leadership, as well as networking opportunities for participants to engage with key influencers and practitioners.
Finnovex West Africa 2025
February 25, 2025
The Eko Hotels and Suites Lagos, Nigeria
Finnovex West Africa 2025 will take place on February 25, 2025, at The Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria. This event will provide a collaborative platform for over 200 stakeholders, including BFSI leaders, fintech entrepreneurs, investors, regulators, and government officials, to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and showcase solutions tailored to the region’s unique challenges.
This year’s event will focus on the transformative role fintech is playing in shaping West Africa’s financial ecosystem, exploring the innovative strategies that enhance financial inclusion while showcasing solutions that address the unique challenges of the West African market. As fintech continues to redefine financial services in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, it will highlight the intersection of mobile banking, digital payments, AI, blockchain, biometrics, and other groundbreaking innovations.
Finnovex West Africa 2025 will also feature an innovation showcase, highlighting cutting-edge solutions and pioneering startups in areas such as digital banking, regtech, and insurtech, as well as personalized one-on-one meetings for attendees to connect directly with key decision-makers and industry leaders.
Africa Bank 4.0 Summit – West Africa
February 26-27, 2025
Accra, Ghana
Africa Bank 4.0 Summit – West Africa will take place on February 26 and 27, 2025, in Accra, Ghana. The event will gather policymakers, regulators, and senior executives from across the financial services landscape to advance West Africa’s journey toward enhanced financial access and inclusion through cutting-edge solutions.
The summit aims to serve as a platform for meaningful discussions that shape the future of the region’s digital financial services ecosystem, convening thought leaders, decision-makers, and innovators to address real-world challenges and transform them into opportunities for growth.
Over two days, attendees will gain invaluable insights into the latest trends, technologies, and strategies driving the evolution of digital payments, financial inclusion, and banking innovation. The event will feature an impressive lineup of speakers, including notable industry leaders such as Khevin Seebah, CEO of ICPS; Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Group Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank (Ghana) Ltd; Dr. Stanley Jacob, CEO of Zest Payments Limited; and Clayton Hayward, Group CEO of EFT Corporation.
Participants can expect to engage with senior executives. Discussions will cover the most pressing topics including mobile money, fintech innovation, digital banking solutions, regulatory frameworks, cybersecurity, data privacy, biometric authentication, and real-time payments infrastructure. Additionally, key topics like open banking, microfinance, the gig economy, alternative payment methods, financial literacy, sustainable development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics will be explored.
FICS Summit 2025
February 26-28, 2025
Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
The Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) 2025 will take place from February 26 to 28, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
Co-hosted by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), this year’s edition of the summit is expected to bring together over 2,000 global leaders, public development banks (PDBs), private sector representatives, philanthropists, policymakers, and researchers to reshape sustainable finance and infrastructure development.
The 2025 event, themed “Fostering Infrastructure and Finance for Just and Sustainable Growth”, will address key challenges through three core pillars:
- Inclusive finance: Promoting sustainable growth and reducing inequality through innovative financial models. Join the movement to advance financial innovation, collaboration, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- Digital transformation: Bridging the digital divide to ensure no one is left behind; and
- Infrastructure for climate action: Enhancing resilience and adaptation to climate change.
Participants can expect keynote speeches, plenary session and breakout sessions. These will feature insights from world leaders and industry experts on the future of finance and sustainability. Attendees will also get to connect with industry leaders through networking opportunities and exclusive business meetings.
April 23, 2025
Cairo, Egypt
Finnovex North Africa 2025 will take place on April 23, in Cairo, Egypt, bringing together visionary leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the region to redefine the financial landscape by fostering impactful conversations and collaborative solutions.
With the theme “Navigating the Future of Finance through Digital Transformation and Sustainable Innovation”, this year’s event will spotlight how financial institutions can leverage cutting-edge technology to accelerate innovation, embed sustainability into their core operations, and create a resilient ecosystem for businesses and society alike.
The summit will explore how cutting-edge technologies including AI, advanced analytics, and personalized platforms, are revolutionizing customer experiences. Discussions will delve into strategies for creating seamless, intuitive financial services that cater to the demands of a digitally driven world.
Cybersecurity will also take center stage as a critical topic. The event will offer insights into advanced cybersecurity technologies and strategies designed to protect financial institutions and their customers, ensuring trust and security in an interconnected financial ecosystem.
Participants will get to attend keynotes and panels to learn and understand the benefits of specific technologies, connect with peers in a private business-focused environment, and meet with leading solution providers in one location.
Africa Fintech Live 2025
April 30, 2025
Sarit Expo Center, Nairobi, Kenya
Africa Fintech Live 2025 will take place on April 30, at the Sarit Expo Center in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together key stakeholders and innovators shaping the future of fintech across Africa.
As one of the continent’s most anticipated annual gatherings, Africa Fintech Live is the ultimate platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and driving innovation across the financial ecosystem.
The 2025 edition will build on the success of its inaugural edition, providing deeper insights, expanded networking opportunities, and a more immersive experience for all participants. It’s expected to bring together more than 500 attendees, 200 companies, 30 speakers, and 25 exhibitors.
Africa Fintech Live 2025 will feature two stages of content and a packed agenda designed to foster impactful discussions, explore cutting-edge trends, showcase the latest innovations transforming the financial sector, and network with key industry stakeholders. Attendees from payments, telcos, banking, fintech, and e-commerce industries will converge to explore how technological advancements can drive progress across the continent’s financial landscape.
Key topics covered this year will include:
- Fraud and financial crime
- Payments innovation
- Digital currencies
- Regulation
- Cross-border payments
- Embedded finance
- Bank, fintech and telcos
- Money and digital transformation
- Foreign exchange
- The future of customer experience
- Lending
- E-commerce and point-of-sale (POS) innovation
- Open finance
3i Africa Summit 2025
May 14-16, 2025
Accra, Ghana
The 3i Africa Summit 2025 will take place from May 14 to 16, in Accra, Ghana. Jointly developed by the Bank of Ghana and Development Bank Ghana, in collaboration with GFTN, the summit is built on three pivotal pillars – innovation, impact, and investment -, underscoring the event’s mission to drive fintech growth, promote transformative dialogues, and unlock Africa’s potential in digital finance.
The 3i Africa Summit 2025 will feature engaging keynotes and panels, innovation pitches, and networking opportunities. Participants will get to discover the latest innovations from Africa’s brightest entrepreneurs and startups, and get to connect with their peers and potential collaborators.
This year’s edition will build upon the success of last year’s event, which recorded over 7,500 attendees, and participation from 1,725 policymakers, 1,230 researchers, and leaders from 95 countries.
The 3i Africa Summit is an annual event that aims to serve as a dynamic forum for addressing the key growth and investment opportunities in fintech while showcasing how market players are harnessing digital transformation to revolutionize the continent’s financial landscape.
Smart Banking Summit 2025
May 21-22, 2025
Nairobi, Kenya
The Smart Banking Summit 2025 will take place on May 21 and 22 in Nairobi, Kenya, promising a premier gathering for leaders and visionaries driving digital transformation in the banking sector across Africa.
This prestigious event aims to serve as a platform for visionary discussions on innovation, security, and financial inclusion, three core pillars that are reshaping Africa’s banking landscape. By attending, participants will gain unparalleled access to thought leaders and industry pioneers, engaging in dialogues that are not only shaping today’s financial services but also defining the future of banking in Africa.
From exploring cutting-edge technologies to strategizing around enhanced security and inclusive growth, this summit will offer an unmatched opportunity to network, collaborate, and lead the charge towards a smarter, more secure, and more inclusive financial ecosystem.
The summit will cover emerging banking models and customer engagement strategies, addressing how innovative banking models are transforming the ways financial institutions engage with customers. It will also shine a spotlight on technology and innovation in banking, including AI, blockchain and advanced data analytics.
Africa Digital Finance Summit 2025
June 18-20, 2025
South Africa
The Africa Digital Finance Summit (ADF-S) 2025 will take place from June 18 to 10, in South Africa, uniting a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of finance in Africa. This year’s event is expected to bring together more than 3,500 attendees and feature over 100 speakers.
Themed “The Future of Finance in Africa; Our Pathway to a New Africa”, this year’s event will address the transformation of Africa’s financial systems through the integration of digital technologies. It will feature a comprehensive thought-leadership conference where experts will explore the evolution of Africa’s financial landscape, from its historical roots to the modern value exchange systems we see today.
The discussions will center on how technological innovations such as blockchain, fintech, and digital finance, can reshape the financial sector, improve decision-making processes, and enable more inclusive economic growth across the continent.
The event will also highlight excellence in digital and decentralized finance through the ADF-S Awards, celebrating innovation and recognizing outstanding organizations and companies that have made significant contributions to the digital and decentralized finance sectors in Africa.
Fintech Summit Africa 2025
June 25-26, 2025
Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Fintech Summit Africa 2025, scheduled for June 25 and 26 in Sandton, Johannesburg, promises a premier event showcasing the transformative power of financial technology in reshaping the payments, finance, and insurance industries across the African continent.
This summit is set to bring together leading minds, innovators, and stakeholders to explore the latest technological advancements and strategies revolutionizing financial services, but also address pressing challenges in financial inclusion, accessibility, and innovation.
It will delve into how cutting-edge technologies such as AI, robotic process automation (RPA), blockchain, cloud computing, and platform solutions are revolutionizing efficiency, effectiveness, and personalization in financial service delivery. Discussions will focus on innovations in RPA for financial services, advancements in regtech, and the evolution of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) banking and insurtech, among other key themes.
Experts will explore solutions in platform integration, breakthroughs in payments and remittances, and innovations in lending and smarter insurance models. Other critical discussions will center on the impact of digital banking, the rise of Bitcoin, and strategies for improving the customer experience in finance and banking.
Featured image credit: edited from freepik
